Film Review: Filth

Filth is an odd movie. Not odd in the same sense as Under the Skin, in which the coldness and artistic deviations from the expected play pivotal roles, but rather odd in its execution. It's a film with an absolutely reprehensible protagonist, addicted to various illicit substances, sleeping with every woman at his disposal, and itching to gain a coveted promotion by undermining the chances of his coworkers in any and every way, that's a hell of a lot of fun in spite of the person we're following. It also begins, not with our unreliable main character, but with his distant wife in a framing device that bizarrely pops up every so often in increasingly disjointed non-sequiturs. Oh, and Jim Broadbent plays a psychiatrist who may or may not also be symbolically acting as the protagonist's ravaging tapeworm.

If all of that makes you intrigued, this might be the film for you. Most of what makes the movie work overall is James McAvoy's fantastic lead role as Bruce Robertson, one of several police officers vying for the aforementioned promotion. He's crass, lewd, offensive, manipulative, unhinged, and altogether a blast to watch even as you find yourself hating him for everything he does. At first, his character seems like it'll wear thin and become a mere caricature, but the depth and humanization that comes later on makes the character worth sticking with even if we don't find him worthy of redemption.

The director, Jon S. Baird, infuses a wild, unpredictable speed to the film, always leaving you unsure of where it's going to go next. The editing zips along at a pace befitting the cocaine-addled mind of Bruce and some scenes are genuine head-scratchers that make you wonder how in the hell you got from Point A to Point B. I mean this in the best of ways, as it keeps the film feeling punchy and energetic rather than succumbing to rigorous boredom. It's quite appropriate given Bruce's raging mood swings, as he often goes from states of frustration to ones of pure antagonism in a single given scene. And even the off-kilter deviations into moments of questionable significance end up having a purpose by the end of the film that will make those who enjoy the ride want to experience it again sometime later.

Filth is a type of film that will appeal to those who can deftly handle depictions of drug abuse, womanizing, manipulation, harassment, and homophobia throughout and see it for the very enjoyable portrayal of a troubled individual it is. It certainly lives up to its title, but is far more engaging and riveting than I expected a film covering the lurid exploits of a dirty cop to be. To drive the point home, this is a film that has a scene in which the protagonist hallucinates that he's having sex with Hitler. Adjust your expectations and morals accordingly.