The climax of this lean, taut thriller is as direct and devastating as the rest of the film. It’s a blistering debut.

| Mar 12, 2025

Distinguished by its sharp compositions, heartfelt performances and unexpected tenderness, it unfolds as a compelling tale in which the influence of Ken Loach is marbled with the brutality of Get Carter.

| Mar 12, 2025

Mr. Williams demonstrates tremendous promise as a genre flick director and as the heir apparent to the British national cinema.

| Apr 21, 2023

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 17, 2011

| Original Score: C+ | Sep 7, 2011

Compelling at times, but material seems exploitive.

| Original Score: C | Aug 10, 2009

Gritty, hellish inner city underworld excursion segue into incidental commuter crime thriller, featuring an unlikely surrogate maternal figure accessory to pedophilia street hooker's redemptive conversion to preteen protectress with a heart of gold.

| Aug 6, 2009

ksemenei noris apo kaysimo, metatrepetai se asimanto anthropokynigito me sapoynoperarize dialeimmata, i eksereynisi ton (anti)iroon den paei kai poly makria ap' tin epifaneia, kai ta paihnidia toy Williams sta mpros-piso tis afigisis gia na soy ftiaksei s

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jun 29, 2008

It's a chase movie and the tension never lets up. Paul Andrew Williams' well observed gritty thriller differs from most British crime films in that the setting isn't the usual dour and brutal crims but a pimp who procures young girls

| Apr 18, 2008

Its tautness is satisfying. Not one line of dialogue is superfluous, not one take is a second too long.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 18, 2008

At the London Critics Circle film awards last year, Lorraine Stanley was nominated for British Actress of the Year, and if you see London to Brighton, you'll easily understand why.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 18, 2008

From the near-hysteria of this compelling opening sequence, Paul Andrew Williams's taut, tough and thoroughly satisfying drama grips the viewer and never lets go until its brutal, surprising conclusion.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Apr 18, 2008

A gritty British gangster film that leaves a bitter aftertaste, Paul Andrew Williams' London to Brighton is as technically assured as it is ultimately superfluous.

Full Review | Feb 20, 2008

English actor-turned-filmmaker Paul Andrew Williams made a striking writing and directing debut with this character-driven thriller, which plays out against a backdrop of desperation, self-loathing and grinding poverty.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Feb 8, 2008

The film is a calling card for its sure-handed rookie director, Paul Andrew Williams, who expertly turns up the suspense knob while establishing a thick sense of doom amid grimy settings.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 8, 2008

Very good but very grim, Paul Andrew Williams' punishing debut doesn't pull many punches -- although the characters certainly field their share of body blows.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Feb 8, 2008

I'm not entirely sure what [director Williams] was trying to pull off in London to Brighton or even if Mr. Williams knew what he was trying to pull off.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 8, 2008

The debut feature of writer-director Paul Andrew Williams is a grim, efficient affair.

| Feb 5, 2008

Spit-polished with Greengrassian artistic din, London to Brighton is kitchen-sink realism without soul.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Jan 29, 2008

With plenty of chutzpah, the young British film-maker Paul Andrew Williams has written and directed a cracking debut feature with enough clout to kick the door in.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jan 27, 2007