Meadows' film is narratively straightforward: it stars Paddy Considine as Richard, a soldier returning to his small Derbyshire town after seven years' absence, who wants to confront the sleazy thugs that viciously bullied his learning-disabled brother Anthony, played by Toby Kebbell.
My aim has always been to show the minimum amount of violence, but the maximum impact that it can have on screen – Shane Meadows Paddy Considine's Richard wears a gas mask to sinister effect – something the actor came up with via improvisation Most bullies have been bullied themselves, so I didn't just want to whack them in as two-dimensional thugs – Shane Meadows
"Most bullies have been bullied themselves, so I didn't just want to whack them in as two-dimensional thugs. What they've done is disgusting. But at the same time: where I grew up, it was a mixed bag. You end up with mates or in these situations where you may be hanging around with people that you wouldn't necessarily choose to later. You end up having a soft spot for them even if they're not the nicest. So it's never simple.