''Wild Bill'' is a 2011 British crime

comedy drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple co ...

film directed by

Dexter Fletcher Dexter Fletcher (born 31 January 1966) is an English film director and actor. He has appeared in Guy Ritchie's ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'', as well as in television shows such as the comedy drama '' Hotel Babylon'' and the HBO series ...

and starring

Charlie Creed-Miles Charlie Creed-Miles (born 24 March 1972) is an English actor and musician. Creed-Miles was born in Nottingham, and had his first starring screen role, aged 21, in ''The Punk'' (1993). His brief relationship with actress Samantha Morton Sam ...

and

Andy Serkis Andrew Clement Serkis (born 20 April 1964) is an English actor, director, and producer. He is best known for his performance capture roles comprising motion capture acting, animation, and voice work for computer-generated characters such as Goll ...

. It was released in UK cinemas on 23 March 2012.

Plot

Bill (

) is paroled after serving an eight year prison sentence for drug related offences. Returning to his home in

East London East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the f ...

Bill finds his two sons, 15-year-old Dean (

Will Poulter William Jack Poulter (born 28 January 1993) is a British actor. He first gained recognition for his role as Eustace Scrubb in the fantasy adventure film '' The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'' (2010). He received critical ...

) and 11-year-old Jimmy (Sammy Williams) abandoned by their mother, Dean having dropped out of school to work and take care of Jimmy on his own. Dean makes it clear to Bill that he is not welcome in either his or Jimmy's lives. Bill's former criminal associates Dickie (

Neil Maskell Neil Maskell (born 1976) is an English actor, writer and director who is known for his appearances in British crime and horror films such as '' The Football Factory'' and ''Kill List''. Early life Maskell was born in London. As a youth, he pl ...

) and Terry (

Leo Gregory Leo Gregory (born 22 November 1978) is a London born English film, television, voice-over artist and pantomime actor. Best known for starring as Bovver in '' Green Street'' (2005). Acting career Gregory has appeared in films such as the BAFTA w ...

) offer Bill some

drug dealing The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs throug ...

. Bill is on license and refuses, not wanting to return to prison. Bill instead intends to go to

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

and work on the oil rigs. During a parole meeting Bill finds out that his sons, under aged and without a legal guardian will be surrendered to

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home (residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family mem ...

. Reluctant to be a father to Dean and Jimmy, Bill still insists on going to Scotland; Dean reveals that he has confiscated his drugs and threatens to tell the police if Bill doesn't remain. Despite the number of challenges ahead of him, such as finding suitable work as well as Jimmy's delinquent behaviour, Bill is able to find legal work and bond with Jimmy. Drug lord Glen (

) who Bill went to prison for, is unnerved by Bill's insistence on going straight and being in his territory; believing his behaviour will upset his business arrangements. Jimmy's delinquency and tendency to abscond from school to be a drug mule for Pill (

Iwan Rheon Iwan Rheon (, ; born 13 May 1985) is a Welsh actor, singer, and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Bellamy in the E4 series ''Misfits'', Ramsay Bolton in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'', and Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars ...

), also an employee of Glen's brother Terry, threatens to undo Bill's progress. One evening, Jimmy is nearly caught and arrested for possessing a large amount of cocaine. Jimmy disposes of the drugs to avoid arrest but this puts him in a bad position with Terry. Dean visits his love interest Steph ( Charlotte Spencer) where the two nearly have sex before her father unexpectedly comes home. Jimmy, who had followed Dean to Steph's home, notices a large amount of cash in the house and steals it to pay off Terry, though the amount stolen isn't nearly enough. Terry demands Jimmy work off the remaining balance, threatening to burn down his flat if he doesn't. When Steph recognizes the theft she immediately blames Dean for it, who in turn surmises that it was Jimmy. Roxy ( Liz White) who is one of Terry's

prostitutes Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-penet ...

confides in Bill that Jimmy is working for Terry. After a lengthy search for Jimmy, Bill corners and confronts his son and promises him that he will end up in prison just like his father if he continues down the path he is on. Bill returns to Steph's home with the stolen money, who in turn returns to make amends and reconcile with Dean. Terry demands that Bill meet him at a local

pub A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

; Bill rationalising that in returning the drugs Jimmy had on him he can release Jimmy from Terry's control. Terry has other intentions, including never releasing Jimmy from his obligations as well as killing Bill for his reluctance to leave. Bill easily dispatches Terry and his goons, many of whom abandon him in the face of "Wild Bill". Returning home with Jimmy, Bill is intercepted by Glen. Bill reaffirms his commitment to his honest and law abiding life, though his earlier fight obviously violates his conditions of parole. Knowing he will be sent back to prison, Dean, Roxy, Steph and Jimmy see him off; Dean promising that he is welcome back when he returns. Inside the police car, Bill asks the officer if he has children as he wells up. Bill then begins to smile and laugh, remaining optimistic about his eventual return this time.

Cast

as Wild Bill *

as Dean * Sammy Williams as Jimmy *

as Pill * Charlotte Spencer as Steph * Morgan Watkins as Viktoras * Rad Kaim as Jonas * Aaron Ishmael as Boz * Liz White as Roxy *

Hardeep Singh Kohli Hardeep Singh Kohli (born 21 January 1969) is a Scottish presenter of Sikh heritage who has appeared on various radio and television programmes. Background Kohli was born in London and moved to Glasgow, Scotland, when he was four. His parents ...

as Raj *

as Dickie *

as Terry *

Mark Monero Mark Monero (born 1968) is a British actor and musician. He has had various roles including parts in ''Babylon'', ''Wilt'', ''Prayer for the Dying'', ''Sid and Nancy'' and remains best known for his role as Steve Elliot in the BBC soap opera '' ...

as Freddy *

Peter-Hugo Daly Peter-Hugo Daly (born 1956 in Islington, London) is an actor and musician. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was a member of new wave band the Cross along with fellow actor Phil Daniels. The band released a 1979 single, "Kill Another Night" ...

as Keith *

Olivia Williams Olivia Haigh Williams (born 26 July 1968) is a British actress who has appeared in British and American films and television. After studying drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for two years followed by three years at the Royal Shakesp ...

as Kelly *

Jaime Winstone Jaime Margaret Winstone (born 6 May 1985) is an English actress, best known for her roles in '' Kidulthood'', '' Dead Set'', '' After Hours'' and her portrayal of Barbara Windsor in ''Babs''. Early life and education Winstone was born in Camd ...

as Helen * Elly Fairman as Miss Treedley *

as Glen * Graham Fletcher-Cook as Policeman *

Sean Pertwee Sean Carl Roland Pertwee''England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007'' (born 4 June 1964) is an English actor, narrator and producer with an extensive career since the 1980s in television and cinema productions. He is known ...

as Jack (Policeman) *

Lee Whitlock Lee Whitlock (17 April 1968 – 17 February 2023) was a British television and film actor. Of the many roles in film and TV, they included ''Shine on Harvey Moon'' (1982), '' Two of Us'' (1987), '' Casualty'' (1991), ''Grange Hill'' (1993), '' S ...

as Boss * Billy Holland as Mini Hoodie *

as Mysterious Barry

Production

The film was shot primarily in the East End of London. Fletcher cites directors such as

Emir Kusturica Emir Kusturica ( sr-cyrl, Емир Кустурица; born 24 November 1954) is a Serbian film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and musician. He also has French citizenship.http://www.serbia.com/emir-kusturica-artist-builder-and-anti-glo ...

Franklin Schaffner Franklin James Schaffner (May 30, 1920July 2, 1989) was an American film, television, and stage director. He won an Academy Award for Best Director for ''Patton'' (1970), and is known for the films ''Planet of the Apes'' (1968), ''Nicholas and Al ...

, Gerard Johnson and films like ''

Black Cat, White Cat ''Black Cat, White Cat'' ( sr, Црна мачка, бели мачор, Crna mačka, beli mačor) is a 1998 Serbian romantic black comedy film directed by Emir Kusturica. It won the Silver Lion for Best Direction at the Venice Film Festival. T ...

'', ''

Tony Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leagu ...

'' and ''

Underground Underground most commonly refers to: * Subterranea (geography), the regions beneath the surface of the Earth Underground may also refer to: Places * The Underground (Boston), a music club in the Allston neighborhood of Boston * The Underground (S ...

'' as influences.

Reception

''Wild Bill'' holds a 100% rating on review site Rotten Tomatoes, based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10.

References

External links

* *
Screen Daily
{{Dexter Fletcher , state=collapsed 2011 films British prison drama films Films set in London Films directed by Dexter Fletcher 2011 directorial debut films 2010s prison drama films 2010s English-language films 2010s British films