Cherrybomb
2009 · Directed by Lisa Barros D'Sa, Glenn Leyburn
Original language: English
- drama
- romance
- thriller
The story
Teenagers Luke, Malachy, and Michelle embark on a wild weekend of drink, drugs, shop-lifting and stealing cars. But what starts out as a game turns deadly serious when the three discover that they can't get off the wild ride they've set in motion.
What it’s like
Grey Belfast streets under sodium streetlights and rain-slick tarmac, shot with restless handheld camera that stays close to its teenagers' faces in cramped cars, flats and corner shops. The palette is washed-out and cold, with flashes of warm interior light when the group is together, and the soundtrack leans on loud, bass-heavy pop and rock that spikes against long stretches of tense quiet. Its vibe is reckless, sour and restless: a wired, adrenaline-driven unease that slides toward dread as the fun curdles. It suits a late-night watch when you want something raw and kinetic rather than soothing. Pacing is brisk and jittery, with rapid cuts during the thefts and chases and slower, heavier beats in the aftermath. Emotionally it is about friendship bending under pressure and the fear of being unable to stop once you've started. Intensity is moderate: drug and alcohol use, shoplifting and car theft, scuffles and threats of violence, with some sharp, sudden bursts of harm rather than gore. Sexual content is limited. For viewers drawn to gritty, youthful crime dramas with a bleak edge.
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