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Directed by Michael Booth. Starring Joe O'Byrne, Paul Birtwistle, Donna Henry, Roxanne Gregory, Clive Bonelle, James Foster, Jonathan Williams, Tim Paley.

(Rated 18) Running time 92mins Release date 28th June, 2 Disc DVD 2010 RRP £15.99

Throughout the nineties, inspired by such groundbreaking vehicles as the ‘Blair Witch project’ and the TV sitcom ‘The office’ – mocumentaries became common place in the entertainment market. Such was the demand for this type of film, the audience were treated with an array of low budget/hi go quality story telling. This made way for a new generation of talented directors who otherwise would have struggled to come to the mainstream stage. Micro budgets movies were now taken as seriously by film studios as their mega buck cousins.

Alas, what started as a great incentive for young writer/directors has lead to an abundance of badly made films, as any old bloke off the street decides they can make a feature film.

Often when mocumentries makers promise to deliver the next big thing they very rarely deliver. Then a little ray of sunshine comes and re-confirms my faith in this genre. Enter the truly brilliant ‘Diary of a Bad Lad’.

Frustrated film maker Barry Lick (Jonathan Williams) has been suspended on full pay as a college lecturer. On hearing stories of Blackburn businessman Ray Topham’s (Tom Miller) illegal business dealings, Barry decides to produce a documentary and unearth evidence of property rackets, prostitution, pornography and drug trafficking.

Initially Ray’s inner circle are reluctant to spill the beans to Barry Lick, it is only when Ray’s No2, Tommy Morghen (Joe O'Byrne) starts to talk that the film making team are able to tell the story.

Tommy arranges that all important meeting with Ray Topham. Ray agrees to tell all if Barry’s team create a promotional video for his property firm for free. As the trust builds between Ray and Barry, the documentary team are invited to see the underworld side of Ray’s businesses.

Met with the death of a drug dealer and faced with the task of disposing with the body, the film makers realise they have become part of the very underworld they tried to expose. Tensions run high as one member of the film making team is forced into a drug fuelled sex attack against one of Ray’s business associates. It would appear Barry‘s need for film making success and respect in his failing life has put his young team in grave danger.

Diary of a Bad Lad is a brilliantly executed tale opening with what initially appears to be a black comedy. As the story continues the audience are taken on a very dark trail of sex, drugs and violence. Directed by Michael Booth, who plays the character Michael in the film, and written by the films lead Jonathan Williams, the film is beautifully paced and very exciting at times. What tends to let this type of film down at times is the acting, but rest assured Booth and Williams have brought together a fantastic new cast who are completely convincing from the offset.

This is a surprisingly good film full of intensity and possibly with such a frightening fictional tale it could act as a warning to those bad film makers who may just believe this story to be true. This could stop them producing the drivel we are forced to endure throughout the year.

Maybe the ‘Diary of a Bad Lad’ could be used as an educational video for the dangers of film making and save the public from the constant crap. All hail ‘Diary of a Bad Lad!!!

Special Features include:

Extended Introduction, Extra footage, Documentary: It’s the truth (Featurette), Bad lad Crew Biogs.

Nick Gibbs-McNeil.

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