In terrific, fresh, low-budget '80s-based blue-collar Brit dramedy "The Fence" David Perkins is a rough diamond young Bristol lad who has the new motorbike he'd been saving for stolen... so with the likes of big brother Eugene Simon and mates Deshaye Gaye & Gabriel Howell he goes on a gradually darkening hunt for it through various 'colourful' local characters (like Lee Armstrong, Alexander Lincoln & Paul Holbrook). The soundtrack's rockin' and Sally Phillips offers minor support, but the real stars (both on their debuts) are Perkins (bang on) & writer/director William Stone (great). It's a must see for all Brits of a certain age... especially if they're from the West Country.
18 Reviews
Enjoyable
roylfinch8 September 2023
I like the idea behind it and the acting was good and believable. Set early 80s i'd assume. It's a comedy drama I reckon and there were some wry touches to make you grin and some good bits of script. The story maybe a bit long winded and there were several sad bits but it moved along well and matched my expectations. I kept watching the film, even though expecting maybe, just a half an hour try out. I'd watch it again and the music tracks are good.... The actors were pretty much unknown to me so there's a certain freshness to the screen which makes a nice change. All in all a good and worthwhile watch.
The Fence
CinemaSerf5 November 2023
"Steven" (David Perkins) tries to help his mum get by, by working for a local butcher and then flogging a few illicitly caught trout to a local restaurant now and again. The dad (Neil Berrett) is pretty much a waste of space and his brother "Andrew" (Eugene Simon) is only just out on parole - adding to the headaches of their mother "Sharon" (a few, brief, appearances from Sally Phillips). "Steven" is quite a decent cove as it happens, and has saved up for his dream motorbike - well, it's more of a glorified moped, really. Anyway, he buys it, takes it for a hurl, leaves it outside his house and it's pinched. The police don't care, so he and his brother decide to track it down - easily done as it happens - and that puts in train a series of rather predictable, sometimes comically violent, daft escapades as the brothers tackle the local bullies, the local kingpin and make it clear that their family is not one to be messed with. It helps that it is set in Bristol - a more genteel environment for the cast on screen here. This would not have worked in a gritty, more working class city, but here you can overlook the "posh-boy" elements of the casting and just enjoy what is a quite well written and decently directed low-budget feature. The ending is a wee bit farcical, but there's familial chemistry to be seen here and the acting, though not likely to garner a BAFTA, makes for an engaging look at a family looking out for each other. No, you won't remember it afterwards - but it is worth a watch and you're bound to recall some of the music if you were around in the eighties.
Brought back memories
darrencook-242874 September 2022
Loved the short film.
The feature length was even better .
Took me right back in time with music , costumes , venues , felt right at home watching this.
Excellently filmed and superb casting .
Very believable .
Seen it twice now and will definitely be going again.
Nice to be a cinema that was packed out and everyone laughing and applauding at the end .
Everybody I know who has seen this have all loved it .
Everyone involved should be extremely proud of themselves.
Was perfect from start to finish.
For a low budget film I must say this was much better Than some of the big budget films I've seen on Netflix and other film channels.
Bring on the next one that's what I say William Stone .
A star in the making for sure.
The feature length was even better .
Took me right back in time with music , costumes , venues , felt right at home watching this.
Excellently filmed and superb casting .
Very believable .
Seen it twice now and will definitely be going again.
Nice to be a cinema that was packed out and everyone laughing and applauding at the end .
Everybody I know who has seen this have all loved it .
Everyone involved should be extremely proud of themselves.
Was perfect from start to finish.
For a low budget film I must say this was much better Than some of the big budget films I've seen on Netflix and other film channels.
Bring on the next one that's what I say William Stone .
A star in the making for sure.
I'll sit on the fence
blogward10 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
'The Fence' is a gangsterish drama with a comic touch set in 1980s Bristol, which is the city in western England where they pulled that slaver's statue down a while back.
Two brothers; one is on a suspended sentence for assault (again), which means he'll go back inside if he gets done, the other is trying to to get by as a butcher's boy, but Bristol lowlife keeps dragging him down.
It's nice and brisk, and the cast are having fun, and the music shows exactly why nobody remembers 80's music any more, and i thought it was building up to something.
Billy Wilder said, 'if there's a problem in the third act, the problem is in the first act'. The problem here is that the older brother becomes the main character, his story becomes more important, especially as we've been hearing about him long before he appears. The local gangster Mr. Big (Gibbs, geddit) expects a favour from him, and oh well, never mind. Meanwhile the two smalltime villains are about as convincing as vegetarian bacon.
The ending will make you think, 'Oh, right, I see'. Or 'Oy see', if you're pretending to be from Brizzle. It's not awful, just OK.
Two brothers; one is on a suspended sentence for assault (again), which means he'll go back inside if he gets done, the other is trying to to get by as a butcher's boy, but Bristol lowlife keeps dragging him down.
It's nice and brisk, and the cast are having fun, and the music shows exactly why nobody remembers 80's music any more, and i thought it was building up to something.
Billy Wilder said, 'if there's a problem in the third act, the problem is in the first act'. The problem here is that the older brother becomes the main character, his story becomes more important, especially as we've been hearing about him long before he appears. The local gangster Mr. Big (Gibbs, geddit) expects a favour from him, and oh well, never mind. Meanwhile the two smalltime villains are about as convincing as vegetarian bacon.
The ending will make you think, 'Oh, right, I see'. Or 'Oy see', if you're pretending to be from Brizzle. It's not awful, just OK.
Fantastic bit of 80s working class nostalgia
robcallawayvfr14 August 2023
I loved this film, I found it spot on with the humour and a great cast of characters all portrayed perfectly with brilliant acting.
OK, as a Bristolian who was around Hartcliffe, Withywood and Knowle West in the 80s I may be slightly biased. It was all the harsh realities of life on those estates but with the adding of a rose tint and great soundtrack.
The accents were generally acceptable if not perfect, the settings we're authentic if not always the actual location they were portraying.
The producers have done a great job of capturing a fun story and making a quality enjoyable film. I just hope it gets a wider audience rather than just a word of mouth and local audience.
Full credit to the writer.
OK, as a Bristolian who was around Hartcliffe, Withywood and Knowle West in the 80s I may be slightly biased. It was all the harsh realities of life on those estates but with the adding of a rose tint and great soundtrack.
The accents were generally acceptable if not perfect, the settings we're authentic if not always the actual location they were portraying.
The producers have done a great job of capturing a fun story and making a quality enjoyable film. I just hope it gets a wider audience rather than just a word of mouth and local audience.
Full credit to the writer.
UK FIlm Master of Cliches - The Fence
arthur_tafero20 October 2022
The promo for this film is pretty funny, but that is as entertaining as it gets. The actual film itself is a great collection of cliches, and highly representative of the year 2022, the worst year in the history of film releases. There has been more originality in pancakes made in the Waffle House than in the films of 2022. Out of over 150 films reviewed this year so far; NONE have gotten a rating of 7 or more stars, and less than a handful (a very small handful) of films have a 6 rating. That means that well over 90% of the films from 2022 are rated 5 or below.. That is a really sad commentary on the film industry and does not bode well for filmgoers in the immediate future.
A great film - as good as The Full Monty. A mustsee
julieeosborne17 September 2022
Watched The Fence, an truly great film last night.
Rating 18 (X) due to a bit of glue sniffing; I normally don't watch 18 films, but no issue with this one; at home I'd happily let a 14 year-old see it).
Good thought-provoking viewing for adults of all ages, perhaps especially interesting for those who remember the economically-tough 1980 's as the film is set on a council estate in 1980's.
British made & filmed. This director's first full-length film, but you'd never guess.
A true story, this gritty 1980's film reminded me of The Full Monty.
I strongly recommend going to see The Fence. I saw it at Showcase, but a good choice for arts cinemas and indies too.
Rating 18 (X) due to a bit of glue sniffing; I normally don't watch 18 films, but no issue with this one; at home I'd happily let a 14 year-old see it).
Good thought-provoking viewing for adults of all ages, perhaps especially interesting for those who remember the economically-tough 1980 's as the film is set on a council estate in 1980's.
British made & filmed. This director's first full-length film, but you'd never guess.
A true story, this gritty 1980's film reminded me of The Full Monty.
I strongly recommend going to see The Fence. I saw it at Showcase, but a good choice for arts cinemas and indies too.
Plum-voiced RADA rejects unconvincingly playing 'tough'
dolemite7230 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
About ten minutes into this movie, it became apparent that the makers weren't going for a minimalist vibe...and that the performances (and dialogue) are stilted to the hilt.
Despite the many (fake) positive reviews on IMDB (presumably made by cast & crew) the dialogue (and delivery) is full of amateurish pauses by a cast of well-spoken toffs (replete with plum accents) attempting to act tough and street-wise.
The (much-praised) 'period-detail' was also highly inaccurate too (the fashions were all over the place, the bank notes too modern and the 'needle-drop soundtrack far too random to give the film any kind of identity)
According to other reviews, this film is supposedly a 'comedy/drama'...yet, other than laughing at how amateurish it was...it's comedy extends no further than unconvincing swearing and punching.
The plot is all over the place. First it concerns a young lad (who's fine thieving from others) but suddenly acts all virtuous, when someone steals from him. Then it introduces his (supposed, tough) brother (another plum-voiced RADA reject) getting mixed up with the most unconvincing bunch of (toff) criminals.... Eventually, both characters come together and absolutely none of it rings true.
Even the (likely forced) diversity cast members, all sound like Noel Coward wannabes.
The whole sorry endeavor reminded me of another British movie from 2017 called 'BORSTAL', which featured more bad acting from Enid Blyton rejects with plum accent alongside equally lousy period details.
Director has aspirations to be the next Shane Meadows or Guy Ritchie...sadly, he's more Shane Ritchie.
Despite the many (fake) positive reviews on IMDB (presumably made by cast & crew) the dialogue (and delivery) is full of amateurish pauses by a cast of well-spoken toffs (replete with plum accents) attempting to act tough and street-wise.
The (much-praised) 'period-detail' was also highly inaccurate too (the fashions were all over the place, the bank notes too modern and the 'needle-drop soundtrack far too random to give the film any kind of identity)
According to other reviews, this film is supposedly a 'comedy/drama'...yet, other than laughing at how amateurish it was...it's comedy extends no further than unconvincing swearing and punching.
The plot is all over the place. First it concerns a young lad (who's fine thieving from others) but suddenly acts all virtuous, when someone steals from him. Then it introduces his (supposed, tough) brother (another plum-voiced RADA reject) getting mixed up with the most unconvincing bunch of (toff) criminals.... Eventually, both characters come together and absolutely none of it rings true.
Even the (likely forced) diversity cast members, all sound like Noel Coward wannabes.
The whole sorry endeavor reminded me of another British movie from 2017 called 'BORSTAL', which featured more bad acting from Enid Blyton rejects with plum accent alongside equally lousy period details.
Director has aspirations to be the next Shane Meadows or Guy Ritchie...sadly, he's more Shane Ritchie.
Great film
gaynormilkins21 September 2022
Brilliantly filmed, took us right back to the 80's. This is what it was like. Loved the cars and music, clothes that we used to wear. The houses and decor everything as it was. It was like taking a trip down memory Lane. Very relatable coming from south Bristol myself I remember the tension between Hartcliffe and Knowle West youngsters.
Had us laughing out loud Some sad parts but the reality of the times back then. Hope there are more like this in the future. If you can see it in the cinema it's worth going you won't be disappointed.
I think the young lad who played Steve has a promising career ahead of him.
Had us laughing out loud Some sad parts but the reality of the times back then. Hope there are more like this in the future. If you can see it in the cinema it's worth going you won't be disappointed.
I think the young lad who played Steve has a promising career ahead of him.
Great Film
hayleyclouston1 November 2022
Saw this film recently in Nottingham and really enjoyed it. It transports you back to the early 80s with it's council estate backdrop and cultural themes of the times. The characters are well drawn with their (for me as I remember those times) recognisable demeanours and antics. The story is strong with a moral tone and good pace. Along the way you get some unexpected laughs and great background tracks. The main character is complex - ambitious, caring and loyal. He's a likeable hero figure with a tough nut brother, who himself is a strong, silent type with a soft centre. Sally Phillips does an excellent job of playing their mother. All involved; actors and crew have done a fantastic job - I loved it 😊
A great watch, and fabulous storyline.
thrzghz8 September 2022
I definitely think this film is guna be one of those cult classics! I mean who doesn't love the 80s? Great storyline and really relatable characters, it was an absolute joy to watch! If your thinking about watching you won't be disappointed, it brings back 80s nostalgia, some grit about life in a lower class area of Bristol but it's also really funny and heartwarming it also shows no matter where you come from you can achieve good things, which I think is important for young boys living in that area. I hope the fence gets the notoriety it deserves and goes far and wide! Absolute cracker! 10 stars from me!!!!
Great 80s retro/ flick
alisonthompson-2541914 December 2022
A really fun film. Great to see that you don't need millions to make a great movie. Definitely worth a watch. Great characters and very funny (and also sad). The characters were really relatable and the actors were really well cast. The 80s Soundtrack was good and really added power to the film and supported the strong 80s vibe of the film. I understand that the team who made this film are at the start of their careers and I hope that people discover this movie and bring it the success that it and they deserve!! As a native German speaker I found some of the heavy west country accents difficult but not impossible. Overall a great watch and highly recommended.
Going to be a classic
redevell3 November 2022
Even if you were not around in the 80's you will love this film. There's some great acting and laugh out loud moments, (the punchbag scene). The actors are tremendous and the writing has the phrases at that time down to a tee. Music sets the time and scene wonderfully. Not the usual 80's track list but a real music from the time. It's set in Bristol but will be familiar to anyone who was brought up in a similar area with similar issues. Motorbikes were all the thing at that time and you hadn't lived until you owned one yourself. The helmets were all AGV types and all the small touches like that in this film made it all the more believable. I feel like you want to see more about these young people and how life pans out.
A film I would recommend to watch more than once. Even though some bits are sad it comes over as a feelgood film and I'm sure one to be looked back on with fondness when the actors make films in the future.
Someone reviewed saying 'clichéd' but of course! It's set ion the 80's, one massive cliché that we all love.
A nice tale of one family set around the times in a really well done and not over the top production. A nice change from CGI.
A film I would recommend to watch more than once. Even though some bits are sad it comes over as a feelgood film and I'm sure one to be looked back on with fondness when the actors make films in the future.
Someone reviewed saying 'clichéd' but of course! It's set ion the 80's, one massive cliché that we all love.
A nice tale of one family set around the times in a really well done and not over the top production. A nice change from CGI.
Darkly, comic and nostalgic
Andfinally12 September 2023
When I first looked down the reviews, I was wondering whether they were written by people who worked on the movie as I'm certain this sometimes happens.
However, this is lots of fun with a generally witty script, and a phew laugh out loud moments. For those of us, who can remember what the 80s were like, the old Ford Escort, that struggled to start in cold weather and some cheesy music. With a couple of exceptions, the soundtrack, while not featuring the best music of the 80s by a long way, will still evoke some happy memories.
The lead roles are extremely well played, especially by he always watchable Sally Phillips.
Take some of the story with a pinch of salt and have a good chuckle.
Very much Recommended.
However, this is lots of fun with a generally witty script, and a phew laugh out loud moments. For those of us, who can remember what the 80s were like, the old Ford Escort, that struggled to start in cold weather and some cheesy music. With a couple of exceptions, the soundtrack, while not featuring the best music of the 80s by a long way, will still evoke some happy memories.
The lead roles are extremely well played, especially by he always watchable Sally Phillips.
Take some of the story with a pinch of salt and have a good chuckle.
Very much Recommended.
What a great watch
jamsem201017 September 2023
This was way better than I expected, some great period detail with some great acting performances and some nice comic moments. Started to watch this late at night with a view to watching half now and half the next day but was hooked and stayed up to finish it. The brothers steal the show and the clothing/shops/cars help transport you back to the 80's.
I don't normally leave reviews I just read them on here if it's a film I have never heard of. Ignore the 1 star review it's totally unjustified and the main reason for me leaving a positive one. Not every film appeals to everyone but you generally know what type of film you're going to watch when you choose it. Give this a watch you won't be disappointed.
I don't normally leave reviews I just read them on here if it's a film I have never heard of. Ignore the 1 star review it's totally unjustified and the main reason for me leaving a positive one. Not every film appeals to everyone but you generally know what type of film you're going to watch when you choose it. Give this a watch you won't be disappointed.
Spot on
doveskiies3 March 2024
Absolutely loved this.
The short film was great too, I enjoyed the extra plot they added after the main event. Even though it was a relatively short film, it felt longer and it was choc full of great scenes, camera work and acting.
I was on the edge of my seat for most of this film, got excited over a lot of the music that was in it. I really wish this had more popularity because it's superb and it absolutely nailed its setting and how the characters would have behaved from that era.
The humour in this is perfect and it feels like there's a perfect balance between the main event and all of the cheeky side bits.
I hope for more movies like this.
The short film was great too, I enjoyed the extra plot they added after the main event. Even though it was a relatively short film, it felt longer and it was choc full of great scenes, camera work and acting.
I was on the edge of my seat for most of this film, got excited over a lot of the music that was in it. I really wish this had more popularity because it's superb and it absolutely nailed its setting and how the characters would have behaved from that era.
The humour in this is perfect and it feels like there's a perfect balance between the main event and all of the cheeky side bits.
I hope for more movies like this.
Neat.
g-hbe10 January 2024
An entertaining little film about the highs and lows (mainly lows) of council estate life in the 80's. Lots of low level, petty dealings going on and some serious violence including the death of a friend from drug use, and when a motorbike goes missing things get more serious. Great 80's vibe and soundtrack and there are some really smart 70's cars on show, including the Ford Escort 2 litre and - right at the end of the film - Gibsy's beautiful green Triumph. Some good lines too, including 'brown bread? I didn't know you were GAY!' Some of the dialogue is difficult to follow due to the actors' mumbled delivery.
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