Footsoldier doesn't so much pack a punch as leave you feeling violated and more importantly, robs you of two hours of your life you won't get back.

The direction smacks of sadism, especially the obvious glee Gilbey gets from filming violent scenes in close-up and, in the case of the bloody shotgun-to-the-face denouement, in triplicate.

A peculiar but decidedly ordinary addition to the British thug genre.

Fans of British geezer films would be better off checking out I.D. - this is best enjoyed after a night at the pub on DVD.