The Knife That Killed Me (film) explained

The Knife That Killed Me
Director:	Kit Monkman Marcus Romer
Producer:	Thomas Mattinson Alan Latham
Screenplay:	Marcus Romer Kit Monkman
Starring:	Jack McMullen Reece Dinsdale Haruka Abe Andrew Dunn Oliver Lee Charles Mnene Josh Brown Thomas Teago Rosie Goddard Andrew Ellis Alfie Stewart Reece Douglas Richard Crehan
Distributor:	Universal Pictures (UK) Focus Features (US)
Runtime:	95 minutes
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Budget:	£3 million

The Knife That Killed Me is a 2014 British drama film that was funded as a Kickstarter project. The story about a teenage boy who becomes involved in knife crime was adapted from the novel by Anthony McGowan.^[1] It was filmed in York, North Yorkshire in a purpose-built green screen stage at GSP Studios (at the former ARTTS International film school) at Bubwith,^[2] entirely on green screens.^[1] Production began in mid-February 2012^[2] and filming began in mid-April.^[3] The film was released on 24 October 2014.

A casting call for the role of Paul was posted on 26 October 2011^[4] and another for 'Yorkshire-based teenagers' was posted on 9 January 2012;^[5] the latter also states that Jeremy Zimmerman was the casting director.

Cast

• Jack McMullen as Paul Varderman, the protagonist of the film and from whose memories it is created^[3]
• Reece Dinsdale as Paul's Dad
• Haruka Abe as Serena
• Andrew Ellis as Bates
• Richard Crehan as Kirk
• Alfie Stewart as Stevie
• Rosie Goddard as Maddy
• Grace Meurisse Francis as Freak
• Andrew Dunn as Mr Boyle
• Katherine Dow Blyton as Mrs Botharm
• Jamie Shelton as Roth, Paul's friend, the school bully, and the catalyst for conflict^[6]
• Reece Douglas as Mickey
• Thomas Teago as Compson and Goddo Gang Member
• Carl Anscombe as Goddo Gang Member
• Oliver Lee as Shane
• Sarah Baxendale as Shane's Mum
• Natalie Gavin as Marlene
• Charles Mnene as Goddo
• Josh Brown as Billy
• Josh Benson as Kevin
• Andrina Carroll as Mrs Eel
• Kerron Darby as Miller
• Sarah Poyzer as Paul's Mum
• Millie Romer as Kirsty
• Tom Collins as Tariq
• Coco Hoyle-Ansett
• Lewis Greenwood as Freak

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Tom Adams ^[7]

Reception

The film received mixed reviews. Wendy Ide of The Times described it as "an experimental British drama... with a densely intensive visual verve."^[8] Leslie Felperin of The Guardian praised the film's stylized look ^[9]

The film will also experience its Italian debut in the specialist youth selection of the Rome Film Festival.^[10]

See also

• 2014 in film
• List of British films of 2014

Notes and References

1. Web site: Feature Adaptation of 'The Knife That Killed Me' Underway . 2012-04-13 .
2. Web site: Universal Pictures Film to be Produced in York . 2012-02-04 .
3. Web site: Filming starts on The Knife That Killed Me . 2012-04-18 .
4. Web site: Feature film casting call . 2011-10-26 .
5. Web site: Feature film casting call for Yorkshire-based teenagers . 2012-01-09 .
6. Web site: The Knife That Killed Me . 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307111715/http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/view/28983/ . 2016-03-07 .
7. Web site: The Knife That Killed Me (2014) - IMDb. IMDb.
8. News: The Knife That Killed Me. Ide. Wendy. October 24, 2014. The Times. Film Reviews. 12 November 2014.
9. News: The Knife That Killed Me review – earnest, anti-violence school drama. Felperin. Leslie. 23 October 2014. The Guardian. 12 November 2014.
10. Web site: International Rome Film Festival - INDEPENDENT AND PARALLEL SIDEBARS: Alice nella città . www.romacinemafest.it . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120708200752/http://www.romacinemafest.it/ecm/web/fcr/en/home/specials/independent-and-parallel-sidebars-alice-nella-citta . 2012-07-08.