A boxing gym is the backdrop to this Leeds-based no-budget film drama, created by multi-hyphenate film-maker Lee Murtagh.
The STRAIGHT’NER of the title is a leveller between local gang members and for Fitz (Murtagh), the ‘fixer’ of the community and the owner of the gym, it becomes a deal-breaker or maker between two local gangsters, Paddy (Tasif Khan) and Rastafarian Shakespeare (Jay Shades), who send one each of their best men to the gym to settle a fight, along with a doctor to watch over them.
However, when one of them suddenly drops dead on the canvas, Fitz and his sidekick Slugger (Steve Ward) have to take sudden responsibility for the tragedy, only to find that when they return to the gym, both the victim and the doctor have suddenly disappeared.
Paddy and Shakespeare pay Fitz a visit to come and claim some reward money from him and threaten him with possible death if he doesn’t pay up. Inevitably, the challenges and pressures do begin to yield a lot more complications and a deeper investigation into what has been going on, particularly in trying to find the missing body and the doctor….
Given its’ limitations, STRAIGHT’NER is an appealing film in the realm of films like CREED and Noel Clarke’s London-based trilogy of ‘HOOD films. It’s a refreshing change from the standard South East England offerings because of its’ locale and gives people a different perspective on the British gangland genre and although there is a bit of gunplay and violent threat, is quite a restrained effort.
Overall, STRAIGHT’NER is clearly a labour of love of the participants, with Murtagh proving he can hold numerous hats and offer a gutsy character in the realm of a Rocky Balboa, a fighter with a heart of gold determined to make some good for himself and those around him. Stick with it until the end for some fun outtakes as well which round off a nice little film that deserves reasonable exposure.
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Great review! Really nice to see this little local film reach an international audience.
Well done guys!
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