Based on The Kid: A True Story and subsequent volume, The Kid Moves On, Kevin Lewis’ harrowing memoirs make for a gruesome rites-of-passage. Born into poverty, he bounced from foster parents to children’s home and then back to his abusive parents once more. Later in life he’d become a figure in London’s underworld — a bare-knuckle boxer buoyed by years of impotent rage. The casting is excellent — Kevin as either a boy, adolescent or adult is a convincing mix of anger, hurt and longing, while Natascha McElhone as his cruelly deranged mother is nearly unrecognisable. Nick Moran shows some nice flourishes and, perhaps given his time on Guy Ritchie’s sets, he frames a fight beautifully too.
The Kid Review
Abused at home, bullied at school and abandoned by social services, Kevin Lewis finds a place in London's gang culture where he quickly develops a name - 'The Kid' - and a reputation for himself.
Release Date:
17 Sep 2010
Running Time:
100 minutes
Certificate:
15
Original Title:
Kid, The
Strong performances by Rupert Friend and Augustus Prew as the grown-up and teenage Kevin give Moran's rite-of-passage tale genuine emotional ballast. A worthy follow-up to Telstar.
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