Guns, strippers and cocaine by the pound: How does “Pusher” know so much about my life?
This nasty but routine drug thriller, a remake of the 1996 film from cult sensation Nicolas Winding Refn, is directed by Luis Prieto with frantic touches and an eerie ’80s synth score, but the plot is straight off the shelf. London pusher Frank (Richard Coyle) and his goofy sidekick (Bronson Webb) get involved in a drug deal that is broken up by cops, and Frank is forced to drop half a key of dope in the river so as not to be captured with the gear on him. This puts him 50,000 pounds in debt to the local drug lord, who isn’t interested in extending credit. Frank has to come up with the money or give up his life, unless he can escape to Spain with his stripper girlfriend (Agyness Deyn).
Seen it all a million times before? Then you must not get out much. Prieto does what he can to keep things roaring along, but the overall effect is not a lot more stimulating than your average diet cola.