This gangster tale set in 1968 London is told in flashback style when an old gangster (McDowell) chronicles his ruthless rise from trainee gangster to top of the mob.

Freddie Mays is the Butcher of Mayfair and has recently employed a new gangster (Paul Bettany).

The new recruit is enjoying the lifestyle - the money, the women, the clothes and of course, the violence. He is excelling at his work and begins to even frighten the big boss.

Lennie Taylor is a rival gang boss and is hatching a plot to kill Freddie, but the new Gangster finds out and plans to take out Lennie and Freddie at the same time.

Lennie winds up in jail while Freddie ends up dead and the new number one gangster finds himself alone at the top.

This is a gritty, cold and violent film, which will grip you and chill you from start to finish.

It is told from a gangster's point of view and effectively draws the viewer into the world and the mind of a violent criminal.

Obsession and envy are portrayed beautifully by the young gangster and the path they lead to greed, cunning deceit and deadly violence is inevitable yet shocking.

Gruesome torture scenes will tempt you to close your eyes but resist, as you'll miss some of the most artistically choreographed violence in recent years - and remember - it's only ketchup!

Despite the violence, the film still finds some room for humour, some of it eliciting nervous laughter during the more violent scenes.

McDowell gives a brilliant performance as the old gangster and his younger cast-mates, Paul Bettany, David Thewlis and Saffron Burrows, act their hearts out and obviously enjoyed filming every second of this exciting movie.

Dominic Bloch