The Rise review by Milo

The Rise stars a myriad of upcoming British talent including Luke Treadaway, Iwan Rheon, Gerard Kearns and, of course, Neville Longbottom himself, Matthew Lewis. Set in the north of England (Leeds and Yorkshire), this is the story of Harvey Miller, played by Luke Treadaway, who is released from prison after a year for a crime he did not commit. He reunites with his three best friends, and plots a way to get back at the ruthless drug dealer who set him up.

This film is not a conventional gritty ‘Britflick,’ and despite the northern backdrop of hardship, and small prospects, what we get is a clever and unique heist story that has you rooting for the good guys the whole way through. The bravado and banter between the four best friends has a great tonal blend of comedy and dramatic conflicts, which saves the story from stagnating or becoming predictable. Matthew Lewis’ character is indicative of that, and he manages to provide a flurry of laughs and gags throughout the film, whilst maintaining the serious undertone of the plot that unfolds.

Also joining the cast is another Harry Potter and screen veteran, Timothy Spall, whose presence is a wonderful addition to the small but important role he plays, as Detective Inspector West. His character learns of the story and twist just as we do, and Spall’s subtle yet enlightening charisma adds another dimension to this rather daring tale.

All in all, I went into the film not knowing what to expect, but I was certainly very impressed, the performances were all spot on, and it had that mix of everything that you want from watching a feature film.

The Rise, will release in the UK in September, hitting theatres and online formats on September 20, and is available for preorder on DVD and Blu-ray, with a release date of September 30. It received a UK rating certification of 15.

Note: U.S. readers can buy or rent the film now under the name Wasteland on iTunes and Amazon.