Rent Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance (2023)

Confusing sequel is still better than the last four - Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance review by AER

This is Rise of the Footsoldier 6! Craig Fairbrass' signature role of the late (not so great) Pat Tate shows no sign of wilting. For this fifth sequel he goes it alone without Terry Stone (Tony Tucker) or Roland Manookian (Craig Rolfe), so there's no silly wigs to laugh at. Surely that makes it an improvement. Well, this one is probably 100% fabrication and is inspired by revenge flicks like Get Carter, The Equalizer and a dozen Liam Neeson flicks. It's better for it, but I did wonder why such decent actors as Stephen McCole and Tara Fitzgerald show up in pretty thankless supporting roles - surely life isn't that hard!? You will chuckle at the ending which revolves around a mysterious unseen character dusting down a Landrover to show no trace of fingerprints. It's like that spot the celebrity bit from A QUESTION OF SPORT as it's set to Lynard Skynard's Free Bird. The film is lame, but it gets two stars because it's an improvement on the last four films (and that's not saying much). I wonder what the real Essex Boys would say if they saw these films. Please let this be the last one - it's getting like Police Academy. Craig Fairbrass is a decent actor... Someone help him out with a good role!!! If you are a fan of his, watch MUSCLE (instead).

Also I was confused. Where in the cycle does this film sit? People that were shot to death appear at the end of the film? Is it a flashback or does this one slot in between ep, 3 and 4? Whatever.