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Streaming: Protein (2024) by Tony Burke: The Cannibal Who Started a Turf War

A Dark, Gritty British Crime Horror Protein is a British crime and horror film with an 18 certificate and a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes (100 minutes). Written and directed by Tony Burke, the film is a dark, provocative take on gang violence and extreme fixation. The plot centers on an ex-soldier turned gym-obsessed serial killer who begins murdering and eating local drug dealers for their protein. This act of cannibalism inadvertently sparks a brutal and bloodthirsty turf war between rival gangs who believe a rival faction is eliminating their supply. The film is set in the authentic Northern UK location of Llanelli, Wales.

Why to watch this movie: Subversive Humor and Unique Horror Premise

  • Provocative and Original Concept: The high-concept premise of a serial killer motivated by bodybuilding needs is darkly original and highly provocative, fusing the crime thriller with an unconventional form of body horror.

  • Gritty UK Realism with Humor: The film manages to be both "dark and gritty" but often "very funny," with reviewers praising the hilarious dialogue between amateur drug dealers that provides moments of relief from the violence.

  • Brilliantly Understated Performance: The main actor, Craig Russell (as Sion), delivers a "brilliantly understated performance." His character is silent and sullen, creating a "mesmeric" effect that makes the simple action of the killer deeply unsettling.

  • A Director to Watch: Director Tony Burke has been called a "cokehead Mike Leigh" by The Guardian, suggesting a blend of authentic, kitchen-sink British drama with a manic, dark, and subversive energy.

What Trend is followed?: The UK Social Horror/Gore-Noir Protein follows the trend of the "UK Social Horror" or "Gore-Noir," a style that grounds extreme horror elements (cannibalism) within the authentic, gritty settings of British working-class social realism.

  • Shane Meadows / Ben Wheatley Influence: The film's blend of dark subject matter, naturalistic Northern dialogue, and sudden humor gives it "shades of Shane Meadows' Dead Man's Shoes and Down Terrace," linking it to a tradition of acclaimed, unsentimental UK drama.

  • The 'Everyman' Monster: The monster is not supernatural but a troubled "Ex squaddie suffering from PTSD," a trend that uses realistic societal issues (veteran mental health, economic struggle) to create a terrifying and tragic figure.

  • Independent Spirit: The film's extremely tight budget and quick 9.5-day shoot reflect the enduring spirit of bold, micro-budget British filmmaking that prioritizes provocative storytelling over expensive production.

Director's Vision: The Sullen Silence of Violence

  • Violence as Necessity: Director Tony Burke and co-writer Mike Oughton structure the plot to show that the serial killings are not random but motivated by a dark, almost clinical necessity (protein). The killings are a catalyst for the predictable, human violence of the turf war.

  • Mesmeric Performance: The director deliberately utilizes the main actor’s "less lines of dialogue or less desire to express himself," trusting the performer to convey the character's post-PTSD trauma and hunger through quiet intensity and physical presence.

  • Irony of the Turf War: The film’s dark irony—that a cannibal's diet sparks a massive, human gang conflict—is central to the director's vision to satirize the pettiness and absurdity of gangland violence.

Themes: The Body, Addiction, and The Consequences of Trauma

  • The Horrors of the Body: The film uses the extreme act of cannibalism as a grotesque metaphor for addiction and obsession, driven by the killer's desire to "bulk up his frail & previously bullied body"—an extreme consequence of body image issues and trauma.

  • The Cost of PTSD: The killer's trauma (implied PTSD) is the root cause of his detachment and violence, exploring how unresolved mental anguish can turn a person into a genuine monster.

  • Revenge and Directionlessness: The narrative is described as a "revenge movie, without an obvious direction," suggesting the film is ultimately about the aimlessness and futility of the violent lifestyle that the characters are trapped within.

Key success factors: Controversial Premise and Cult Appeal

  • The Shock Factor: The film's highly provocative cannibalism and drug-gang plot ensures high curiosity and attention from horror and crime fans.

  • Regional Authenticity: The use of an authentic Welsh setting and cast adds a layer of genuine grit that makes the darkness feel earned and realistic.

  • Strong Word-of-Mouth: The film has generated passionate word-of-mouth among its target audience, who view it as a compelling and entertaining cult discovery.

Critics reception: No Major Critic Consensus Yet Protein has not yet received a consensus from major critics, but the small number of early reviews suggest a highly provocative film that is both praised for its wit and criticized for its silliness.

Reviews: Highly Polarized and Enthusiastic User reviews are extremely polarized, reflecting the film's controversial and unconventional style.

  • Enthusiastic Reviews (9-10/10): Call the film a "masterpiece" and "brilliantly understated," comparing the director to "cokehead Mike Leigh." They celebrate the humor, the subtle performance, and the welcome relief provided by the comedy.

  • Negative Reviews (1-5/10): Call the film "very very silly," a "poor man's 'Dead Man's Shoes'," and a "properly dire attempt at filmmaking," with one reviewer accusing the positive scores of being connected to the production.

What Movie Trend film is following: The Transgressive Black Comedy The film follows the trend of "transgressive black comedy," which uses shocking, morally ambiguous acts (like cannibalism) and extreme violence to create a satirical, often hilarious critique of society and morality. This trend is designed to provoke and often sits at the intersection of genre and art-house cinema.

What Big Social Trend is following: Mental Health and the Trauma of Service The film taps into the major social trend of discussing the mental health crisis among veterans and the trauma of military service (PTSD). By making the monster a former soldier whose violence is rooted in his psychological distress, the film uses the sensational plot to comment on the lack of support and the tragic consequences of neglected trauma.

Final Verdict: A Cult-Worthy, Darkly Funny Shock-Thriller Protein is a bold, uncompromising, and darkly funny crime-horror film that is guaranteed to be divisive. Director Tony Burke has created a unique hybrid that is more than just gore—it is a subversive satire with an intense lead performance. Recommended for fans of gritty British crime and black comedy who enjoy the style of Shane Meadows and are looking for a highly original, cult-worthy shock-thriller.

The Black Market Banquet: Genre-Bending Titles

Due to its unique blend of gritty British crime, dark comedy, and extreme horror, Protein is difficult to categorize. The film's spirit is best captured by other films that have striking, memorable titles and transgressive concepts that match its raw, genre-bending energy.

  • Dead Man's Shoes (2004): UK Gritty Revenge Thriller – A soldier returns to deliver brutal, personal revenge.

  • A Field in England (2013): British Civil War Psychedelic Horror – A mind-bending, hallucinatory historical horror featuring drug use and dark chaos.

  • I Am Not a Serial Killer (2016): Indie Psychological Horror – A teenager with homicidal tendencies tries to suppress his urges while hunting an actual serial killer.

  • Sightseers (2012): Dark British Comedy/Thriller – A murderous couple's romantic caravan holiday devolves into a hilarious, escalating crime spree.

  • In Order of Disappearance (2014): Norwegian Black Comedy/Action – A snowplow driver seeks violent revenge on a gang that killed his son.

  • Tusk (2014): Transgressive Body Horror – A podcaster is abducted and surgically transformed into a walrus.


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