VS.

2018

1h 39m

Drama

Music

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for VS.: Trailer 1

List

85%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

92%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

A troubled foster child is introduced to the rap battle scene. He discovers a natural talent and immerses himself in a world of scathing words, but anger threatens to consume him.

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Steve L

great storyline, super battle raps - thoroughly enjoyable

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/22/24

Full Review

Audience Member

A troubled teenager brought up in the foster care system in the UK finds himself moving to a new home where he stumbles upon an underground rap battle scene. Finding himself skilled in this area he soon gains fame but when he finds the mother who abandoned him living in the same town, his anger and resentment at painful memories from the past mean he becomes a whole lot more hostile and embittered in his battles with his new friends. The film obviously owes something to 8 Mile as it moves along similar themes, however, I would say I enjoyed this more. The rap battles are well written, clever, funny, brutally honest and in some cases very offensive. The story itself is well played out, Connor Swindells was a very decent lead and the film had a lot more heart behind it. The anger and emotion behind his encounters with his mother felt very real and moving. Worth seeing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie,steller cast. Raw, provocative,passioante. This is a great story of a troubled teen ($windells, in his 1st feature film) who finds salvation through battle rap. Strong, raw emotive lyrics set against a great backdrop and great music. Support the British Film Industry. I hear that this great movie is already in the running for BIFA Awards ( Edd Lilly and Connor Swindells) Don not miss this, you will be sorry if you do

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Punchy,vibrant fantastic!! Rap is not quite my thing, but this film is simply awesome

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Ed Lilly

Director

Connor Swindells

Adam

Emily Taaffe

Lisa

Fola Evans-Akingbola

Makayla

Joivan Wade

Blaze

Nicholas Pinnock

Terry

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VS.: Trailer 1

2:01

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Sarah Bradbury

Time Out

Too many moments come off as clichéd or contrived.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 1, 2018

Full Review

Katherine McLaughlin

Sight & Sound

Vs. may set its stall as the British 8 Mile, with its hard-done-by protagonist transmuting his rage into lyrics, but it goes its own way and is refreshingly progressive when it comes to gender and sexuality.

Oct 21, 2018

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Lilly deftly handles a cliched story - there are parallels with everything from Eminem in 8 Mile to boxing drama Creed - giving it a distinctive, persuasive edginess.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 21, 2018

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Formulaic troubled-kid-saved-by-rap drama, made winning by its cast and its novel British (Southend) setting.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 29, 2019

Full Review

Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

A vibrant and febrile glimpse into a world where words are the weapon of choice.

Feb 5, 2019

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Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

It's energetic and eager to please, and it certainly doesn't insult its viewers' literacy: the rap battles are cleverly written.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 22, 2018

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Synopsis

A troubled foster child is introduced to the rap battle scene. He discovers a natural talent and immerses himself in a world of scathing words, but anger threatens to consume him.

Director: Ed Lilly
Screenwriter: Daniel Hayes, Ed Lilly
Production Co: BBC Films
Genre: Drama, Music
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 20, 2019
Runtime: 1h 39m