WFG RATING: B

Kaleidoscope Entertainment presents a Seraphim Film production. Written and directed by Michael Head. Produced by Rohit Nathaniel and Gavin Sanctis. Cinematography by Sebastian Cort. Editing by Charlie Fawcett.

Stars Michael Head, Charlie Clapham, Alan Ford, Maisie Smith, Gary Webster, Frank Harper, Adam Deacon, Vas Blackwood, Daniel O’Reilly, Alexandra Kate, Charlotte Kirk, and John Hannah.

A crime family is on the verge of breaking down in this funny but at times confusing British gangster comedy.

The Roman Family are one of the biggest crime families in North London. When the former boss, George, had been killed, his son Henry was taken in by his uncle Mick, who adopted the name Roman. Things seem to be okay for a while until Henry and his “brother” Jimmy begin to clash over who will take over. The two couldn’t be more polar opposites. Jimmy is level-headed and has a loyalty to the family. Henry, on the other hand, is too brash and hot-headed. Sometimes for his own good.

Through the eyes of those who have worked within the Roman family as well as family members, we see the power struggle begin to slowly emerge. When Mick is revealed to have cancer, Henry and Jimmy really go at odds with each other. Only one of these brothers will come out as the new head of the family. Who will it be and what will be the consequences?

You’ve got to hand it to Michael Head for becoming the new face of the “British gangster comedy”. After writing and appearing in A Gangster’s Kiss, released earlier this year, Head makes his directorial debut with this film, which has its moments but can be quite confusing if you don’t pay attention enough. It is a pretty good directorial debut in terms of its intention, but the constant juxtaposition between different time periods and stories can make your head nearly explode. 

Head takes on one of the two central roles, in this case, the hot-headed Henry Roman. Henry likes to think he’s the only one capable of being the new head of the family should the current boss dies. However, it’s clear the boys are more loyal to the level-headed Jimmy, played by A Gangster’s Kiss’ Charlie Clapham. This could end up becoming somewhat of a typecast for these two with Head as the hot-headed rascal with Clapham the more grounded and level-headed.

Despite his face on the marketing, John Hannah makes only a cameo as “The Postman”, an ally of the Roman family who is a conspiracy theorist who thinks he’s always being followed. When he tries to convince two lackeys of the family that he’s being bugged, they go to his house, where they meet a bikini-clad Lena, the Postman’s wife, played by Charlotte Kirk (also in a cameo appearance). If there are some funny highlights, they are Vas Blackwood’s Edgar, who sports a bad wig and is reminiscent of the late Charlie Barnett’s Tyrone in DC Cab; and Alan Ford’s aging member Scats, whose attempt at a home robbery leads to a sudden death he wasn’t even expecting. Like A Gangster’s Kiss, things go from funny to dark in the final act. 

Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire is a pretty funny gangster comedy. However, you have to pay attention or you will be confused. Michael Head once again shows he is capable of making a film on this level.