by Kate Bugos
Subcultures make for great film subjects- the super stylised costumes, the exciting soundtracks, and the pre-selected specific settings and locations. There are so many subcultural films out there that essentially seem like copies of one another, so we’ve chosen our five favourites to give you a taste of British subcultures on screen. From ravers to casuals, we’ve got something for everyone, so check it out.
1. Human Traffic
Human Traffic is a dive into the vibrant raver lifestyle of the UK in the 90s. It was the film debut of iconic English actor Danny Dyer, and is a cult favourite even today. This ensemble film follows five young adults “living for the weekend”, going through all sorts of interpersonal drama across a weekend in Cardiff involving drugs, sex, and heavy jungle beats. Alongside Danny Dyer and John Simms, there are some great easter egg DJ cameos, including tech house superstar Carl Cox and hip hop DJ Mad Doctor X. Not to mention the iconic soundtrack, with era appropriate bangers from artists like Fatboy Slim, Armand Van Helden, and Primal Scream, all mixed by renowned DJ Peter Tong.
2. Quadrophenia
Jumping back a couple decades, Quadrophenia is a critically acclaimed film adaptation of The Who’s rock opera. The film revolved around the infamous conflict between the Mods and Rockers of the 1960s, revolving around a young Mod in London whose life descends into chaos following the historically iconic Brighton beach brawl. Although The Who don’t feature in the film, there are plenty of other memorable faces, like Brit-nominated punk icon Toyah, subcultural film star Phil Daniels, and a man who needs no introduction, Sting. Quadrophenia has bagged a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so it’s certainly not one to miss.
3. Made in Britain
This film explores the darker side of skinhead culture- the racist, violent, delinquent side. The plot follows Trevor, a 16 year old good for nothing skinhead, and his social worker desperately trying to put him back on the right track. If you didn’t know the context, you might almost think Made in Britain was a documentary- both because of the style of the film and Tim Roth’s impenetrably realistic portrayal of a mislead, anti social teen. An interesting perspective on the social disenchantment and depression of the Thatcher era, Roth plays a very intelligent young man who feels let down by his treatment by the world around him. This incredibly vulgar yet insightful made for TV movie is a must see for anyone interested in skinhead culture.
4. This Is England
Released in 2006 but set in the late 80s, This Is England is another film dealing with the racist side of skinhead culture. It features a group of young skinheads divided into two factions, one apolitical and one led by a English nationalist and racist ex convict. The film explores the multicultural roots of the movement, as well as the social factors that led some skinheads to turn to nationalist groups and commit racially motivated hate crimes. The star of this film is only twelve years old, making his inner struggle between the two factions all the more emotionally hard hitting. There are a further 3 TV films in the This Is England series that go on to explore a range of other iconic English subcultures, including mods and ravers.
5. The Firm
The Firm is a 1989 TV film starring Gary Oldman as the leader of a gang of football hooligans. The film was called controversial for its depictions of violence, but ultimately hailed by critics as a fantastic exploration of Thatcher’s England and football hooligan culture, and is often credited as Gary Oldman’s greatest ever performance. It’s one of the few good movies out there exploring “casual” subculture, a prominent subsection of football hooliganism that started in the late 70s. The film was less successfully remade in 2009, and both the original and the remake are to an extent inspired by the long standing rivalry between football clubs Millwall and West Ham.
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