Tony (2009)

Option 1Option 2

Avg Rating: 4.3 / 5. Voted: 40

No one cared thus far. Do you?

AKA:
Year: 2009
Directed by: Gerard Johnson
Starring: Peter Ferdinando (Tony), Ricky Grover (Davy’s Dad)
Country: UK
Language: English (English subtitles)
Runtime: 01:12:39
Genres: Serial Killers

Plot – Spoilers:
Tony is a lonely unemployed man who lives in a council apartment and spends his time at home watching action flicks of the likes of Van Damme and Steven Seagal. He indulges in stilted conversations with strangers on the streets, but rarely receives even an acknowledgement of his presence. There isn’t anything obviously sinister about him until we are introduced to his serial killing side when he awkwardly hosts a couple of junkies at his place. Tony disarms his victims with a meek personality that appears to be pathetic and a bully-magnet before catching them off-guard when they least expect a threat of violence from him.

One of the scenes in the movie has him waking up with a dead man in bed and offering him breakfast. So more than being a movie about a serial killer, Tony is a slow-moving but great story of a terribly lonely man letting out desperate pleas for companionship. Sure, there are millions of lonely people and almost every one of them doesn’t go around killing people. In this respect, the film doesn’t really offer moral justification for Tony’s deeds, but instead allows us to follow one such character through his daily routine.

Favourite Scenes:
1. The plaster lady scene:
Though you’re tempted to think there is danger looming over her, you instinctively feel her politeness will ensure she’ll be fine. In fact, her chat with him is in stark contrast to every other interaction he has in the movie where he is ignored, bullied or taken advantage of.

2. The gay prostitute:
The conversation with Tony is painful and you can see him trying to hold his patience together as he appears hell bent on getting something out of the time he has already invested into their rendezvous.

guest
14 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Joe
Joe
May 11, 2020 9:26 pm

Good one, sort of like Dahmer, the British Tony is an awkward, lonely, socially inept man desperate for some connection with other human beings, but most of them turn out to be shitty people anyway. So, despite his horrific deeds your sympathy is more with him than his victims. He’s not that frightening but you know what he is capable of. Well-made and well acted.

Adina
Adina
October 9, 2020 1:10 pm

Good movie

Lotty Da
Lotty Da
February 7, 2021 5:37 am

bravo well done… I enjoyed this one. a few scenes dragged on, but in all still good enough to keep you watching. I’m waiting on Tony 2… THANKS AGAIN EFFEDUP

Dr Harris
Dr Harris
February 28, 2021 11:13 pm

Excellent. A nice British slice of slightly depressing yet humourous cinema. With a neat cast of UK actors,…. Well executed.. well scripted and particularly good casting. Highly recommended

OneBalledHarryWithNoHair
OneBalledHarryWithNoHair
March 1, 2021 8:33 pm

Liked that one very much. Very good take on that serial killer topic.
Loved how they captured the loneliness and alienation of Tony. As a viewer you are constantly thinking about the events that might get him that way.

Matisse Famke
Matisse Famke
March 2, 2021 6:19 am

Honest chap, impeccable foible. Rather partial to this film, much gratitude EUM x

big drip
big drip
April 26, 2021 12:46 am

Very convincing portrayal by Peter Ferdinando, thank you EUM!

andrea
andrea
September 7, 2021 1:13 pm

kept forgetting hes a serial killer

An_Oldboy
An_Oldboy
April 17, 2022 11:08 am

A solid little film. The lead actor gives a very good performance playing the socially dysfunctional serial killer Tony. The charm of the film is watching Tony trying to interact with people, especially his victims. 4/5 video tapes

lurker
lurker
June 9, 2022 11:58 pm

On second viewing it still holds up very well. For me it has a charm because I know and have been on many of the streets he wanders and met many of the charactors he has met. The nostalgia of prostitute cards, dvd sales people and baked beans on toast (the most balanced meal you can ever have) all add to my comfort. Plus he really does only kill people who are taking advantage of his good nature. The nice ones all get a second chance.

Bert
Bert
August 14, 2022 6:09 pm

Good flic. The rest of Gerard Johnson’s movies are also good, and deserve a spot in anyone’s effed-up movie list

Bast
Bast
August 15, 2022 12:37 am

A little Gem.