Review published 30th December 2025

Watch the official trailer.

Best Friends, Bullies, and a Darkly Ambitious Quest for Justice

Matt (Matt Johnson) and Owen (Owen Williams) are best friends with hopes and dreams of making a movie. Throughout this film, we follow the pair as they seek revenge on a group of bullies they call ‘The Dirties’. Matt and Owen are not only the directors behind the camera but also the stars. Throughout the story, the characters deliver a sense of justice for those who have been tortured and victimised, including Matt and Owen.

Turning Real-Life Bullying into a Bold and Thought-Provoking Film Project

Matt and Owen add to their production by interacting with members of the public and interviewing them on camera, raising questions about what someone should do if they are being bullied. These questions are posed to fellow students and various teachers. As they go about their everyday lives, we witness firsthand the pair being bullied through verbal and physical violence. As viewers, we gain a deeper understanding of how Matt and Owen drew inspiration for their film from their real-life experiences.

When Fiction Turns Dark: The Dangerous Blurring of Film and Reality

However, while the film is in production, a rough cut is shown to a teacher, which showcases the pair acting out violence against ‘The Dirties’. This includes footage of them pretending to shoot and brutally murder the group. Naturally, the teacher is shocked and informs them that the cut must be altered before it can be shown to other students and the wider world. Despite these demands for changes, Matt and Owen continue making their film, but the line between fiction and reality begins to blur. One of them takes a dark turn, developing a dangerous desire to make the film a reality by carrying out real vengeance against ‘The Dirties’.

A Darkly Funny, Self-Aware Drama from Matt Johnson

The Dirties is a heavy drama, yet it also contains many moments of dark comedy. If you are a movie lover, you will be pleased to know there are plenty of film-related references, gags, and nods throughout. The film was written by Matt Johnson, who also stars in the lead role of Matt. Evan Morgan also co-wrote. Johnson’s previous work as a director also includes BlackBerry (2013) and Operation Avalanche (2016).

A Raw and Unflinching Look at Bullying Through a Darkly Comic Documentary Lens

For its entire duration, The Dirties is shot in a documentary style and presented as such, focusing on the powerful and gripping subject of bullying. Emotionally, I was impressed by how the film could make me chuckle in one moment, only to leave me sitting in silence the next, after being confronted with a hard-hitting, shocking scene, such as Matt being bullied. The portrayal of bullying is particularly effective, and whenever it is depicted, it feels raw, confronting, and uncomfortably realistic.

Believable Friendship and Surprising Twists That Deepen the Story

I also enjoyed the chemistry between Matt and Owen. Their long-term friendship and shared goal of making a film together feel highly believable. The film introduces several twists and turns, which, on my first watch, I found unexpected and surprising, including the reveal of footage that the audience is not shown at the beginning. Initially, Matt and Owen appear to be simply having fun making a movie, but as viewers, we gradually gain a deeper understanding of why the film is being made and why it exists at all. The feelings I had at the start of the film shifted dramatically as it progressed.

Effective Documentary Style Undermined by Shaky Camerawork and an Ambiguous Ending

While the documentary vibes and style were a perfect, welcoming fit, I can’t deny that the shaky handheld style was visually challenging to enjoy, especially during key moments or in touching, dramatic scenes. A camera that’s trying to focus or shake around loses impact. Another element I found myself unable to help but be disappointed by was the film’s final moments. Yes, it’s impactful, hard-hitting, and gripping, but as the credits rolled, I was disappointed by a final scene that felt vague, unclear, and ambiguous. I felt the film’s final moments deserved something a little more substantial.

A Darkly Funny, Raw, and Unflinching Exploration of Bullying That Leaves a Lasting Impact

Overall, The Dirties successfully conveys a vital message that remains relevant and hard-hitting today. It is an amazing experience to be chuckling at lines of dialogue and film references, only to be struck by a sudden heavy dose of uncomfortable drama. With compelling performances that feel grounded and realistic, there is a rawness to the exploration of bullying. The Dirties is a film worth seeing, and I am not kidding.  I also appreciated the documentary style for the most part, although I cannot deny that in some scenes I wished for smoother visuals, particularly during moments of heightened drama and tension. This is especially noticeable in the film’s final moments, which are deliberately ambiguous.

The Dirties (2013) will be Available on Blu-ray from March 4th, thanks to Umbrella!

About the Reviewer

Peter Walkden

Film writer and curator with a deep passion for cinema, genre filmmaking, and physical media. Exploring new releases, cult favourites, and overlooked films, with a strong focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and the theatrical experience.

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