The Whip UK Cinema Review | Road Rash Reviews

4 star funny and hard hitting political heist film.

The Whip is a 2024 British political thriller/drama film written by the team who brought us Candlestick, Forgács W. András and Christopher Presswell (Forget Paris) who also directs.

It is showing in select UK cinemas from 4th September 2024, courtesy of Workbus Ltd.

“Look, it’s stressful enough without the threat of sanctions. Would you really not be able to use today’s appointment to decide if she’s eligible?”

Sadie (Shian Denovan – Bite, Cat Sick Blues) is a young woman working as a full time carer for her sister Emily (Meg Fozzard), who requires twenty four hour care. They are already up to their ears in red tape trying to access the help they need, enduring a truly horrendous interview for PIP allowance, only to be told Emily is fit for work. Word is getting around about a newly proposed government bill, The Independence Credit Scheme, which will basically massively reduce the amount of assistance available for carers and those with disabilities, all under the guise of streamlining.

Meanwhile, MP Michael Harrington (Tom Knight – The Festival, Amazing Grace) has finally had enough of pushing this ridiculous new reform and vents his frustration to his secretary Nicole (Tamara Ritthaler – Carbon Foxes). Unfortunately, she takes this information straight to the Chief Whip (Ray Bullock Jnr – All the Devil’s Men), who is determined to force everyone to vote with the government and uses his little black book and it’s secrets to force him to resign his seat on the front bench.

When visiting her doctor (Clair De Boer – The Caller) Sadie is told about a protest taking place and this reminds her of her student days and especially her best friend Abi (Gala Wesson – An Assassin walks Through the Trees). A plan starts to form and with the help of Abi and her nephew Jason (Daniel Davids – Here if You Need, Doggers) as well as a miffed back bencher, she masterminds a daring heist to prevent the bill from going through.

“I’m not doing it anymore. This is the last consultation that you see me do. I’ve pretended for long enough that I support the Prime Minister’s social reform, but this is monstrous.”

The Whip is a very entertaining watch, with lots of excellent acting performances and a very well thought out and executed story. There is also a fantastic and very dramatic score from Jonathan Armandery which heightens the tension brilliantly at all the appropriate moments.

While there is plenty of comedy, this film also has a very serious message about the abysmal state of our social care system and the way it treats those who are in need.

This is something which many people will identify with and I’m sure even those who don’t could sympathise. It is unfortunately (up until the heist, at least) not particularly far fetched. Maybe someone will even take inspiration from this film and if so, best of luck to them.

A great watch, very British and most certainly worth a trip to the cinema.

“The Prime Minister wants to thank you for a job well squandered. You must have known it was inevitable.”