Everything about THE BLACK PANTHER screams out 'crimewatch uk re-inactment'....yet for some perverse reason it works. DONALD SUMPTER plays NEILSON to perfection, he is arrogant, not a warm family man, yet comes accross as human enough to make mistakes, that we would make (if we decided to rob post offices, or kidnap).
Based on true events, THE BLACK PANTHER is a very dark movie, that portrays its central character as neither a good OR bad guy. The fact that he has an army record, and collects millitary equipment, may shed some light on this guys anger.If he only planned his robberies as good as his hideouts and training, he may not have had to resort to kidnapping. As it is, his character can be likened to JON FINCHs performance in FRENZY, allbeit, a little crazier.
Although I have tagged this as 'liked', I don't think that's quite the word. Impressive, believable and very grim this is a virtual reenactment of real events that I remember well and took place only a couple of years before the film was made. A little bit of stylish photography, a bit of humour, just something to relieve the dull horror and it would have been possible to enjoy the film more.
What we have, though, is a unique cinematic impression of a real series of violent attacks and kidnap. The original newspaper reporting at the time presented a most unpleasant picture and here it is honestly and accurately represented on film. Everybody does well but the male lead is exceptional and the poor young girl victim almost too believable. You won't like it but as an example of gritty 70s UK cinema it is a great example.
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