Citadel

Ciaran Foy's low-budget debut feature is an urban horror that has much going for it as an exercise in evoking place and maintaining mood. Aneurin Barnard (Dunkirk) stars as a widowed, agoraphobic new father who is tormented by a gang of feral hoodies that steal babies and feast on the fear of their victims. But events become increasingly improbable after kindly nurse Wunmi Mosaku tries to reach out to the youths and fiery, foul-mouthed priest James Cosmo coerces Barnard into helping him destroy the brood's lair. Cinematographer Tim Fleming expertly captures the dereliction and desperation of the setting, while Foy makes adept use of tight framing to keep the focus on Barnard's mounting terror. Unfortunately, the storytelling and characterisation are markedly less impressive, making it difficult to care about Barnard's fate. Despite being innovatively directed and punchily edited, as a genre piece this is lacking in depth and genuine dread.