Karl Urban lays down the law in the gritty and grim Dredd (2012)

Starring Karl Urban, “Dredd” is a lean, muscular, unapologetically violent thriller based on the popular ‘2000AD’ comic character. Stripping away the excess of the previous Sylvester Stallone film, “Dredd” takes us to a grittier Mega City One, as Dredd is evaluating rookie Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby). When they are called to the picturesque in name only Peach Trees tower block to investigate a murder, they find themselves locked in and facing the ruthless drug baron Ma-Ma (“Game Of Thrones”‘ Lena Headey) who will stop at nothing to preserve her production line of the perception-altering drug Slo-Mo.

Bloody, brutal and deadly serious – although there are flashes of pitch-black humour – this is a film that pleased and appeased long-time fans of Dredd but struggled to achieve the mainstream success it deserved at the cinema. Urban is perfect as Dredd and this time, fanboys, the helmet stays firmly on. The 3D is deployed expertly by director Pete Travis and only used to enhance the story, particularly in the scenes where we experience the effects Slo-Mo can have. Alex Garland’s taut screenplay expertly builds the tension and keeps the action feeling epic despite the self-contained nature of the setting.

If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s time to correct that error of judgement.

9/10