Honestly, if you go into the Jason Statham Blitz movie expecting a high-octane Transporter clone, you’re gonna be disappointed.
People always talk about Statham like he’s just a human wrecking ball. He punches things. He drives cars fast. He growls. But Blitz, which hit screens back in 2011, is a weird, grimy beast that doesn't quite fit that mold. It’s actually a pitch-black British police procedural masquerading as an action flick. It’s mean. It’s cynical. And it features one of the most bizarrely talented casts you’ll ever see in a "straight-to-DVD" feeling thriller.
We’re talking Mark Rylance. Paddy Considine. Aidan Gillen. This isn't just some low-budget scrap. It's a legit adaptation of a Ken Bruen "grit-noir" novel, and it feels like a fever dream of South East London's underbelly.
Why the Jason Statham Blitz Movie Isn't Your Average Actioner
The plot is pretty straightforward on the surface. Statham plays Detective Sergeant Tom Brant. He’s a "dinosaur" cop. The kind of guy who drinks whiskey for breakfast and beats up car thieves with a hockey stick because, well, he feels like it.
Then you’ve got Barry Weiss, played by a terrifyingly skinny and loopy Aidan Gillen (long before his Game of Thrones Littlefinger fame). Weiss starts murdering police officers to get famous. He calls himself "The Blitz."
Most Statham movies end with a 20-minute martial arts showdown. This one doesn't.
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The Strange Duo You Didn't Expect
The heart of the movie isn't the fighting. It’s the pairing of Statham’s Brant with Sergeant Porter Nash, played by Paddy Considine. Nash is openly gay, buttoned-up, and the complete opposite of Brant’s chaotic energy.
- Brant (Statham): The loose cannon who hates paperwork.
- Nash (Considine): The "outsider" who has to deal with the department's homophobia while actually being the best investigator in the room.
The dynamic works because it isn't preachy. They just... work. They respect each other’s competence. In a genre that usually relies on buddy-cop clichés, their relationship feels surprisingly grounded.
A Cast That Outclasses the Material
You've gotta look at who else is in this thing. David Morrissey plays a sleazy tabloid hack. Luke Evans pops up as a detective. And then there’s Mark Rylance as DI Roberts. Seeing an Oscar winner like Rylance sharing scenes with Statham in a movie where a guy gets an 8-ball stuffed in his mouth is just... it's a choice.
But that’s the magic of British crime cinema from that era. These actors treat the material like it’s Shakespeare, even when they're chasing a guy through the London rain.
The Gritty London Vibe
Director Elliott Lester didn't go for the "postcard" version of London. There’s no Big Ben or London Eye here. He filmed in East London, specifically around places like the Olympic Park (back when it was still under construction). The movie looks dirty. It looks grey. It’s "fag-end believable," as some critics put it.
The lighting is harsh. The pubs look like they smell of stale beer and regret. This isn't the polished Hollywood version of the UK; it’s the version where the police station looks like it’s about to be condemned.
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The Controversy: Street Justice vs. Due Process
If you watch the Jason Statham Blitz movie today, the ending might make you do a double-take.
Without spoiling too much, the film basically argues that if the system can't catch a psycho, the police should just execute him in an alleyway. It’s a very Dirty Harry sentiment. At the time, critics were a bit split. Some found it a fun "guilty pleasure," while others thought it was a bit socially irresponsible, especially coming out around the time of the 2011 UK riots.
It doesn't care about being "correct." It cares about being a tough-as-nails thriller where the bad guy gets what’s coming to him in the most brutal way possible.
What Most People Miss
People often complain that there isn't enough action. Statham only has maybe two real "fights" in the whole 97 minutes.
That’s because it’s a character study. Brant is a man who knows he doesn't fit in the modern world. He’s a relic. The "Blitz" killer is a product of a fame-obsessed culture. The clash isn't just about physical strength; it's about two different types of madness meeting in a dark alley.
Behind the Scenes Facts
- First of its kind: It was the first film produced by Lionsgate UK.
- The Source: Ken Bruen’s Brant series has several books. This could have been a massive franchise if the box office had been better.
- The "Other" Blitz: Don't confuse this with the 2024 Steve McQueen movie titled Blitz. That one is a WWII drama. Very different vibes. You won't find Statham punching anyone in that one.
How to Actually Enjoy This Movie
If you’re going to sit down and watch it, do yourself a favor: turn on the subtitles.
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The accents are thick. The dialogue is often delivered in a low, gravelly mumble. If you don't, you'll miss some of the best lines. Statham has a dry, biting wit in this that he doesn't always get to show off in his bigger US blockbusters.
It’s a movie for people who miss the 70s era of "grime" cinema. It's not pretty, it's not nice, and it's definitely not for everyone. But for a certain type of crime fan, it’s a minor classic.
Actionable Next Steps
- Watch the 2011 version first: Make sure you're streaming the Elliott Lester directed film, not the 2024 war drama.
- Check out the books: If you like the vibe, Ken Bruen’s Brant novels are even darker and more satirical than the movie.
- Double Feature: Pair this with The Bank Job for a "London Statham" night. It shows a much more versatile side of his acting than the Fast & Furious franchise ever will.
- Listen to the score: Ilan Eshkeri’s soundtrack is surprisingly driving and fits the urban decay perfectly.
The Jason Statham Blitz movie remains a fascinating footnote in his career—a moment where he tried to bridge the gap between "Action Star" and "Character Actor" in his home country. It might be rough around the edges, but it has a soul that's missing from most modern CGI-heavy spectacles.