Wild Bill

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Dexter Fletcher directs. George Richmond behind the camera. Christian Henson scores. Stuart Gazzard cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 15 years ago.
• 2Directed by Dexter Fletcher, shot by George Richmond. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Christian Henson. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Stuart Gazzard shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Charlie Creed-Miles and Will Poulter and Sammy Williams carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "Wanted... just not round here.".
• 7IMDB entry: tt1795702 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

George Richmond

Original score

Christian Henson

Editing

Stuart Gazzard

Production design

Murray McKeown

Costume design

Matthew Price

Makeup / hair

Alex King

Sound

Richard Lewis

Runtime

98 min · 1h 38m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

IMDB

Wild Bill (2011) ↗

Also by

Dexter Fletcher

• 
  The Offer

  2022 · ★ 8.0
• 
  Rocketman

  2019 · ★ 7.3
• 
  Eddie the Eagle

  2016 · ★ 7.2
• 
  Ghosted

  2023 · ★ 6.9
• 
  Sunshine on Leith

  2013 · ★ 6.6

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Wild Bill Trailer

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• John Chard2014-03-21
  ★ 9/10

  The Council Estate Western. Wild Bill is directed by Dexter Fletcher who also co-writes the screenplay with Danny King. It stars Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulter, Liz White, Sammy Williams, Charlotte Spencer, Leo Gregory, Neil Maskell and Iwan Rheon. Music is by Christian Henson and cinematography by George Richmond. Wild Bill Hayward (Creed-Miles) is just out of prison after serving eight years. Heading home he finds his two sons Dean (Poulter) and Jimmy (Williams) fending for themselves after their mother abandoned them. Bill hadn't planned on hanging around, but if he doesn't then the boys will be taken into care. More pressing is that the local drug runners have got young Jimmy working for them, Bill might just have to take his parental responsibilities to another level and justify his Wild reputation. Splendid piece of British grit and wit, Wild Bill follows in the traditions of films directed by British actors, who for their debut directing assignment impressed with the ability to grab the attention and no loosen the grip. Fletcher has done a bang up job here, managing to turn what could have been a standard dysfunctional family melodrama into something more meaningful, engaging and suspenseful. Story is set to the backdrop of working class London, where the building of the Olympic stadium serves as a beacon of hope in the distance, while our principal characters struggle through a world of grimy flats, empty pubs, dirty cafés and drug infested council estates. The narrative operates on two fronts, Bill (Miles superb) is trying to keep on the straight and narrow, as he candidly observes, if his dog craps on the pavement he will get 18 months back in prison! But as he tries to build a relationship with his two sons, especially the older and more colder Dean, circumstances are drawing him back into the violent world he desperately wants to leave behind. It's this angle that gives the film its suspense, as viewers we are wondering if Bill can achieve his goals, will he get a break, will the family become one unit? Elsewhere the film operates as a coming of age story, where Dean has had to grow up real fast to look after his younger brother, even taking on employment at the age of 15 to provide for Jimmy and himself. Then there is matters of the heart, as he is strongly attracted to local girl Steph (Spencer), this aspect is very well handled by Fletcher, who gets the excellent Poulter to deftly portray those early nerves when Cupid starts to draw back its bow, the tentative fumblings of young love easily identifiable to us all. Pic is full of familiar British faces, most of them just stopping by in cameos to lend friendly support to Fletcher's project. They all offer a reassuring presence to proceedings, adding further weight to what is damn fine debut picture. Sometimes violent, often heart warming and tender, and very laugh out loud funny, Wild Bill is a winner. 9/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  STS Media

  RU

• 20

  20ten Media

Key crew

• Line ProducerAndrew Chapman
• Script SupervisorLucy Ward
• Executive ProducerAlan Jones
• Sound RecordistGiancarlo Dellapina
• Sound Re-Recording MixerRichard Lewis
• Executive ProducerVicky Deigman
• Makeup ArtistAlex King
• Makeup DesignerJacquetta Levon
• ADR MixerPeter Gleaves
• ProducerTim Cole
• EditorStuart Gazzard
• Sound Re-Recording MixerSteven Parker
• Tattoo DesignerRobin Pritchard
• Art DirectionAlan Pearson
• Production DesignMurray McKeown
• CastingNina Gold
• Makeup ArtistVictoria Wallen
• Costume DesignMatthew Price
• ProducerSam Tromans
• Foley EditorGustaf Jackson
• Dialogue EditorKeith Tunney
• Foley ArtistJason Swanscott

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• drug dealer
• parole
• ex-con

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2012-03-23

Also known as

International titles

• 野生条例草案CN
• Wild Bill Vom Leben beschissenDE