Poacher's Wrath Unleashed: Sleaford Mods Frontman Dominates Troubled Antihero

In this gritty debut feature, director John Minton takes a sceptical look at the excesses of 90s rave culture. The story follows David, a venal pillhead who first robs an unconscious dealer, then tries to burgle his own parents. After crashing his car in a forest, David finds himself at the mercy of the Poacher, played with ponderous menace by Sleaford Mods frontman Jason Williamson.

The Poacher, a personification of broken Britain, refuses to help David escape his wrecked vehicle, intent on subjecting him to an embittered discourse. What follows is a darkly comedic duel, with the desperate David trying to appease the Poacher, who withholds his jerrycan of scrumpy, intent on dousing him instead in his wrathful tirade.

While the film's early stages feel more like an elongated music video, Minton's visuals eventually come into their own, culminating in a hilariously staged rampage on the forest trails that dips close to folk horror. Soundtracked to a wild organ version of Ravel's Boléro, this sequence showcases Minton's ostentatious visual flair, suggesting he could follow in the footsteps of directors like Jonathan Glazer and Garth Jennings in successfully transitioning from the music promo scene.