Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Delivers the Tommy Shelby Masterclass We All Need [Review]

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After four years in development, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is finally coming out, even though it wasn’t originally planned. The show’s seventh season was intended to happen before the 2022 release of season six, but the pandemic changed those plans. Creator Steven Knight and director Tom Harper, who directed the show’s first episodes, decided to create a movie instead – a fitting choice, as the team always envisioned Peaky Blinders as a cinematic experience. Fans can rest assured, though – this film maintains the same dark and intense atmosphere that has always defined the series.

Let me tell you, The Immortal Man is a fantastic finish. It’s a raw, genuinely unsettling, and crucially, satisfying conclusion to what we’ve known of the Shelby story so far. Before the series expands with those planned spin-offs, this film delivers the answers we’ve been craving and offers real closure after that intentionally open ending to Season 6. What I really appreciated is that it doesn’t feel like a retread of familiar territory. Instead, The Immortal Man expertly ties up loose ends, introduces a villain who is easily one of the best the series has ever seen, and—true to form—doesn’t shy away from making tough, sometimes devastating, narrative choices.

Rating: 4 out of 5

PROS CONS
Remarkable performances from Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, and Tim Roth Stephen Graham isn’t in it enough
A real escalation of Tommy Shelby’s story The music mixing is, frankly, offensive
Great story swings, delightful violence
Ultimately, a fitting ending to the show

Cillian Murphy Delivers Another Masterclass

The story centers on Tommy’s lasting impact, and his son, Duke, played by Barry Keoghan, is deeply affected by it. Duke’s struggle leads him to become a volatile and dangerous new leader of the Peaky Blinders. When a Nazi plot to gain control from within Britain, spearheaded by John Beckett (Tim Roth), emerges, Tommy is reluctantly pulled back into his former life.

Years after seemingly finding peace, Murphy portrays Tommy Shelby as a man tormented by his past, unable to escape his inner demons. This is a masterful performance, developed over ten years, showing Tommy not as a peaceful man, but as someone increasingly burdened by old and new traumas. He feels overwhelmed, as if his deepest memories have been unleashed. He’s like a former superhero, wanting to remain retired, but then driven by an even stronger purpose when pulled back into the action. Ultimately, the audience gets a more complex and compelling version of Tommy Shelby.

While Season 6 focused on Tommy being haunted by his past, this episode, The Immortal Man, is about confronting and expelling those ghosts. Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Kaulo, reveals Tommy’s house is filled with the spirits of those he’s harmed, and this isn’t limited to the house itself. The episode connects his present struggles with PTSD from the war to his experiences in France, making his entire story clearer. The familiar, sudden bursts of violence remind us why Tommy seems indestructible. It’s a tense, internal struggle for Tommy, and Cillian Murphy portrays it brilliantly.

The Immortal Man’s New Characters Shine

While the story still centers on Tommy Shelby, the film truly shines thanks to new characters like Duke (played by Barry Keoghan) and Roth’s Beckett. These characters, along with Rebecca Ferguson as a quietly powerful Lady Macbeth-like figure, are incredibly well-performed and almost take center stage. Keoghan, though his accent occasionally slips, is convincing as Tommy’s son – a character filled with both a capacity for violence and the pain of being abandoned, desperately wanting his father’s approval or to prove himself better.

If Kaulo resembles Lady Macbeth, then Beckett, as portrayed by Roth, is akin to Iago – a captivating yet sinister schoolteacher. What makes him so compelling, and terrifying, is his unwavering belief in his own humanity. Roth delivers a masterful performance, showcasing both Beckett’s charm and his capacity for evil, and reminding us of Roth’s own considerable talent.

Does Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Justify Its Existence

After a long wait since the end of Season 6, does The Immortal Man deliver? Absolutely. The film provides a much more definitive and fulfilling ending than the series finale, and feels like a natural continuation of the story. While some characters – like Arthur and Ada – aren’t served as well as they could be, and Finn and Tommy’s son Charlie are left out entirely, these choices ultimately work. These bold decisions create room for new story elements and contribute to a satisfying conclusion.

While I wish Stephen Graham had a larger part, the film ultimately succeeds and proves why this story needed a bigger canvas. The filmmakers effectively expand the scope beyond what was possible on television, adding more visual flair. The pacing occasionally lags, but considering the complex story, these moments of reflection feel earned and are a welcome change of pace in this type of movie.

My biggest issue with The Immortal Man is a technical one, although it also involves a questionable creative choice. Like some other Netflix shows, the music is much louder than the dialogue, which is frustrating. What makes it worse here is the soundtrack – a harsh, modern industrial punk style – feels deliberately abrasive and even offensive. While the re-use of “Red Right Hand” is well-placed and effective, I generally disliked the music and especially hated how overwhelmingly loud it was.

The new Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man, comes to Netflix on March 20th, following a short time in theaters. Are you planning to watch it? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-18 19:47