As a movie enthusiast, I’d say cannibal films often delve into gritty, squalid worlds, and Protein doesn’t stray from this formula. The story unfolds in a gloomy, economically struggling Welsh town, rife with petty crimes. I find myself, an ex-army drifter named Sion (portrayed by Craig Russell), stepping into this dismal landscape, carrying the weight of my PTSD along with me. Not long after, London police officer Patch (Andrea Hall) arrives on the scene to aid local cop Stanton (Charles Dale) in a murder investigation that could potentially connect to an ongoing serial killer case from her files.
Obtaining a cleaning position at a cramped fitness center presents challenges for Sion, as he grapples with personal struggles, culminating in him using a hammer to attack one of several unsavory individuals who frequent the gym, harassing Katrina (Kezia Burrows), a dedicated single mother who manages the facility and encourages Sion not just to lift weights but also to face his inner battles.
Instead of burying or burning, Sion chooses to consume dead bodies, a practice he apparently learned in Afghanistan. This habit contributes to the film’s title by fueling Sion’s bodybuilding endeavors. The film gains its horror elements through close-ups of Sion preparing and consuming meat, as well as drinking protein shakes. These scenes might be more unsettling than a provocative dance by Meghan Markle. However, it’s not just that Sion has eliminated a scoundrel from the town, but he’s also inadvertently sparked a conflict between the bodybuilders and an Albanian drug cartel over territory.
Originally created for a 2014 short film, Tony Burke has expanded the project, featuring Craig Russell reprising his role brilliantly alongside a talented ensemble of rough-around-the-edges local gang members, including Ross O’Hennessy, Richard Elis, and Gareth John Bale. Steve Meo delivers an outstanding performance as a mama’s boy constantly tormented by an off-screen shrew of a mother. The dialogues are sharp and witty, with the two initially contrasting cops following the typical cop film dynamic and eventually developing mutual respect for each other. The humor in the film, particularly the squabbles among the low-income gang members, adds levity to the violence that’s not as intense as movies like Eli Roth’s ‘The Green Inferno’ or ‘Cannibal Holocaust’. This could very well be one of the top low-budget British films we’ll watch this year.
We chatted to star Craig Russell and director Tony Burke about the film……
Here’s the Protein trailer……
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2025-06-13 02:23