TONY is yet another film in a genre that has been done many times before and, in my opinion, doesn't really offer anything new. The central character, Tony, is a socially awkward loner who is obsessed with action films. He also has a weird physical appearance. Those traits are essentially what make his character, and he's really the only character in the film. Everyone else just exists in his world. What I did like about the film were the few moments in which Peter Ferdinando, who gives an excellent performance, hints at something deeper in Tony's psyche. One scene in front of a mirror was particularly chilling, in much the same way as similar scenes in NIGHTCRAWLER and FOXCATCHER. I also liked the haunting, minimalistic score which adequately conveyed Tony's loneliness, and reminded me somewhat of Philip Glass (whose music I love). Beyond that, it seemed like a typical serial killer film done on a low budget. The cinematography, while digital, was still done well and the camera-work was pretty good too. My major issue with the film is how thinly written it is, such that its 72 minute running time almost feels too long. I guess I just wanted a little more substance. It probably would have worked better as a short film now that I think about it. For what it's worth, the film isn't bad it's just not particularly great either. Peter Ferdinando's creepy performance is probably the best reason for seeing this.

Tony is too short, yes. Why is that bad? Because the film is so frickin' good. It tells us all in 73 minutes, in what is a very disturbing serial killer movie, London style. And how awesome is the actor? Very awesome. Either being ignored or narrowly avoiding punch ups, Tony is a pathetic loner, who desperately wants companionship, but harvests a deeper darker secret. He's a serial killer, disposing of body parts in the river. There's some occasional, but underestimated violence, one scene in particular, involving some severing of a poor SOB's arm in a sink. Disturbed loners or just loners, will relate with the harsh reality of this film, that also works as a comedy too, thanks to certain dialogue, as only actor Ferdinado can deliver. The interrogation scene that has him mentioning a movie reference and title, to a serious as hell young copper, where a local kid has gone missing, is gold, but none more so, than the scene at the unemployment office, with Tony's much refusal to work. Funny too, was a similar scenario with him in an interview at a tanning salon. The gay aspect with the young male clubber, taking an interest in Tony, I didn't really need, as I found it a bit off putting, where truly Tony, has some repulsive moments, but it has an all too realness about that sets it apart from other serial killer movies, ones not based on killer movies, where this one was confrontingly real, which to me is a great way to wile away 73 minutes of disturbia. Ferdinado plays it down, so well, not overdone. Tony, even though a fictional character, is an all too real one, capable of such murderous crimes, as a many people you see in society. The subplot where the little boy went missing, really heightened the disturbing air of the film, with a much relieved ending, but for Tony, with shades of a Travis Bickle like character, a much opened ending, where for him, loneliness is a revolving door, of rejection, ridicule as near misses with fists. Tony is a serial killer film that really impressed me, without having to fancy it up, or anything. It's an all too real slice of reality, where Ferdinado, brings so much imagination, with an unforgettably disturbing and pathetic character.

Tony is set in London where socially incompetent loner Tony Benson (Peter Ferdinando) lives alone in his grimy little high rise flat, Tony has never had a job & spends most of his time walking around London or watching action films on video, he doesn't have a DVD player you see. Occasionally Tony decides to kill someone & cut their bodies up before disposing of the parts, when a young boy named Davey goes missing on Tony's estate Tony is suspected. Will the truth come out & will Tony be exposed as the ruthless serial killer that he is?This British production was written & directed by Gerard Johnson & is a film that many seem to like which does baffle me a little, I thought Tony was a rather bland & pointless serial killer thriller with virtually no plot. While what's here is very well made & written & acted there's nothing beyond watching this awkward guy named Tony walk around London & randomly kill a couple of people along the way, the only other plot angle about the missing kid amounts to nothing & instead of being a film with a proper story Tony comes across more like a slice of life, a minimalist, stark, short & empty documentary that follows one guy around for a few days & nothing more. Tony isn't given any real background, there's no reason for what he does or the way he acts or the way he is, Tony is a complete loner & acts very strangely around other people taking long pauses while talking or just saying some really bizarre random things that come across as rather strange. I suspect that Tony was meant as some sort of modern London set character study of a serial killer like Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) with it's gritty realist approach but with an almost complete lack of any story to hang on to or anything or anyone to really relate to I was left watching Tony but not really getting involved in it. Even though Tony lasts for 72 minutes the end credits run for a good five of those so in reality it only lasts for just over an hour & even then not that much happens, one also has to question how Davey's dad knew where Tony lived or why Tony never gets any blood on himself despite killing several people & cutting them up.Tony is set in London but not the glamorous London usually seen in films, no this is the rundown horrible London where people live in poverty. None of the actors are beautiful model types & along with the decayed urban settings Tony has a very bleak & depressing look & atmosphere that works really well. It's just a shame there's no story to go with the visuals. Tony kills a few people, a severed foot is seen & some guts as well but there's not much gore otherwise.Apparently shot in just twelve days on a budget of about £60,000 in locations around London it's very well made with great photography & use of background imagery & locations to create mood but as I said there's not much else here besides the gritty look. The acting is very good, I can't say Tony was scary but he did come across as weird & a bit creepy at times & I am surprised he managed to pick up so many people & lure them back to his flat.Tony is a minimalist serial killer thriller that follows the title character around for a bit & then just finishes. The film has a really gritty look & feel with good acting as well but I just found myself failing to get involved in the character's or the situations, ultimately the lack of any story is more of a killer than Tony himself.

Tony is a dark character study focusing on a week in the life of Tony, a British serial killer living in a London tower block. A socially awkward individual, Tony kills because it seems to be his only way to resolve difficult social situations. It is easier for him to commit murder than to relate to other people.To a certain extent, the film's examination of Tony resembles the 1980s film, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Peter Ferdinando's performance rivals that of Michael Rooker in the latter film, giving Tony depth and sympathy. However, the film has a class context that sets it apart from the earlier work.Paralleling Tony's bleak existence is the blighted section of London he lives in. Walking aimlessly through poor neighborhoods and interacting with their inhabitants, Tony's behavior comes to seem an understandable reaction to his social environment. Indeed, many of the people he encounters come across as even more savage in their own ways, whether through overt aggression or bureaucratic indifference.The film does have some flaws that prevent it from being a true classic. There are a number of scenes dedicated to establishing Tony's lack of social skills, which at times come across as overkill. Given that the film originated as a short film, these scenes seem like filler meant to bring it to feature length. Nevertheless, this British film is definitely worth a rent.