Written and directed by Musa Alderson-Clarke, the inner turmoil of a grieving son collides with the failing political tenure of the Conservatives. Starring: Shadrach Agozino, Jesse Akele, Peakey Saku, Cathy Owen and Robert Dukes.

If you went purely on the title you’d probably guess that Killing Boris Johnson was some form of hijinks or satirically styled comedy but what you actually find is a sincere exploration of mental health. Musa Alderson-Clarke views this story through the lens of the public outrage at how the pandemic was dealt with, or not really, by Boris Johnson’s government. It’s a relatable and apt choice which breeds an impressively intense atmosphere. You can easily imagine how people could sympathise with Kaz’s (Shadrach Agozino) experience and the lengths their grief and fury might drive them to.

Alderson-Clarke’s directorial choices lean further into that intensity, the visual embraces the endless anger and loss at play within this story. It’s brash and harsh, giving it a raw quality but at the same time the quality of the aesthetic is sharp and strong. However, the only downside to that is it feels as though the story isn’t given much of an opportunity to evolve. It hits a fantastic note then doubles down on it which is great but after that, it doesn’t have anywhere to go. It would have been great to see it guide its emotions to the next stage and expand outside of its anger.

The consequence of that is it also doesn’t give enough room for Shadrach Agozino to take his performance deeper. It’s fantastically brutal and passionate, Agozino is undeniably throwing himself full force into this performance and his commitment pays off. It simply would have been even better to see the latter stages of the film let him explore a different side to Kaz. To give him the chance to see what’s on the other side of his rage. In her brief performance Jesse Akele has a lot to add, bringing plenty of compassion and kindness.

Killing Boris Johnson is grippingly tense and a poignant portrayal of the frustration, grief and hatred felt by the public after being neglected and undermined by the government during the pandemic. Shadrach Agozino’s performance is raw, ferocious and incensed, capturing his character’s anger to a tee. Musa Alderson-Clarke builds a forceful atmosphere, using discomfort to his advantage to push the audience, to recreate the uproar countless people felt at being so immensely let down by the government, it shows a great deal of potential.

Verdict: ✯✯✯✯ | 8/10

Killing Boris Johnson was an official selection of Cannes Film Festival 2023