Brotherhood Review: 6 Ups & 5 Downs

3. The Violence Is Genuinely Shocking & Intense

Brotherhood makes the most of its 15 rating by depicting a wealth of violence, much of it bracingly intense and well-realised by Clarke. There's one scene in particular half-way through the movie that serve as especially shocking, for while it's easy to see coming, it's delivered in blunt-force fashion and effortlessly drives the third-act.

It's arguable that Clarke falls into the trap of glamorising the violence as much as he appears to criticise it, making the film feel somewhat hypocritical, but what's there at least has weight and gravity to it rather than feeling inconsequential as it does in so many crime movies.