Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Review – Tommy Shelby's Bloody Return to the Big Screen
Cillian Murphy returns with his haunting, almost sightless stare as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, a muscular film spin-off from the global TV phenomenon. After six acclaimed series from 2013 to 2022, which sparked a surge in flat cap fashion among affluent pub-goers, this standalone feature plunges viewers into a muddy, bloody wartime showdown.
A Gangster's Darkest Hour in 1940s Britain
Set in 1940 during Britain's bleakest period of World War II, the film finds Tommy Shelby living in isolated grandeur far from the Birmingham underworld he once dominated. Haunted by memories of his deceased brother Arthur and daughter Ruby, he is a crime-lion in winter, weary and sickened by his past. His only companion is henchman Johnny Dogs, portrayed by Packy Lee, as Tommy works on his definitive autobiography.
The plot thickens when a charismatic woman, played by Rebecca Ferguson, delivers troubling news. Tommy's son Erasmus Shelby, a menacing performance by Barry Keoghan, now leads the Peaky Blinders as a new generation of flatcappers. In a shocking betrayal, Erasmus has allied with a sinister Nazi fifth-columnist named Beckett, portrayed by Tim Roth, to distribute counterfeit currency aimed at crippling the British economy and aiding invasion.
Tommy Shelby's Reluctant Return to the Fray
Faced with his son's disloyalty and the Nazi threat, Tommy is forced back into action. The film delivers a gripping pub scene where the soft-spoken gangster confronts raucous challengers, schooling them on his fearsome reputation. This narrative positions Tommy squarely against the Nazis, elevating him to an unlikely hero despite his criminal past.
Screenwriter Steven Knight and director Tom Harper craft a homefront war film with gusto, blending historical drama with gangster grit. The war and Nazi themes provide a grand canvas for this big-screen treatment, though the sentimental portrayal of Tommy may require prior investment in the TV series for full appreciation.
A Confident, If Sentimental, Gangster Epic
While the canonisation of Tommy Shelby glosses over the harsh realities of wartime crime gangs, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man remains a resoundingly confident drama. Murphy's performance anchors the film, supported by a strong cast including Ferguson, Keoghan, and Roth. The movie's release is set for 6 March in the UK and US, with a Netflix debut on 20 March.
This film expands Knight's vision of the real-life Birmingham gangs that operated from Victorian times into the 20th century, offering fans a visceral, action-packed conclusion to Tommy Shelby's saga.
