It’s been four years since Peaky Blinders(2013 – 2022)aired its series finale on Netflix. After six seasons of bloody action, affairs, and betrayals, the fate of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) was left blowing in the wind. Now he has returned for a proper ending in the new film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, a continuation of Tommy’s story set roughly six years later, against the backdrop of World War II.
After the turmoil we watched Tommy go through, and the trauma from his service in World War I, the Second World War is an apt time for his story to continue. While he isn’t fighting this time around, Tommy wages a different war — the one in his head. In Immortal Man, we meet Tommy again as a recluse, living alone in the country, save for his trusty companion Johnny Dogs (Packy Lee). Tommy is writing a book, but spends most of his time being haunted by his past, most poignantly by the death of his daughter, Ruby (Bonnie Stott).
Immortal Man almost overstays its welcome early on as it lingers in the beginning scenes of Tommy alone in his house. This isn’t the Tommy Shelby we know or have been waiting to see again for so long. Finally, Tommy is drawn out of his self-imposed exile by his sister, Ada (Sophie Rundle). She requests help with taming his wild son, Duke (Barry Keoghan), who has taken over the Peaky Blinders gang. Tommy reluctantly returns to Birmingham — but he may be too late.
As expected, major characters die, are reborn, and new players are introduced. Namely, Keoghan is clearly here to usher in a new era of the Peaky Blinders. But is it really the Peaky Blinders without Tommy at the helm? As Duke, Keoghan does his best with a character whom, frankly, the diehard fans don’t care about — and apparently whose dad doesn’t care about either. Immortal Man is a battle of the bloodlines. Tommy is ominously warned that if he doesn’t kill his son, his son will kill him.
Peaky Blinders amassed a cult following over the years for its historical contextualization, violent depiction of ruthless gangs, and the hyper-stylized atmosphere evoked by its alternative soundtrack. Loyal fans of the series will be happy to know all of these signature themes are on display in Immortal Man. The movie operates in a similar fashion to the series’ episodic nature, at times feeling like a two-hour-long episode of the original series. The movie takes us from the countryside to the streets of Birmingham, where trust is betrayed, schemes are plotted, and, with typical Tommy flair, he seeks revenge.
Immortal Man more so resembles the tone of the latter half of Peaky Blinders, leaning melancholic and fatalistic, rather than the energetic, in-your-face first two seasons. At times, this leaves you wanting more of that early-era punchiness from the film, knowing that it would play out brilliantly on the big screen. However, Peaky Blinders creator and writer of Immortal Man, Steven Knight, anchors the story in a more realistic vision, one where Tommy is tired, people are scared, and the world is on edge. It works for historical accuracy and truth, but makes for a laborious film.
Despite the meandering narrative and lackadaisical atmosphere, there are kernels of substance sprinkled throughout, as well as callbacks that reward longtime fans. Luckily, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man eventually picks up in the second half. Most notably, the energy shifts when Tommy dons his suit and cap, mounts his horse, and roams the streets of Birmingham, like the good old days. With the right needle drop added in (looking at you, Nick Cave), the brief goosebumps from Cillian Murphy back in commission as Tommy Shelby make the whole two hours worth it.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is in theaters now and will be released on Netflix on March 20.
Review Courtesy of Kasey Dunifer
Feature Image Credit to Netflix