BILLED as 'Kes with guns', this slice of gritty urban Brit-drama has much to commend it.

Zero budget, non-professional actors and more 'street' than a road full of tarmacadam, Saul Dibb's first feature film more than makes up for a lack of finesse by being content to remain within its very obvious limitations.

Straight out of youth custody, Ricky (Ashley Walters, aka Asher D) is determined to stay straight even though his running mate Wisdom (Leon Black) wants him back in his old ways. Close to home, Wisdom bumps a car and is drawn into an altercation with some other young guns.

It's a confrontation that quickly spirals out of control with Wisdom drawing Ricky back into his world.

Meanwhile, Ricky's young brother Curtis (the excellent Luke Fraser) remains firmly in his thrall - the more so when he finds Ricky's gun. It's a discovery that has all too predictable consequences as Ricky is forced to chose between loyalty to his friend and his struggling family. It's a choice between death and life.

As a portrait of contemporary east London, there's little to doubt Bullet Boy's accuracy.

Choices are really no choices as circles of behaviour and circumstance trap, confine and ruin young lives. The old institutions (family, church, school) no longer seem relevant so all that's left is street law.

The message is bleak. Bleak but real.

See it at UCI (Sun, Tues only)