Urchin (2025) review

Homeless - or is that "unhoused?" - nuisance Michael (Frank Dillane) drifts around London causing problems, argues with fellow derelict Nathan (Dickinson), and then when a man named Simon (Okezie Morro) tries to help out, Mike attacks him, steals his watch and is apprehended by the coppers - once he's released, he can't maintain stable employment or a healthy human relationship.  As actor Dickinson's directorial debut, it's a surprisingly smooth viewing considering his main character is totally repellent - they place him in a sort of 'restorative justice' program that doesn't work, and the "meditation tapes" he listens to have no effect - except the film feels a tad weightless and some of the stylistic choices - like having the camera go down the drain (to find clumps of bacteria) and letting it end on a "dreamy" note - are out-of-place.  He made the right choice casting Dillane as the lead, though: he has a few moments where it seems as if he'll "snap out of it" - particularly during the scenes with co-worker Andrea (Megan Northam) - and then he snorts ketamine, chugs Russian tap water and he's vile again.