---
title: "Shifty: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/shifty/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/shifty"
critics_score: 76
critics_reviews: 9
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Shifty (2008): what the critics said

Critics' score 76 from 9 reviews: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics respond warmly to Shifty, finding a persuasive, character-led crime drama that avoids glamorising drugs and violence. Praise centres on the performances, particularly Riz Ahmed’s warmth and intelligence and his convincing rapport with Daniel Mays; several reviews also value the film’s grounded portrait of British urban life. Its energy, humour and attention to overlooked London landscapes help distinguish it from comparable dramas, with the suspense drawing strength from characters the critics find credible.

Reservations are limited, and the spread runs from enthusiastic to mixed rather than sharply divided. Empire finds a twist forced but remains engaged by the characters and performances. Variety offers the clearest dissent on Mays, finding him flat where several others single him out for praise; it also objects to the expletive-heavy dialogue and finds the film’s scope modest, while admiring the supporting cast.

## Evening Standard — The Standard

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. 

The critic finds Shifty a stylish, substantial and unusually authentic British urban thriller. They praise its natural performances, particularly Danny Mays’s.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/shifty-a-dose-of-london-s-dark-side-7413911.html)

## Radio Times — Stella Papamichael

Rating 4/5. 

Papamichael welcomes the film as an antidote to British urban dramas that glamorize drugs and violence. She praises Riz Ahmed’s warm, bright portrayal of Shifty as someone who strayed into crime rather than chose it.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-2jj61v/shifty/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 April 2009. 

Bradshaw finds the film shrewd and engaging, and better than comparable British urban dramas. He particularly praises the persuasive chemistry between Riz Ahmed and Daniel Mays.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/apr/24/shifty-film-review)

## Time Out — Wally Hammond

Rating 4/5. 21 April 2009. 

Hammond presents the film as a welcome jolt in realist crime cinema. The standfirst singles out its uncompromising, hard-edged approach, though the review text is unavailable.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/shifty)

## Total Film — Ellen E Jones

Rating 4/5. 30 March 2009. 

The review finds Shifty absorbing, moving and authentic, and praises its grounded portrayal of modern British life. It singles out Eran Creevy’s cinematic vision of London’s overlooked landscapes and Daniel Mays’s performance.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/shifty-review/)

## Empire — Dan Jolin

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 25 March 2009. 

The critic finds the film engaging and intelligently character-driven, despite a forced twist. They praise the warm performances of Riz Ahmed and Daniel Mays and the film’s idiosyncratic details.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shifty-review/)

## Variety — Derek Elley

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 31 October 2008. Festival review. 

Elley finds the film consistently better than its tiny budget suggests, while noting that it never reaches beyond its modest scope. He praises the supporting cast but criticizes the expletive-heavy dialogue and Daniel Mays’ flat performance.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/film/reviews/shifty-1200471169/)

## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2009. 

The review’s verdict is unavailable because the article is behind a paywall. Its praise or criticism of any particular aspect cannot be determined from the visible text.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/shifty-/4043997.article)

## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2008. 

The review calls the film an impressive, energetic debut with an intelligent and charismatic protagonist. It praises the convincing performances, hot pace, and balance of suspense with absurd character humour.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/shifty-film-review-by-anton-bitel)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/shifty.md