| Protein | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Tony Burke |
| Written by |
|
| Starring | |
Production company | Broadside Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2,183[1] |
Protein is a 2024 crime thriller film directed by Tony Burke (in his feature debut[2]), based on his 2014 short film of the same name.[2] It stars Craig Russell, Steven Meo, Andrea Hall, and Charles Dale.
Premise
Sion, a traumatized ex-soldier and serial killer, returns to South Wales. There, he becomes gym-obsessed and eats the protein-rich flesh of a local drug dealer, sparking a war between rival gangs.[2]
Cast
- Craig Russell as Sion
- Steven Meo as Kev
- Kai Owen as Dwayne
- Ross O'Hennessy as Nik
- Richard Elis as Big Tim
- Gareth John Bale as Gary
- Andrea Hall as Detective Patch
- Charles Dale as Detective Stanton
- Richard Mylan as Joe Llewelyn
Release
Protein premiered in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2024 as part of FrightFest.[2]
Critical reception
Protein was generally well received by critics. Wendy Ide of The Observer wrote: "while it's not the most polished piece of film-making, you have to admire Burke's commitment to carnage."[3] Phil Hoad of The Guardian gave the film 3 stars out of 5, and said that despite being "diffuse and unfocused", "Protein has a hotline into great British bathos."[4] David Jenkins of Little White Lies called it "witty" and "a very solid genre runaround that is elevated by its occasional and welcome lapses into soulful introversion."[5]
References
- "Protein (2025)". The Numbers. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- "Protein". FrightFest. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- "Wendy Ide's pick of other films: How to Train Your Dragon, Lollipop, Echo Valley and more". The Observer. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- "Protein review – gym-obsessed serial killer bites off more than he can chew". The Guardian. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- "Protein review – nasty, funny, soulful". Little White Lies. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
External links
- Protein at IMDb
- Protein at Rotten Tomatoes