Plot

The film begins with a street gathering involving loud music and drinking. Omen, Dabs, Henry and Blammy are there, clearly part of the new generation of teenagers that came after Sam. During this, an expensive car pulls up on the other side of the street. Offended by what they perceive as an insult to the run down neighbourhood, and seeing an opportunity, two of the teenagers approach the car and smash the window. In the scuffle that occurs when they rob the driver, they accidentally shoot the man in the leg, causing everybody to flee the area.

Six years after being sent down for killing Trife, Sam is released from prison. As this is happening, we see Sam's old girlfriend Claire with her new boyfriend; Jay having sex with his girlfriend but interrupted by a phone call; and Moony in bed too tired to answer the phone. A man approaches Sam outside the prison gates and lets him know that he can contact him if he needs anything. At the same time, a girl is threatened at a train station by a gang claiming she owes them money because of her cousin - Becky from the previous film. Sam, while riding the bus, sees two teenagers give up their seat for a woman with shopping bags, contrasting with who he was at that age. When they move, a man is seen on the back seat staring at Sam. They both sit down in the cemetery where Trife is buried and the man attempts conversation. Sam, clearly unnerved, does his best to stay calm but attacks him when he mentions the baseball bat that was used for the murder. During the struggle, the man says 'he was my cousin' to Sam, however then Sam is stabbed in the shoulder but manages to gain control of the fight, kicking the man several times in the chest before controlling his anger. The man informs Sam that he will not survive the day as many people want him dead, and will harm his family if need be. Sam, clearly troubled by these claims, goes to speak to Becky's cousin Lexi at the hair salon where she works, hoping that she might have some information. Sam approaches Claire in the street and asks her if she's seen anyone lately. She tells him Moony goes to the local university. Claire's boyfriend returns and hits Sam, telling him how much emotional damage he did. Sam and Moony meet in a coffee shop, where he tells him that Becky works in a salon, however he refuses to give him Jays number, warning that he has changed for the worse.

In a house, Andreas—the man whose face was slashed in the first film—sits at a table while a man named Zac lectures a teenager about making mistakes. Andreas tells the teenager that he got the scar on his face because he deserved it, and is better for it. Ike burns the teenager's arm with a pair of hair straighteners before kicking him in the chest. Meanwhile; Omen, Dabs and Blammy are robbing a car in broad daylight. They later take what they have stolen round to Ike's house to sell. Jay is on the street trying to sell some drugs to a posh man and his girlfriend, but robs them both when they test his patience. In the middle of the attack, Jay receives the call informing him that Sam is out of prison, and immediately turns his attention to revenge. Sam returns home and is met by his mother who is devastated by everything that has happened. She tells him that whether he meant it or not, he still let her down. Lexi convinces Alisa to talk to Sam. On the train to meet her, he sees Jay boarding the train to meet Moony. Neither are sure whether or not they had seen each other. Sam and Lexi go to Alisa's house but she spits in Sam's face and slaps him, telling him that he took her daughter's dad away. After this, the two go back to Lexi's flat to relax where they end up kissing. They attempt to have sex but Lexi pushes him away, telling him that she was gang raped years ago which led her into drug addiction. As this is happening, Jay meets with Moony and his girlfriend in a café. Jay tells Moony that he could have prevented Trife's death, which convinces him to help Jay track down Sam. However, shortly after, Moony comes to his senses and tells Jay that he needs to move on. Back at Lexi's flat, she notices scars on Sam's back. He tells her he got them in prison when Trife's uncle Curtis attacked him with a crowbar in his cell. Lexi tries to comfort him but the two end up arguing and shoving each other.

Jay goes to Ike's house, seeking help about Sam. He gives Jay a gun and Andreas suggests hiring some of the teenagers to kill Sam. Dabs is called into the room and eventually agrees to do it for £6k. Jay makes it clear that the others cannot see Sam's face when the murder happens. Dabs and Henry leave the house and Dabs tells him about the plan. Not willing to kill a man, Henry tells Dabs not to go through with it. A scuffle happens and Dabs hits Henry over the head with a brick. Later on, Dabs and Blammy meet Omen and tell him about the job. Omen agrees after Dabs lies and says that the target was the one who hurt Henry. They spot someone who looks like him and attack him, but Dabs realises it is not him. Later, they see Sam walking through a park and tackle him to the ground. With his face to the floor, Dabs tells Omen to stab him but Omen insists on seeing his face first. When they turn him around, it is revealed that Omen is Sam's brother. He refuses to kill his own brother and realises that Dabs knew who it was. Dabs mentions the money, but Sam punches him and leaves with the two teenagers. Meanwhile, Jay goes round to Lexi's flat and we find out he is her dealer, and that Lexi was setting up Sam by bringing him back to her flat. Back at Sam and Omen's flat, Sam lectures his brother about what prison is like and that he needs to stay at home in case somebody tries to attack their mother. After this, Lexi finds herself alone pondering whether she should take the drugs Jay gave her.

Sam phones the man he spoke to outside prison and asks for a favour. While walking down the street he bumps into a member of his old gang who is now a community support officer, showing how different their lives became. Sam continues down the street and mugs a couple at gunpoint. He uses the phone he just stole to call the police about an armed robbery, telling them the criminal is going into the house he is about to enter. Using the items he just stole, he goes into Ike's house pretending to want to sell them. Meanwhile, Sam's contact—an enemy of Uncle Curtis—phones Curtis and tells him where Sam is as a peace offering. While Ike is upstairs, Sam puts the gun to Andreas' face and tells him to be quiet. As this is happening, Curtis comes to the house. Him and Ike enter the room and Sam points the gun at them all before damaging Curtis' arm. The armed police show up and Sam retreats to a small bathroom. Before the police can get to him, he escapes through a small window and changes his jumper as he walks down the street. On the way home, Sam is attacked by Jay. Jay holds him at gunpoint and explains that Sam took his life as well as Trife's, as he'd never have kept on down the same path if it was not for him. The two end up fighting and Sam sees a baseball bat he planted under a car earlier. After an attempt from both of them to use their weapons, more fighting happens and Sam ends up at Jay's mercy. However, Jay cannot bring himself to shoot Sam. Sam disarms Jay and tries to shoot himself, realising that he's willing to do it if it will sort out everybody's problems. However, when he pulls the trigger, the gun is not loaded and Sam realises that Jay is just like he was six years ago - all talk with no real intentions. Safe in the knowledge that Jay is not really dangerous, he leaves the fight, Jay tells Sam it's not over and Sam tells Jay that it is over.

After this happens, Moony enjoys a romantic night in with his girlfriend, Alisa looks happy at home with her daughter and mother, as does Claire, Omen is arrested after his mother turns him in, not wanting him to end up in jail like Sam did, and a distraught Jay is comforted by his girlfriend. As all this happens, Sam receives a voicemail message from Lexi apologising and asking him to spend time with her. He goes round to her flat and the two smile as they enter.

Cast

Soundtrack

''Adulthood: Music from the Motion Picture'' was released on June 30, 2008 by Altered Ego. # "Over Here" (Maniac & Bashy featuring Ghetts & J2K) # "End in the Streets" (Plan B) # "F Ur Ex" (Sway) # "My Dunks" (The Clik Clik) # "Paranoid" (Dizzee Rascal) # "Kids of the Underground" (Scarlett & Viva featuring The Audio Bullys) # "Reppin' London" (Sincere featuring D Double E & Scorcher) # "Follow" (Tinchy Stryder) # "Running for Life" (Eliza Doolittle) # "On It 08" (Adam Deacon featuring Plan B, Snakeyman, Blazay & Alphadecious) # "Bars of Truth" (No Lay) # "Who Are You" (Chipmunk) # "Look What You've Done" (Lethal Bizzle featuring Kate Nash) # "Kids" (Goldie Locks) # "Grime Kid" (Wiley) # "I Need Love" (Plan B featuring Jacob Anderson) # "Run Dry" (Kerry-Anne Leatham) # "Reach" (Skrein) # "Adamhood" (Adam Deacon) # "Arms Open Wide" (Shystie) # "Kidulthood to Adulthood" (Maniac & Bashy)

Reception

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links

Category:2008 films Category:British films Category:English-language films Category:Hood films Category:Films directed by Noel Clarke Category:2000s drama films Category:Films set in London Category:Films shot in London

''Time Out'' magazine have called Adam "The New Face of Youth Cinema"

Adam Deacon was raised by his English Mother in Stoke Newington, Hackney, North-East London. His Morrocan Father left his mother when he was two.

Anuvahood

Music

Filmography

References

External links

Category:Grime artists Category:1983 births Category:People from Hackney Category:Alumni of the Anna Scher Theatre School Category:Actors from London Category:Living people