Violent entertainment

Rating: 6/10 (13 October 2005)

If you want brilliant social commentary or an insight into the psyche of men addicted to adrenalin, look elsewhere. If, however, you want to have a laugh with your mates (presumably, this film attracts about as many female viewers as your average Jenna Jameson flick) and have a taste for "immoral" pastimes, this is quite an enjoyable film.
The producers behind The Football Factory are Rockstar Games. Yes, the Rockstar Games who gave the world the PS2 game Grand Theft Auto. This should give you a hint of what the film is about. Just like leading actor Danny Dyer's previous film Human Traffic, Football Factory sets out to exploit a subculture. Both films rely heavily on in-jokes for the initiated about what they do on the weekend, be they clubbers gobbling down ecstasy like candy and dancing, or football lads snorting cocaine and fighting.
And, destructive as drug abuse and violence may be, there is no denying that when you're right in the middle of it, it can be fun as hell. If you have ever ran down a city street with a hundred man strong mob chasing the opposition you will understand what I mean, and you will probably love The Football Factory.
This being in essence an exploitation film, I can't help but feeling that the recurring nightmares of Dyer's character and the pathetic ending have been added by somebody to take the edge of the exploitation aspect. That part of the film is really poorly and unconvincingly done, in contrast to the "immoral" parts that focus on the joy of drinking, snorting and fighting  they are for most part fun and spot-on.