Gassed Up (film)

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Gassed Up is a 2023 British crime drama directed by George Amponsah in his feature-film debut. It stars Stephen Odubola as Ash, a member of a London mopeds gang who uses money from petty theft to support his family, until a jewellery heist draws an Albanian crime family into his world and he must face the consequences of his choices. The title refers to the slang “gassed up,” meaning someone with delusions of grandeur.

The screenplay is by Archie Maddocks and Taz Skylar, who also appears as an Albanian criminal. Mae Muller, a singer and UK Eurovision entrant, appears in her acting debut and contributed music to the film. The cast also features YouTubers Harry Pinero, Yung Filly, and Ms Banks, with some action sequences shot on GoPro-mounted mopeds. Gassed Up premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on 10 October 2023 and was released in the United Kingdom on 9 February 2024. The film runs 102 minutes.

Critical responses praised Odubola’s performance and the sharp script, though some critics felt the story leaned on familiar tropes and the Albanian-gang element was uneven. It won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2023 London Film Festival.