A surprisingly evocative and well-crafted coming-of-age story set in a dead-end British seaside resort, Seamonsters transcends both its budget and its setting to leave its audience with a genuine sense of hope.

Excellent performances, notably from Reece Noi and Georgia Henshaw, as well as some beautiful imagery, lifts it well above the level of a small British indie, and although at times the pace is a little ponderous (inevitably perhaps, because of the sense of boredom and emptiness it strives to evoke) the story is always plausible and authentic.

The end-result is not merely a beguiling study of what it is like to grow up in a cultural backwater, but also an examination of the power of awakening sexuality and its potentially unsettling, destructive effect on friendship.

Despite not being one for the coming of age genre I found myself completely entranced by this film. I was taken in by the earthiness of it all and became quite attached to the characters and their personal stories even if there were not all 'traditionally' likable. Being set predominantly in an ordinary town with ordinary people highlighted the individual dreams and foibles of the youngsters in totally natural way. Using a coastal location gave the opportunity for some incredibly haunting cinematography which also provided for a sense of foreboding which is pertinent to a large semi-underclass in our time. As with any good multi-dimensional story there is tragedy, though not necessarily where expected, heart- warming elements and quirky characters – the great Rita Tushingham – which all contribute to a very emotionally demanding but realistically uplifting experience.