Richard John Taylor is a prolific filmmaker of modestly budgeted films that seem to veer between gangster yarns and horror stories. They're a mixed bag. That is to say, some I like, some I don't so much.

Despite an arresting beginning, 'A New Breed of Criminal' is a bit of a mess; Steve Wraith's story sprawls over its 88 minutes running time. It's as if the project was filmed in chunks whenever actors became available, and veteran TV hardman Nicholas Ball has been drafted in to narrate throughout, in a bid to tie the many plot strands together.

Events just roll on and on and ... lots of swearing, mixed acting, interesting direction, but no drama, a distinct lack of pace and too many characters and loose ends. My score is 4 out of 10.

Why do script writers always try to find excuses for hardened criminals. This film tells the story of some very nasty people and excuses their behaviour by focussing on their hard upbringing and environment. Trouble is, it doesn't tell the story very well. The acting is average at best with the exception of the wonderful Nicholas Ball. The prize for the worst acting goes to the actor playing Detective Scott. He uses the strangest attempt at an American accent I have ever heard but why attempt it in the first place. He is from Newcastle playing a Newcastle detective. Did I miss something. Is he supposed to be on secondment from the NYPD? Was the explainer cut? As for the rest of the story it just glosses over these real life criminals making them out to be some sort of urban heroes. They are not.