Strongroom

A bank robbery turns into a race against time to save two innocent people trapped in an airtight vault in this Tarantino championed British thriller.

A carefully orchestrated bank heist goes awry when the robbers are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of two cleaners. The gang lock the bank’s manager and his secretary in the airtight vault and make off with the cash but soon realise that the pair will suffocate and they will face a murder rap if they can’t free them. With only 12 hours’ worth of air in the vault, the clock is ticking.

Taut as a drum, Vernon Sewell’s suspense classic is a standout example of the lean British ‘B’ film and has been championed by filmmakers including Edgar Wright and Martin Scorsese. Gripping to the final moments, with genuine shocks and unexpectedly complex characterisation, it’s a thrilling rediscovery.