The long-running British gangster saga Peaky Blinders has returned to screens with Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, a feature-length film now streaming on Netflix. The film, starring Cillian Murphy, picks up the story of Tommy Shelby years after the events of the series finale, which aired in 2022.
The film is set in 1940, amidst the Blitz, and centers on a Nazi plot – Operation Bernhard – to destabilize the British economy through counterfeit currency. However, as noted in a review by The Hollywood Reporter, the film largely deviates from the historical premise, crafting a fictional narrative around it. Murphy reprises his role as the haunted and grief-stricken Tommy Shelby, a former leader of the Peaky Blinders gang, who is drawn back into a world he had tried to leave behind.
Tommy, having withdrawn from social ties after a period of self-imposed exile, is visited by his sister, Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle), now a politician, and Kaulo (Rebecca Ferguson), a Romani woman. Ada informs him of the dire situation in Birmingham, while Kaulo’s purpose is to guide Tommy toward his destiny. The film also introduces Duke Shelby (Barry Keoghan), Tommy’s long-lost son, revealed in the final season of the series. Keoghan’s portrayal has been highlighted for its chemistry with multiple characters, including a Nazi antagonist, according to The Daily Beast.
Duke, having taken control of the Peaky Blinders in Tommy’s absence, has led the gang into increasingly dangerous and immoral enterprises, including stealing vital supplies intended for the war effort. He is being manipulated by John Beckett (Tim Roth), a British fascist who seeks to exploit the counterfeit currency scheme. The central conflict revolves around Tommy’s attempt to rescue his son from Beckett’s influence and prevent a catastrophic economic collapse.
Critics have noted a stylistic contrast between Peaky Blinders and other acclaimed dramas. Slate points out that while shows like The Sopranos prioritized “cinephilic pedantry,” Peaky Blinders embraced a “bro-core vision of cool,” characterized by its anachronistic soundtrack, striking visuals, and focus on atmosphere. This aesthetic continues in The Immortal Man, with the film’s cinematography praised for its sensuous depiction of the Northern English landscape, though some critics have also pointed to moments of visual cheesiness.
The film’s dialogue has been described as overly simplistic and expository, potentially leading to a “second screen” experience for viewers. Despite strong performances, particularly from Keoghan, the film is seen as a somewhat unfulfilling epilogue to the series, more in line with its later, less critically acclaimed seasons than its earlier successes.
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