Forgotten Danny Dyer thriller critics called 'nasty and exploitative' is streaming for free

Danny Dyer’s obscure thriller from the 2000s critics slammed for being “nasty and exploitative” is currently streaming for free in the UK.

Co-starring Sex Education’s Gillian Anderson, this brutal revenge film pits the unlikely pairing against a group of violent men following a devastating attack.

EastEnders legend Dyer portrays Adam, a young security technician who begins a whirlwind fling with glamorous businesswoman Alice Comfort (played by Anderson).

After heading to a party together - where they enjoy a night of passion - they return home, only to hit a stag in Alice’s car and experience a horrifying attack by a group of men.

Months later, the pair are healed but traumatised and hatch a sadistic plan to get revenge.

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Titled Straightheads, this extremely shocking thriller is available for free on Channel 4 for anyone who thinks they can stomach it.

Receiving mixed to negative reviews from critics, The Guardian went so far as to give it just one star, calling the film “nasty and nonsensical” and “a feature-length exercise in wrongness”.

Empire was a little more generous with their two-star review, praising Anderson’s “engaging performance”, adding it “[delves] into the sexual psychology of a traumatised odd-couple with interesting results”.

They concluded: “Anderson bares (almost) all in this flawed but fitfully fascinating thriller with a comical, if less compelling, turn from Danny Dyer.”

While the Times penned: “It has its thoughtful moments and is satisfying on a base level, but it’s an exploitation flick at heart.”

However, Straightheads does have its fair share of defenders, with a Letterboxd user claiming: “There are still parts of the film that I don't think need to be there…

“But for the most part I think the film was fantastic and is one that I don't think many will want to watch again because of how effective it is while not showing too much. I give the film a 5/5.”

Another thriller fan said: “Brilliant, brutal, breathtaking ....great slice of grub pie a la Straw Dogs and Piggy.”

And a final user wrote: “Horrible topic but Gillian’s emotional range here is incredible, she is such an insanely talented actor… still, a really hard movie to watch.”

Will you be braving Straightheads this week or is this boundary-pushing video nasty getting a wide berth?

Straightheads is available to stream on Channel 4.