Resurrection Man Film Analysis

This review will examine the psychological state of the character, Victor Kelly as it develops throughout the film of Resurrection Man and how it can be seen in parallel to the historical and cultural context in which this movie was set. The movie itself is adapted from a screenplay written by Eoin McNamee, which is loosely based off the Shankill Butchers, a loyalist group which operated in Belfast during the 1970’s. These men were held responsible for numerous deaths of catholic civilians and this movie can be seen an embellished account of their actions. The group itself operated under Lenny Murphy, who can be seen in parallel with the main antagonist of Victor Kelly. Throughout the film there are numerous depictions of graphic violence

As the climatic encounter between Ryan, the newspaper journalist, and Victor in the rundown bathhouse sees Victor so immersed in the mutilation of a fellow loyalist that it is indisputable that he clearly has become so mentally unhinged that his gross actions are now posed towards anyone that dares threaten who he is and what he stands for. This is also of significance historically, as it is a strong gesture of the misconduct of this group of people and how their actions were ultimately so mislead they surpassed the point of being in anyway justifiably. Strong enough as this scene may be what is most striking, in terms of identity politics, is the lack of any argument for the loyalist side. Or as put by Steve Baker “In this way Resurrection Man employs a loyalist killer to reflect upon warped psycho-sexual desires, with nothing to say about the politics of loyalism, its ideals or its motivations.” (Barton, O’Brien, (ed.) 2004, p.79) This again is a clear indication of the 1970’s cultural violence that plagued Northern Ireland and how it’s motivations among youths was barely tethered to the origins of the sectarian