For the love of Morrissey! Shoplifters of the World, directed by Stephen Kijak (We Are X and Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What We’re Made Of), is a film that’s the interesting story of how fans may have felt on the day that British Jingle Pop band The Smiths officially broke up. Kijak also wrote the film, based on a story by Lorianne Hall, which stars Heleen Howard (The Wilds), Nick Krause (White Rabbit), Ellar Coltrane (Summer Nights) and Joe Manganiello as metal DJ “Full Metal Mickey”. 

Here is the official synopsis: 

1987. Denver, Co. One crazy night in the life of four friends reeling from the sudden demise of iconic British band The Smiths, while the local airwaves are hijacked at gunpoint by an impassioned Smiths fan. 

A True Feeling, Not Based On A True Story

Shoplifters Of The World right off the bat indicates this is not a true story but something that had wanted to be done in someone’s mind. Ellar Coltrane, who plays Dean in this film, really took the cake for this film. The back and forth between Coltrane and Manganiello was not only tense, but could had easily only took place in the radio station and been a thought-provoking flick. What do you do when no one in the world cares for such a mind-altering band? You go out and you make them understand. 

While things are happening in the station, you have the side story with Howard, Krause, actors Elena Kampouris (Sacred Lies) and James Bloor (Barkskins) traveling around town trying to coop with the idea that their favorite band The Smiths are no longer. With teenage debauchery and young antics, this part of the movie is where it feels just a little lost. If this is what adolescents from the 80s were like, it feels over exaggerated and slightly under acted. None the less, it’s still a fun time to watch and it shows that Director Stephen Kijak, is indeed a Smiths fan. 

A Cult Classic Could Be Brewing

All in all, this movie could be a cult classic in the near future. Only because this film will be strictly directed to fans of The Smiths or people trying to convince their friends that The Smiths are good and should watch this to see how they feel about the band. This flick leaves you saying, how far would you go to show the world how amazing your favorite band is? Shoplifters Of The World releases March 26th.

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