Mike, a rough sleeper in London, is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction as he attempts to turn his life around. Along the way, he encounters unexpected chances for a fresh start.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.8/10
IMDb: 6.8/10
Letterboxd: 3.51/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Metacritic: 77
TMDB: 6.6/10
Director
Harris Dickinson
Production
Devisio, BBC Film, Tricky Knot, Somesuch, BFI, Dream Space Films
Cast
Frank Dillane, Megan Northam, Karyna Khymchuk, Shonagh Marie, Amr Waked, Claudia Jones, Shahzad Ali, Michael Quartey, Natasha Sparkes, John Norman, Harris Dickinson, Okezie Morro, Holly De Jong, Asif Khan, Joseph Ayre, Rachel Sanders, Buckso Dhillon-Woolley, Eleanor Nawal, Moe Hashim, Angela Bain
Where to watch
Hulu
Curator Review
Verdict
A raw, empathetic addiction-and-homelessness drama with a strong sense of place and an unusually assured directorial debut. It sounds less interested in easy redemption than in the messy, stop-start reality of trying to change, which gives it real emotional bite.
Best for
Viewers who like grounded social-realist drama
Fans of performance-led character studies
Audiences open to bleak but humane stories
People interested in addiction, homelessness, and recovery narratives
Skip if
You want a neat inspirational arc
You prefer plot-heavy films over mood and character
You’re looking for a light or comforting watch
You’re sensitive to depictions of relapse, street life, and self-destruction
Overview
Urchin is the kind of debut that announces a filmmaker with a sharp eye for bodies in space, social pressure, and the humiliations of trying to get better. Set around a rough sleeper in London, it treats addiction and homelessness not as a checklist of trauma beats but as a cycle of hope, relapse, and self-protection. That gives the film a bruised honesty that lingers.
Worth noting
What stands out most is how human it seems to want its protagonist to be, even when he’s frustrating or self-sabotaging. The film appears to resist the usual catharsis of recovery dramas, which makes it feel less tidy and more credible. The supporting reactions suggest a performance that is both vulnerable and volatile, with the lead carrying the film’s emotional weight.
Bottom line
As a first feature, it sounds remarkably controlled in its visual approach, using London as more than backdrop and letting the frame do some of the storytelling. It may not satisfy viewers who want a cleaner emotional payoff, but for anyone drawn to raw, compassionate social drama, this looks like a major calling card.
Top Letterboxd reviews
itscharlibb · 3876 likes
sat next to halina in the theatre and she cried and was so happy and excited for harris and that was generally the vibe of the whole thing. everyone is rooting for him and everyone clapped forever and it really felt deserved. atmosphere on point. go off harris, go off!
Karsten (4★) · 2598 likes
pisses me off how talented harris dickinson is
Framesofnick (4★) · 2160 likes
Oh look I’m Harris Dickinson I'm hot as fuck, I’m a great actor, and I can write & direct a really endearing movie that makes lil bitches like me tear up
Also Frank Dillane absolutely gut wrenching performance
Kit Lazer (3.5★) · 1396 likes
Does a wonderful job of depicting the near futility of attempting to assimilate out of addiction and homelessness. You want to enjoy each new boon and breath above the surface of the water but your past, and the guilt and trauma that comes with it, pulls you down by your ankles. It feels impossible, in that mode, to navigate a world that judges you by your actions when all you can see are your intentions. That disconnect feels like injustice and leads to just one drink and maybe just a little toot of powder to get through the day.
Then you’re back down below, drowning again.
brooklyn (3.5★) · 984 likes
loved the karaoke scene so much!! what a directorial debut. harris dickinson is just casually good at everything huh