This film is an absolute triumph. You naysayers who are in the frame of mind, oh not another bleeding biopic, will shut up long before the end credits roll. This paints a much darker picture than for example walk the line and unlike walk the line everyone knows there was no saving Ian Curtis. His decent into depression is not a result of drug addiction but rather the side effects of prescribed drugs he had to take to battle his epilepsy. It's not all flowers and rainbows and the harrowing darkness in the void Ian Curtis left on the world, not just musicians is inherent throughout being shot in bleak black and white. The happiness is never far from disaster, the joy only echoed by terror at losing control. This film chronicles the downfall of an influential hero many people have never heard of before.

The acting is excellent. Sam Riley could in fact be the reincarnation of Ian Curtis, the similarity in looks is startling as well as his singing and Curtis excentric… more »

This film is an absolute triumph. You naysayers who are in the frame of mind, oh not another bleeding biopic, will shut up long before the end credits roll. This paints a much darker picture than for example walk the line and unlike walk the line everyone knows there was no saving Ian Curtis. His decent into depression is not a result of drug addiction but rather the side effects of prescribed drugs he had to take to battle his epilepsy. It's not all flowers and rainbows and the harrowing darkness in the void Ian Curtis left on the world, not just musicians is inherent throughout being shot in bleak black and white. The happiness is never far from disaster, the joy only echoed by terror at losing control. This film chronicles the downfall of an influential hero many people have never heard of before.

The acting is excellent. Sam Riley could in fact be the reincarnation of Ian Curtis, the similarity in looks is startling as well as his singing and Curtis excentric dancing.

If you love joy division you will love this film. If you want the brutal truth with no rose tinted glasses in sight then this is it.