Gassed Up is a 2023 British film directed by George Amponsah in his feature film debut, and starring Stephen Odubola. It is co-written by Archie Maddocks with Taz Skylar, who also appears in the film. The film premiered at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival.
Premise
Ash (Odubola), is part of a moped street-gang in London, using his earnings from petty thefts to support his family but struggles with the moral complexities of his actions when a jewellery heist alerts an Albanian crime family to his crew.
Cast
Stephen Odubola as Ash
Steve Toussaint as Roy
Mae Muller as Kelly
Harry Pinero as Self
Yung Filly as Self
Ms Banks as self
Taz Skylar as Dubz
Craige Middleburg as Roach
Jelena Gavrilovic as Shaz
Production
The film was greenlit by Amazon Prime Video in July 2022 to be produced by Rupert Preston and Ed Caffrey of Sunrise Films and Bart Ruspoli and Hester Ruoff of Ascendant Fox. The script was co-written by Archie Maddocks and Taz Skylar who also appears as an Albanian crime boss. It is directed by George Amponsah.
Casting
Stephen Odubola leads the cast. Singer and British Eurovision entrant Mae Muller was approached to work on music for the film and appears in the film in her debut acting role. The film also includes performances by YouTubers Harry Pinero, Yung Filly and Ms Banks.
Release
The film premiered on 10 October 2023 at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival.
Reception
Tom Davidson in the Evening Standard praised the performance of Odubola, and some of the action shots which use GoPro cameras attached to the gang's mopeds, but considered the film to use too many cliched tropes.