By throwing a Doctor Who-style monster of the week into a south London gangsta scenario, writer & director Joe Cornish delivers a solidly entertaining and very British comedy horror. Cleverly set on Guy Fawkes Night - so that fireworks can be used both as cover and weaponry - a gang of young muggers have their criminal activities interrupted when an alien crash-lands from the sky, prefiguring an imminent invasion of furry monsters. The creature design is simple yet impressive: they look just like the aliens painted on the old Space Invaders arcade cabinets, but with rows and rows of fluorescent fangs, and for once the CGI is unobtrusive and effective. Attack the Block is undemanding fun, clearly designed to appeal chiefly to teenage audiences, but it's hard not to get caught up with the snappy, slang-heavy dialogue and the low-level carnage.