Bronson 2008 is how you make a low budget film

Blender Dumbass
September 25, 2025

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Having only a quarter of a million dollars, director Nicolas Winding Refn and actor Tom Hardy decided to make a period piece based on true events. Just so you know, period pieces are usually far more expensive to make than contemporary films. And yet they had almost nothing, in terms of budget to pull this movie off. How the hell did they do that?

What is even more absurd, given the budget, is that the movie is shot on film. Digital would have been way cheaper ( even in 2008 ). Yes, it is just 16 mm. Which is cheaper than 35 mm. But what the hell? Nicolas Winding Refn must have a low-budget superpower or something to make a cool ass movie on such tiny budget.

The main star of the show is Tom Hardy. He is doing a full on method acting gig here, trying to portray the most famous British prisoner Charles Bronson ( or Michael Peterson in real life ). As far as I know Hardy went to see Peterson in prison to develop his character. To talk to the man, to understand the man, to be able to portray the man properly. And those visits payed off. Hardy is absolutely brilliant in this film.

The film isn't a plot film. There isn't like one main event in the life of Michael Peterson, or something. Instead it is a movie about the legend of the prisoner Charles Bronson. It is kind of in the same genre as The Wolf of Wall Street or Citizen Kane, just with its own, Refny spin on it.

The film is a little avant-garde. It is an art film through and through. And while for the majority of the time it tries to be this brutal punching movie, it is way deeper than that. Refn is known for making what seems to be just violence, or action films on the surface, while delivering a profound experience around it. For example Drive 2011 is technically a heist / car chase film. But Nicolas Winding Refn makes it into a meditation on depression and belonging. And a thought piece on love itself.

In my opinion Bronson seems to be a meditation on purpose. Peterson seems to be so lost when it comes to knowing what he wants, that the only thing he does seem to want is conflict. At least in a fight, you know where to punch. There is a scene where he takes a prison guard hostage and then when asked what he wants from the prison chief, he just can't answer it. He doesn't know what he wants. He says "well, what have you got?". And while it is a fucking hilarious piece of film-making, it is also somewhat sad, to be honest. He is so lost when it comes to knowing what he wants to do. He is so directionless. That the only thing he wants, is a fight. Again. Because at least in a fight you know who to punch.

This is a man with an incredible will-power, yet one that has no direction. There are a few moments where it seems like he finds that direction, for a bit. Like the time when he is drugged beyond belief and yet still goes towards the exit door in the psychiatric hospital. This is some real cool stuff. But those moments are short and go away relatively quick. It almost seems like Peterson is suffering from depression, but has too much of an ego to show his depression to anyone. At least until he discovers art. That seems to be the answer for his longing for purpose.

Speaking of the psychiatric hospital. That scene where the soundtrack plays Pet Shop Boys song It's A Sin and all the mental patients dance to it. There is this perfectly cast extra in the foreground doing such a great dance that everybody watching the movie can agree there should be an Oscar category for a best extra. I'd even say, it's worth re-watching the movie, just for this one extra's dance moves.

Happy Hacking!!!