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London’s graffiti- emblazoned East End provides the perfect urban backdrop for this dramatic battle between good and evil.

Written and directed by Brit author Philip Ridley, it’s the Faustian tale of a young man (Fifty Dead Men Walking star Jim Sturgess) born with a heart-shaped facial birthmark, who accepts the chance to lead a normal life in exchange for more than just the obligatory soul.

In this instance, playing with fire thrusts him headlong into a violent and chaotic nightmare, populated by demonic ‘hoodies’.

Although he’s a prolific writer and playwright, this is only Ridley’s third venture into filmmaking in two decades, and his first film for 14 years. But boy, was it worth the wait.

As with The Passion Of Darkly Noon, Ridley proves he possesses a unique imagination that allows him to blend reality, fantasy and the psychologically strange.

No matter how weird events become – for example, the demons make unexpected appearances, baring their razor-toothed grins and letting out otherworldly screeches  – they’re always believable.

Equally credible are the cast’s performances: in particular Sturgess, although awesome character actor Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes) almost steals his thunder as a squirm-inducing advocate of Satan.

However, where Ridley really excels is in conjuring an ambiguous and eerie atmosphere, which renders Heartless more than a simple slice of menacing horror.

Instead, it’s a cerebral fright-ride that deals with alienation and metaphorically illustrates the turmoil that’s coursing through British society.

BILLY CHAINSAW