Neds

Neds

Year: 2010

Runtime: 124 mins

Language: English

Drama

John McGill, a former prize‑winning schoolboy, spirals into violent teenage delinquency. Facing low expectations, he shifts from victim to avenger, scholar to thug, altar‑boy to glue‑sniffer. When he tries to reclaim his old self, the harsh reality of his new world makes conformity impossible, pushing him toward inevitable, self‑determined violence.

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Timeline & Setting – Neds (2010)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Neds (2010). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970s

The film takes place during the early 1970s, a period characterized by economic decline in Scotland and widespread social issues. This era saw rising gang activity, youth delinquency, and a challenging backdrop for working-class families. The setting reflects the social and economic struggles that influence the characters' lives.

Location

Glasgow, Scotland

The movie is set in 1970s Glasgow, a city known for its industrial heritage and robust working-class communities. The neighborhoods feature urban landscapes with tight-knit social environments, often marked by gang presence and social struggles. Glasgow's gritty atmosphere underscores the tumultuous life of the protagonist and his environment.

🏙️ Urban 🌧️ Industrial 🎨 Working-class

Last Updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:55

Main Characters – Neds (2010)

Meet the key characters of Neds (2010), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

John McGill (Conor McCarron)

A bright student whose academic talents clash with his turbulent environment. As he navigates gang rivalries, violence, and personal tragedy, his character arc reveals a tumultuous struggle to find stability and redefine himself beyond delinquency.

👦🏻 Protagonist 🎓 Student 🚶‍♂️ Troubled youth

Mr. McGill

John’s father is an abusive, alcoholic toolmaker, embodying the challenges of working-class hardship and familial violence. His interactions with John highlight cycles of abuse and the complex dynamics within the family.

👨‍👦 Father 🥃 Alcoholic 💢 Abusive

Beth (Marianna Palka)

John’s Auntie Beth encourages him to pursue opportunities abroad, representing hope for escape and better prospects outside Glasgow's tough neighborhoods.

👩‍🦳 Aunt 🌍 Hopeful 🎁 Supportive

Canta (Gary Milligan)

A local bully and gang member who initially intimidates John. His relationship with John shifts from hostility to a tragic consequence of violence, symbolizing the cycle of bullying and revenge.

🧒👊 Bully 🩺 Fragile 🔪 Violent

Last Updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:55

Major Themes – Neds (2010)

Explore the central themes of Neds (2010), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🩸 Violence

Violence permeates the film, manifesting in gang fights, physical assaults, and the protagonist’s own aggressive actions. This theme highlights the cycle of violence within the community and its devastating impact on individuals and families. It also explores how environments of hardship can foster aggressive behavior.

🎭 Coming-of-Age

The story centers on John McGill’s transition from childhood to adulthood amid adversity. His journey involves grappling with family issues, social alienation, and making morally complex decisions. It underscores the loss of innocence and the struggle for identity in a hostile environment.

Last Updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:55

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Gritty Social Realism Movies like Neds

Unflinching stories of young lives shattered by poverty and gang culture.If the raw and unflinching portrayal of youth violence and social struggle in Neds resonated with you, explore these movies. This list features similar emotionally heavy dramas set against a backdrop of poverty and delinquency, offering a stark look at challenging coming-of-age stories.

grittyrawoppressivebrutalangrydespairingsocial realism

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a young protagonist from a disadvantaged background as they are pulled into a world of gangs and crime. The story is a linear, steady descent, often showing a bright start corrupted by environmental pressures, leading to violence, despair, and an ambiguous potential for change.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared commitment to social realism, a dark tone, high emotional intensity, and a focus on the brutal cause-and-effect relationship between a harsh environment and a young person's tragic downfall.

Painful Coming-of-Age Stories like Neds

Stories of teenage turmoil where redemption is a fragile, uncertain possibility.For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and challenging themes of Neds, this collection features similar films about difficult adolescences. These movies explore teenage characters navigating trauma, violence, and family dysfunction, often ending on a note of ambiguous hope.

despairinghopefulrawemotionaltraumaticredemptiveteen turmoil

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a young person grappling with external trauma (family dysfunction, abuse) and internal conflict. The protagonist spirals, often becoming a version of what they fear, before a pivotal moment forces a confrontation with their identity. The ending is typically ambiguous, suggesting a possible but difficult path forward rather than a clean resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films share a heavy emotional weight, a dark but not entirely hopeless tone, and a central focus on a young character's painful psychological and moral development through extreme hardship.

Unlock the Full Story of Neds

Don't stop at just watching — explore Neds in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Neds is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Neds Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Neds, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Neds Summary

Neds Timeline

Track the full timeline of Neds with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Neds Timeline

Neds Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Neds that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Neds Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Neds

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Neds: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Neds