Watching Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man felt a little strange at first, mostly because going back into that world after the series ended already carries a lot of weight. The Shelby story has always been tied to the smoke and grit of Birmingham and the trauma left behind by the First World War, and this movie really leans into that feeling again. But instead of trying to top the scale of the later seasons, it feels more reflective. It almost plays like a long look at Tommy Shelby as a person rather than just the legend everyone sees him as.
Picking up after the finale, the story doesn’t rush to prove why it needs to exist. It takes its time, and that actually worked for me. The movie steps away from the big political games that dominated the later seasons and focuses much more on Tommy himself. There’s a sense that he’s carrying the full weight of everything that’s happened across the series, and the film lets that sit with you.
The title, The Immortal Man, really stuck with me while watching. It doesn’t feel like it’s meant in a heroic way. Tommy isn’t immortal because he’s unstoppable or protected by fate. It’s more that he’s someone who keeps surviving when maybe he shouldn’t. After everything he’s been through, there’s something almost haunting about the idea that he just keeps going.
When the film reintroduces him, Tommy feels different from the version we saw at the height of the series. The suits, the political power, the massive houses, those things aren’t really the focus anymore. He feels quieter and more worn down. There’s this sense that he’s spent so many years fighting and climbing that he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself now. Watching him move through scenes, it feels like he’s not looking for control anymore so much as some kind of peace.
What I appreciated most is that the movie gives that feeling space. It doesn’t try to constantly push forward with big plot twists or action. Instead it lets you sit with the characters and see what all those years have done to them.
The atmosphere is still exactly what you’d want from something set in the Peaky Blinders world. The smoky rooms, the cold streets, the quiet tension in conversations, all of that is still there. But the tone feels slightly different now. Instead of the confident swagger the show often had, the movie feels heavier and more reflective. Even simple conversations carry a lot of emotion behind them.
At the same time, the film really makes you feel the absence of characters who shaped the earlier seasons. Aunt Polly especially is something you feel throughout the movie. The story doesn’t constantly call attention to it, but the space she left behind is noticeable. It adds to this feeling that the world Tommy built has slowly changed around him.
Barry Keoghan showing up as Erasmus “Duke” Shelby was one of the things I was most curious about going in, and he honestly ended up being one of my favorite parts of the movie. Duke brings a completely different kind of energy. He has that same ambition the Shelby family is known for, but it comes out in a much more raw and unpredictable way.
Keoghan plays him with this restless intensity that makes you feel like anything could happen when he’s on screen. At the same time, there’s also a vulnerability there. Duke clearly wants to prove himself and step into the Shelby legacy, but you can also sense the complicated feelings he has toward it. Watching the dynamic between him and Tommy develop ended up being one of the more interesting emotional threads in the film.
Tim Roth’s character, John Beckett, adds another layer to the story. He represents the darker political forces starting to take hold in Europe at the time, and his presence gives the movie a sense that something even bigger is approaching. Roth brings a slightly theatrical edge to the role, but it works because Beckett feels like a symbol of the changing world around the characters.
One thing the movie does really well is show how much that world is shifting. The Shelbys built their power in a certain kind of environment, and now that environment is starting to change. There’s a quiet tension in watching characters who once seemed completely in control realize that the future might not play by the same rules.
Visually, the film also leans into a more reflective tone. Some scenes feel almost dreamlike, especially the ones centered on Tommy. There are moments where it feels like he’s walking through memories as much as reality. The cinematography uses a lot of shadows and quiet spaces, which fits the mood of the story really well.
The pacing of the film is slower than the show at times, but personally I didn’t mind that. It gives the characters room to breathe and lets the story focus more on what they’re feeling rather than just what they’re doing. There are still moments of violence and tension, but they aren’t the center of the experience anymore.
What I liked most about The Immortal Man is that it doesn’t try to wrap everything up in a neat way. It respects the long journey these characters have had. Instead of forcing a big heroic ending, the movie feels more interested in showing what it means to live with everything that’s come before. By the time the story reaches its final moments, it doesn’t really feel like a victory or a defeat. It just feels like the natural continuation of a life that has already been through so much. If this really is the last time we see the Shelby story on screen, it feels like a thoughtful way to close the chapter. It doesn’t try to recreate the past or outdo the show. Instead it reflects on it.
Walking away from the film, what stayed with me the most wasn’t the plot or even the action. It was the feeling of having spent a little more time with characters that have been part of this story for years. And in the end, that’s what made the movie work for me. It felt less like a big finale and more like a quiet farewell to a world and a character that have been part of television for a long time.
Peaky Blinders The Immortal Man is in theatres now.
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