Son of Rambow (2008)

Will Pouter and Bill Milner standing in front of a lake in uniform, both with moody looks on their faces

Will Pouter as Lee Carter and Bill Milner as Will © Optimum Releasing

Director and Writer: Garth Jennings

Production Company: Hammer & Tongs, Celluloid Dreams, Good Film Productions, Arte France Cinéma, Network Movie Film-und Fernsehproduktion, Reason Pictures, Soficinéma 2, Soficinéma 3, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)

Kent Filming Locations: Richborough Power Station, Sandwich

Set during a long English summer in the 80’s, two boys, Will (Bill Milner) and Lee Carter (Will Poulter) watch a pirate copy of Rambo: First Blood and set about making their own version.

Bill Milner crouched on the ground of a forest staring away from the camera

Bill Milner as Will Proudfoot in Son of Rambow © Optimum Releasing

Will’s religious upbringing means that he has never been allowed to watch TV, listen to music or mix with the outside world, whilst Lee is the school’s trouble maker, known for his crazy home videos. After his first film viewing Will is persuade to partake in some death defying stunts; all in the name of Lee’s next filming project.

Will’s imaginative mind is not only given the chance to flourish in the world of film making, but also called upon to to dream up elaborate schemes to keep his new friendship a secret from his family.

The disused power station at Richborough, near Sandwich, provided the perfect backdrop for the kids to perform their crazy stunts and run wild. Abandoned in the mid 90’s,  the power station has now been demolished.

Sandwich is a medieval town situated on the River Stour and boasts golf clubs, eateries and B&B’s as well a museum, windmill and Roman Fort. The nearby Discovery Park has been used used for filming projects such as The Tunnel (2013) and World War Z (2013).

The film was released in cinemas in April 2008 and is now available to buy on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.