Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Review & Recap (Netflix)
- Jimmy Palmquist
- 4 minutes ago
- 6 min read
⚠️ Spoiler Alert: This review contains spoilers for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. ⚠️
There are few television-to-film transitions that carry as much weight and expectation as Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, now streaming on Netflix. After six gripping seasons and 36 unforgettable episodes of Peaky Blinders, creator and writer Steven Knight delivers a cinematic continuation that feels both intimate and epic in scope. Not to be overshadowed, Tom Harper brings an ensemble cast of superstars together to portray this beautiful tale, instead of individuals fighting for the limelight. This is not just a reunion, it’s a haunting and thrilling return to Birmingham’s most feared family, and it’s executed with sharp storytelling, emotional weight, and a powerful historical backdrop.
A New Story Built on World War II
One of the most compelling aspects of the Peaky Blinders story is the use of real history to offer background motivation for the story we watch unravel. In the early days of the show, it was the after effects of World War I. The Immortal Man locks the historical fiction them centered around World War II. Hitler's Blitzkrieg tore across Europe leaving Great Britain standing as the lone holdout against the German war machine. The film opens with constant bombings raining down on Birmingham, immediately setting a tense and haunting tone.
This opening sequence is more than spectacle, it’s historical remembrance.
The film retells and honors the bombing of the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) factory in Birmingham that occurred on November 19, 1940. During the attack, 53 employees were killed and 89 were injured. The decision to honor these victims in the end credits adds emotional gravity and reminds viewers that while this is a fictional story, the destruction and suffering were very real.
It’s a powerful way to ground the Shelby family’s story in real history and gives the film an added layer of importance.
Steven Knight’s Pacing Keeps You on Edge
From the opening moments, Steven Knight’s pacing is one of the film’s strongest elements. The storytelling unfolds with deliberate tension as we sit on the edge of our seats waiting for Tommy Shelby to reestablish his presence in Birmingham.
The film understands restraint and anticipation.
Rather than rushing Tommy back into the spotlight, Knight carefully builds the world around his absence, showing the fractured Shelby empire, the looming Nazi threat, and the desperate state of the Peaky Blinders.
And when Tommy Shelby, played by the phenomenal Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, Tron: Legacy), finally announces his return, it is absolutely spectacular.
It’s authoritative. It’s brutal. And it’s beautiful.
New Enemies and a Dangerous Nazi Plot
As the true plot of the film unfolds, we are introduced to several new characters, most notably the always-intense Tim Roth.
When his name was first announced for the cast, it was pretty predictable he would be the villain, and that prediction proves completely accurate. Roth plays John Beckett, a calculating and ruthless antagonist working with the Nazis on a terrifying plan to destroy Great Britain from within.
The Germans are planning a full offensive attack, but more subtly, they intend to forge millions of pounds of British currency and flood the economy with it, financially collapsing the country.
To make this plan work, they need local gangs to push the fake money into circulation.
They need the Peaky Blinders.
And that means betraying their country.
This is where the Shelby family is forced to make its stand.
Tommy Shelby’s Isolation
Before the war against the Nazis fully takes shape, we see just how isolated Tommy Shelby has become.
He lives in near-complete solitude, tolerating only one person in his presence, Johnny Dogs, played by Packy Lee (Murphy's Law, The Frankenstein Chronicles).
Johnny Dogs pushes Tommy to leave his comfort zone, usually to handle small nuisances on the property, but for the most part, Tommy is alone, writing the story of the Shelby family and separating himself from the world. Oh yeah, he's haunted by the truth of his brother's, Arthur, demise and what apprears to be the ghost of his dead daughter, Ruby.
It’s clear he’s just waiting for the end of his life.
Tommy is finally pulled out of isolation by sister Ada Thorne (Sophie Rundle), his former lover's gypsy twin Kaulo (Rebecca Ferguson), and the deteriorating state of the Peaky Blinders.
When Tommy returns to Birmingham and announces his presence, it is with authority and extreme prejudice.
Tragically, this return is fueled by devastating news: his sister Ada, once again played by Sophie Rundle (Bodyguard, Jamestown) has been murdered on the streets of Birmingham.
The war has now become personal.
A Brilliant Father and Son Conflict
While Tommy’s return dominates the film, one of the strongest storylines involves his son, Duke Shelby, played perfectly by Barry Keoghan.
Duke has taken over the Peaky Blinders, but his leadership has turned into a complete embarrassment. We see this during a raid on the bombed munitions factory, where the Peaky Blinders steal weapons for themselves instead of ensuring they go to British soldiers fighting the Nazis.
It’s reckless. It’s selfish. And it’s everything Tommy Shelby would have hated.
The confrontation between father and son is brilliant and realistic.
Both men realize they have failed each other. Both understand they need each other. And both take a dangerous chance on trust.
It’s one of the most emotionally grounded moments in the film.
War, PTSD, and Tommy’s Final Mission
Tommy begins putting his plan into motion to destroy the Nazi operation and kill John Beckett.
He reunites with old allies like Hayden Stagg played by Stephen Graham (Snatch, Adolescence) and Curly played by Ian Peck (Robin Hood, Coronation Street).
Then Tommy faces one of his greatest fears. He digs a tunnel in Liverpool, returning to the tactics that made him famous during World War I.
The sequence is intense and emotional as Tommy battles PTSD while digging his way toward the meeting point. It’s a powerful reminder that even the strongest men carry scars from their past.
But Tommy pushes forward.
Because this time, it’s not about power.
It’s about saving his country and his family.
A Powerful and Emotional Ending
All the pieces come together when Beckett confronts Duke, believing him to be his ally and a traitor to the Shelby family
.
Too late, Beckett realizes Tommy Shelby has outsmarted him. Not to mention the binds of family are stronger than the promise of money and power.
The final confrontation between Tommy and Beckett leads to a unique and tense shootout. Tommy even hopes to sacrifice himself, finally finding peace in death.
But Duke saves him, pulling him out of the path of Beckett’s car.
Beckett is dead.
Tommy lives.
And father and son share a powerful and emotional moment as Tommy forces Duke to realize his future, the one put in motion/predicted by Kaulo.
The film ends with a beautiful ceremony that celebrates Tommy’s original goal: protecting his family and honoring his legacy.
The use of gypsy lore and the gangster angle makes the ending feel poetic and grounded in the world of Peaky Blinders.
Final Thoughts
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is a gripping, emotional, and beautifully paced continuation of the Shelby saga.
As a history major in college, I love how the World War II setting adds historical weight, the Nazi plot raises the stakes, and the emotional core between Tommy and Duke gives the film heart. The new additions to the cast are excellent, and the returning characters provide meaningful connections to the original series.
I honestly could not believe how fast this movie went by. When I paused it briefly and realized there were only 15 minutes left, I was genuinely shocked.
As with the original series, I also thoroughly enjoyed the use of classic rock music set during older days of history. My favorite was the reconditioned "Red Right Hand" by Nice Cave.
If there is any criticism, it comes from the pacing in certain moments. At times, the film still feels like it was meant to be a series rather than a standalone movie. Some transitions feel like awkward long fades that resemble episode endings or cliffhangers rather than cinematic pacing.
But that’s a minor issue in an otherwise outstanding film.
Final Verdict
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man delivers everything fans could want, history, action, emotion, and the triumphant return of Tommy Shelby. It’s a powerful and satisfying continuation that proves the Shelby legacy is truly immortal. 🎩🔥
Check out the trailer below:
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