The Riot Club

Synopsis

Alistair (Sam Claflin) and Miles (Max Irons), both with aristocratic connections, start their first year at Oxford University. Though they are very different — Miles is friendly and level-headed who does not care that his girlfriend Lauren (Holliday Grainger) comes from a lower background, whilst Alistair is an insecure, arrogant and cold-hearted snob. Alistair and Miles are partners in one of their classes, where Alistair is unsubtle in his dislike of Miles, often disagreeing on their work together.

The Riot Club, a long established elite drinking club priding itself on hedonism and the belief that money can buy anything, is on the hunt for new members to maintain its roster of ten (10) men. Alistair is invited by Harry, whom he has met during the start of their term; while Miles, who was out drinking in the pub is invited by Hugo, another Riot Club member. Alistair finds a new friend in Harry, who introduces him to his Uncle Jeremy (Tom Hollander), a Conservative MP — whom Alastair aspires to be one day. After undergoing initiation and doing several tasks, both Miles and Alastair become members of the Riot Club.

Having been barred from most establishments in Oxford, they have their annual dinner at the function room in a country pub. Alistair and Miles are both surprised to see each other there, whilst more to the disdain of Alistair. The Club begin their dinner where their raucous behaviour annoys the pub's other patrons. Chris, the landlord, is put off by their behaviour and tells them that they are disrupting his business, the boys settle with an arrangement with him paying for his losses to let them continue to stay, which he reluctantly accepts. After the escort Harry hired refused to perform group oral sex, Alistair takes Miles' phone and texts Lauren without Miles knowing. Lauren then shows up to the pub to the surprise of Miles, whom the boys promptly propositioned her to do what the escort should have done. Lauren, hurt that Miles did nothing while they insulted her, attempts to leave the pub, but is first assaulted by one of the members. Miles struggles to rescue her as the other members held him back. Hugo intervenes and orders the boys to let her leave which she does.

Miles, drunk and seemingly depressed after what happened to Lauren, stays quiet for the rest of the night, while Alistair works up the rest with his political ideals of the rich and the poor. Getting progressively more drunk and ingesting drugs, they start to wreck the room. When Chris comes to confront them, Alistair insults Chris by giving him money which he does not accept, telling them they are no better than a bunch of kids breaking shop windows and that they are just spoiled brats. Alistair punches him followed by the others who viciously attack him until he becomes unconscious. While the members become frantic realizing what they just have done, Miles calls for an ambulance.

The boys are all arrested but believing that the club is more important than the individual, they agree not to give statements. The club meet after the incident and agree that Miles, as the newest club member, should take the blame for the attack on Chris. Miles tries to apologize to Lauren, who tells him to never talk to her again. Later, Alistair's skin is then found underneath Chris's fingernails, meaning they can arrest and charge him. Alistair is expelled from Oxford since he was the only one arrested for the incident, the rest were allowed to continue their studies without any criminal charges. After a talk with the dean, Miles is approached by the new president of the Riot Club (Guy Bellingfield) to re-join next year, but after nearly having to leave university because of the scandal, he decides to leave the club, a decision which the new president mocks.

Alistair is invited to a meeting with Jeremy, who asks for the Riot Club to be kept out of future court appearances, and assures Alistair that in spite of being kicked out of Oxford, the boy is still a Riot member. Though Alistair is at first aggressively dismissive of Jeremy's proposed assistance, Alistair is brought around when Jeremy offers the boy a position in his office and an assured future. The film concludes with Alistair leaving the meeting with Jeremy, a smug smile on his face as he walks down the street.

Cast

Production

On 5 February 2013 it was reported that HanWay and Blueprint Pictures would produce the adaptation of the play Posh written by Laura Wade. The producers would be Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin, with the BFI Film Fund and Film4 Productions. On 15 March 2013 Robert Pattinson, Sam Claflin, Max Irons and Douglas Booth were understood to be under consideration to play the lead. On 18 March Max Irons was confirmed as the lead. On 19 May 2013 Sam Claflin also joined the cast, as well as Douglas Booth. On 20 May 2013 Universal Pictures International acquired the film for UK and Irish rights. On 11 July 2013 Natalie Dormer also joined the cast.

Filming

The shooting of the film began on 30 June 2013 in Oxford, England. The crew were spotted during the filming of scenes at Magpie Lane. Filming also took place at Pinewood studios and Winchester College.

Marketing

The first trailer for the film was released on 16 May 2014.