Let’s make it clear right off the bat – Four Lions is not a new episode of Brass Eye: Chris Morris himself has said that he’s moved on from satirising the media: As demonstrated by the reaction to Brass Eye‘s paedophile episode, the media is now beyond satire (as viewers of Charlie Brooker’s Newswipe will attest). Morris is more concerned with the people at the heart of Jihad – the ordinary young men who become radicalised and set about planning these acts of horrific violence against the countries they’ve grown up in. What he discovered during his research into the subject is that these groups of young guys are just like any other: they’re not masterminds – more often than not they’re just twats.

The media barely figures in Four Lions: With flashes of Jam‘s dark absurdity, the previous Morris work it has most in common with is the Brooker-penned Nathan Barley. It should be remembered that this is the director’s feature debut, and as such he’s concentrated on character and narrative rather than comedy set-pieces. That’s not to say that the movie isn’t at points as hilarious as any Brass Eye episode, but that there’s also more heart here than people might have expected.

The principal cast are fantastic, especially Riz Ahmed – who continues to prove that he’s one of the UK’s most exciting new talents – as Omar, the de facto leader of the would-be cell. It’s arguable that the film doesn’t delve enough into why these men are so radicalised – particularly Omar, who has a young family and resents his brother’s preaching of the Koran – yet that’s also Morris’ point: Trying to organise an attack on Western imperialism, Omar is beset at every turn by the idiocy of his peers, all of whom – including Omar – appear to be never less than incredibly confused about what they’re doing or why.

With a few well-placed jabs at the authorities reactions to the threat of terrorism, Four Lions avoids preachiness and by the end delivers an unexpected emotional punch. At it’s heart it’s a Ladykillers-style Ealing farce that happens to be dressed up in terrorist clothing. You’ll never look at Mini Babybels the same again.

8/10 -a fine film debut from Chris Morris, with excellent central performances and a touch of poignancy to its conclusion.

Four Lions is released in cinemas on Friday 7th May, rated 15