A schizophrenic cop does all kinds of unscrupulous things to get promoted. Starring James McAvoy.

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Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson (James McAvoy) is the worst kind of bad cop: a player who wants to be king of the world. He hates foreigners, is addicted to cocaine and thinks he’s god. He callously browbeats suspects and plays his colleagues against each other, because he has only one goal: to get promoted. To finally reach the top of his career, Robertson has to solve the murder of a Japanese tourist. As he staggers around completely high through the investigation, his mind careens off on its own.

Jon S. Baird remains astonishingly true to the provocative spirit of Irvine Welshs novel, confronting audiences with a wild roller-coaster ride of black humor through the abyss of the lead character’s damaged soul. Similar to Danny Boyles adaptation of Welsh’s debut Trainspotting, Filth is light years from relaxing, light entertainment. Even if, thanks to modern TV series, audiences have learned to value a good antihero, Bruce Robertson offers a special challenge.