Michael Caine portrays "Jack Carter," a gangster traveling from London to Newcastle to handle his brother “Frank’s” funeral. The official story suggests he died in a car crash after drinking, but Carter suspects foul play since his brother wasn't a whiskey drinker and believes something is amiss. He quickly finds himself back in the criminal underworld of his youth, pursuing both the truth and those responsible. I don’t believe this represents Caine’s best performance; he comes across as stiff throughout much of the film, even during a scene where he’s naked with a shotgun aimed at George Sewell and Tony Beckley while Rosemarie Dunham's character, "Edna," looks on. Nevertheless, Mike Hodges effectively conveys the harsh and dangerous atmosphere of the setting, and the story progresses steadily, culminating in an ending that felt appropriate, though somewhat prolonged. It's possible that the film’s initial impact has faded with time. I understand why it might have gained a cult following, and Caine undeniably possesses charisma – but here, there simply isn’t enough of a plot or sufficient strength from the supporting actors to elevate it beyond a noir-style average movie. A brief, somewhat provocative scene involving Britt Ekland over the phone hardly warrants her being given significant credit. Still, I think it's worth seeing. The film portrays a North East England that was experiencing severe economic hardship and involved in various criminal activities, including exploitation of children – but much of that original power seems to be missing now.

Source on TMDB