Sam O'Connell in Deadbeat
Now in post-production · Written & directed by Alex Hardy

Deadbeat

Haunted by her mother's death and battling a hidden addiction, police officer Sam O'Connell is on the brink of losing everything: her job, her son, and herself.

StatusPost-production
GenreSocial realism crime drama
SettingHastings, UK
TeaserComing soon
Synopsis

When her estranged son Jay falls under the influence of his drug-dealing father, Sam is forced to confront the cycle she's spent a lifetime outrunning.

Set against the backdrop of a sun-bleached yet unforgiving Hastings, DeadBeat is a raw, unflinching drama about trauma, redemption, and the brutal fight for a second chance. It's an intimate look at the frontline professionals who protect and serve, yet often suffer in silence.

In the spirit of Top Boy · Euphoria · Ken Loach · Shane Meadows

Still from Deadbeat

Key characters

Sam O'ConnellA brilliant, self-destructive cop. Once a fearless skateboarder, undone by her mother's death.
Jay O'ConnellHer son. A talented skater, wise beyond his years, torn between loyalty and independence.
Declan 'Deco'Jay's father. A charismatic local dealer, part mentor, part manipulator.
Reza JoshiSam's police partner. Calm and disciplined, carrying a secret of her own.
Frank O'ConnellSam's father. Grieving, stern, and raising Jay while Sam fights to recover.

Stills

Teaser coming soon

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Screenings & press

Premiering 2027

Deadbeat is in the final stages of post-production, with a composer on board. We're planning a UK festival world premiere in summer 2027, then a festival run and distribution.

Slate

What's next

Deadbeat is the first of three original screenplays. Two more are in development, and we're talking to partners now.

The team

Alex Hardy
Alex Hardy Founder · Writer/Director

Award-winning filmmaker, former ITV Award-nominated actor, and directing lecturer at Rose Bruford, Italia Conti and MET Film School.

Olivia Song
Olivia Song Producer

NFTS-trained producer of ten-plus shorts screened at Oscar, BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying festivals. BFI Short Film Fund awardee.

Francis Lewis
Francis Lewis Co-founder · Producer

IESE MBA with a background in trading at UBS and CIBC. Leads finance, strategy and the business of Inside 75.

About Inside 75

Your voice matters. Your story matters. The world needs both.

Founded in 2025, Inside 75 makes bold, character-driven cinema that gives voice to perspectives often overlooked on screen. We believe in fair pay, nurturing emerging talent alongside seasoned professionals, and building a team that returns time and again.

Still from Deadbeat