Children of Men envisages a world where no-one has given birth for nearly 19 years and is staring down the barrel of a gun of eternal infertility.

Terrorism and sectarian violence are rife in the grimy, dark and barren landscapes of Britain where hope for a prosperous future is floundering.

Theo, played by Clive Owen, is a symptom of this culture. Having lost a son and become estranged from his terrorist wife (Julianne Moore), he turns away from politics and numbs his feelings with copious amounts of alcohol and gambling.

But when his ex-wife comes to visit him asking for transit papers, he becomes embroiled in a race to save the one woman who is pregnant, a fugee' named Kee (Clare Hope-Ashitey), aided by his old march comrade Jasper played marvellously by Michael Caine.

Despite being set 21 years into the future, 2027, this is not a futuristic film. It takes hotbed issues such as immigration and terrorism and reveals what this world could actually be like if things continue in this way.

The camera shots are one of the ways in which the film portrays this realism, with vrit-style long shots, hand-held cameras and POV shots that really give the sense that one is constantly dodging bullets and being splatted with other people's blood.

It's not one for the faint-hearted with this sometimes surprising and sickening violence but delivers well as a thriller, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, moving as fast as a high-speed car chase.

The director Alfonso Cuarn shows real vision when adapting this PD James novel. He brings his imagination to this downbeat tale, creating a sense of hope for tomorrow', if only we realise the importance of humanity and honesty. It leaves one with a lot to think about which is no bad thing but also delivers as a very watchable film.