Described as an “action thriller”, the 3D film is the work of writer Alex Garland (28 days later, Never Let Me Go) and director Pete Travis (End Game, Vantage Point).
The movie stars Karl Urban (Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings) Olivia Thirlby (Juno, No Strings Attached), Lena Headey (300, Brothers Grimm) and Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Never Let Me Go).
The future America is an irradiated waste land.
On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One- a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called “Judges” who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner.
Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge – a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of “Slo-Mo” experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed. During a routine day on the job, Dredd is assigned to train and evaluate Cassandra Anderson (Thirlby), a rookie with powerful psychic abilities thanks to a genetic mutation.
A heinous crime calls them to a neighbourhood where fellow Judges rarely dare to venture- a 200 story vertical slum controlled by prostitute turned drug lord Ma-Ma (Headey) and her ruthless clan.
When they capture one of the clan’s inner circle, Ma-Ma overtakes the compound’s control centre and wages a dirty, vicious war against the Judges that proves she will stop at nothing to protect her empire.
With the body count climbing and no way out, Dredd and Anderson must confront the odds and engage in the relentless battle for their survival.