Seven Lucky Gods *** (2014, Nik Xhelilaj, Christopher Villiers, Vernon Dobtcheff, Alison Peebles, Kate Maravan, Alexandra Boyd) – Classic Movie Review 14,005

Nik Xhelilaj stars in Jamil Dehlavi’s 2014 thriller film Seven Lucky Gods as Mehmet, an amoral, bisexual illegal immigrant from Albania, who infiltrates the lives of Londoners, with devastating results.

‘His body was for rent. His revenge hell bent…’

Handsome Albanian actor Nik Xhelilaj stars in co-writer/ producer/ director Jamil Dehlavi’s 2014 thriller film Seven Lucky Gods as Mehmet, an amoral, bisexual illegal immigrant in the UK from Albania, who sets about to infiltrate the lives of a group of Londoners, with devastating consequences.

What, exactly, is he up to? Is he just looking for a UK passport, or something even more important to him? It is based on the novel The Nick of Time by Francis King.

Seven Lucky Gods is a quite good, quite compelling mystery, with a nice twisty, vaguely probable story, and a far-fetched ending. Nik Xhelilaj sells it well, and it’s easy to believe in his magnetic but exploitative character. Other actors good, all credible, with Christopher Villiers persuasive as the smooth rich politician Adrian, just ready to take a fall, and a highly amusing turn by Vernon Dobtcheff as the smug, crusty and randy old father, Lawrence.

Jamil Dehlavi handles it all smartly and briskly. There’s never a dull moment, exactly what you need from this kind of thriller.

Cast: Nik Xhelilaj as Mehmet, Christopher Villiers as Adrian, Vernon Dobtcheff as Lawrence, Alison Peebles as Meg, Kate Maravan as Marilyn, Alexandra Boyd as Audrey.

Runtime: 102 minutes.

It premiered on April 4, 2014 at the Phoenix Film Festival, US.

It is shot in England and Albania.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 14,005

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

AWARDS
Grand Prize – Tirana International Film Festival, Albania
Best Feature Film – Canada International Film Festival
Gold Lion Award – Barcelona International Film Festival
Best Feature Film – Honolulu Film Awards, Hawaii
Special Jury Prize – Worldfest Houston
Best Actor (Nik Xhelilaj) – Worldfest Houston
Best Actress Nomination (Alison Peebles) – Worldfest
Best Original Screenplay – St Tropez Int Film Festival
Best Lead Actress (Alison Peebles) – St Tropez Film Festival
Bronze Palm Award – Mexico International Film Festival