The story centers on Billy "Shiner" Simpson a boxing promoter banned from legitimate fights until he finds a promising start in his son Eddie. The night of the fight sees Eddie killed, and Simpson suspects rival Frank Spedding. Billy seeks revenge, only to grow mad as his suspicions draw closer to home.
Jane Crowther of the BBC said, "A Lear-like construction serves well to show the gradual unraveling of a ruthlessly ambitious man trading on familial loyalty and past glory."[1]
The score by Paul Grabowsky effectively creates a disturbing and sinister mood.
Shiner has a rating of 46%[2] from 13 reviews on the review aggregator RottenTomatoes, indicating slightly below average favour.