Le clan des bêtes

My wife and I watched the Irish film 🇮🇪 Bring Them Down (2024) in theaters this evening. The storyline follows two Irish families struggling to survive for different reasons. Their sheep share the same hill, which causes one family to take advantage of the situation to try and get ahead. Violence ensues to protect their livestock and future.

This film is directed by Christopher Andrews, in his directorial debut, and stars Barry Keoghan (Saltburn), Christopher Abbott (Possessor), Colm Meaney (Layer Cake), and Nora-Jane Noone (The Descent).

This is one of those films that gives you a glimpse into a unique and unpredictable lifestyle of survival. The acting is elite, but the cinematography is even better, with beautiful landscapes and backdrops. The dog-eat-dog world of their circumstances is well depicted and sad. There are some unbelievable twists and turns, and the movie does a great job of telling the story from both families' perspectives. The conclusion is the only way the journey could end.

In conclusion, Bring Them Down is a fascinating and unique circumstantial drama that's worth a watch. I would score this 7.5/10 and recommend watching it once.

What stands out most is the atmosphere - cold, raw, and tense from start to finish. The setting feels like a character itself, reflecting the emotional isolation of the people who live there. Christopher Abbott gives a strong performance as Michael, and Barry Keoghan, as always, brings intensity and depth to his role.

The film doesn't hold back from showing the harsh reality of rural life.

While the pacing can be slow at times, it fits the tone of the story. It's not a film for everyone, especially if you prefer light entertainment - but if you're looking for a serious, well-acted drama with a powerful message, Bring Them Down is worth your time.

69TH CORK FILM FEST - #3 (PREMIERE + Q&A)

A fast-paced revenge film that never has a dull moment that somehow manages to pull of the impossible, in my opinion. The entire cast do a fantastic job, but the standout would have to be Nora-Jane Murphy, Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbot (who's accent is unreal for an American). Both do so much more with their respective roles than anyone else. The themes of abuse, violence and the inability to properly communicate are very welded in here. They are also very current in our world at the moment, so they really spoke to me. I'm very excited to revisit this one on general release.

This movie has a really simple storyline when you look at it overall. But the director's craft and filming style make it much more engaging, and on top of that, it brings a fresh cinematic experience that we don't often see. One of the things I really liked about this film was the music score. They used a sound that resembles a pulsating beat but blended it with a traditional instrumental feel, which added an intense and unique atmosphere to the film. Since the movie is a thriller set in a rural area, the cinematography is stunning. However, there are quite a few handheld camera shots, which make certain scenes feel more immersive. While that works well for some moments, like close up tension-building shots, it does make action sequences like running or car chases harder to follow at times. When it comes to acting, the performances were solid, and Barry's performance stood out as the best in the film. The movie also does a great job of portraying deep emotional struggles-how parental conflicts affect children, the trauma of losing something precious, and how unresolved emotions can push someone into a state of complete mental breakdown. It also highlights the unintended consequences of human ego in a way that feels incredibly raw and real. These are the elements that make this film truly unforgettable.

Bring Them Down: A savage tale of feuding hill farmers, sheep stoen, sheep mutilated, just their legs cut off to be sold. All tied in with a car crash which took place twenty years before but the consequences of which still impinge on pent day events. This was advertised as being partially a comedy but the few comedic moments are bleak and the laughter will likely choke in yiur throat. Not just animals but humans also suffer terrible deaths and injuries. In the second half of the film some of the events we have already observed are revisited and we achieve a clearer understanding of what is really going on. Non-linear narratives often enhance a film but I don't believe it does so in this instance. Good performances from Barry Keoghan, Colm Meaney, Christopher Abbot, Paul Ready and Nora-Jane Noone even if Keoghan is getting a bit long on the tooth to be playing a teenager. Maybe an Irish Hatfields & McCoys or a Beckettian Bog Western. Written and Directed by Christopher Andrews. 7/10.