Amongst the Wolves

I was bracing myself a bit, before going to see this, as I knew it was about an ex-soldier and his PTSD. So, I thought it'd be a difficult watch.

But, I was surprised by it. It wasn't just about the brutality & misery that people inflict on each other. Those things were there, but they served as a back drop to the humanity & compassion of Luke McQuillan's character, Danny.

Even though Danny has a lot of pain, sheer bad luck, and looks like no way to get out of it, he rises above it, to help the teenage Will. (played by Daniel Fee) It's that compassionate humanity of Danny that just can't stay silent and do nothing.

You spend the whole movie hoping against hope that they'll beat the odds. Rooting for Danny especially, as he's put so much on the line.

The cinema was silent throughout the movie - everyone else was holding their breath too.

Yes, it wasn't a perfect movie - after all, it's Indie, low budget etc, but, Luke McQuillan was sooooo powerful & magnetic on the screen, you just couldn't look away. The perfect hero - the strong guy who has a heart, & protects those who are weaker. But not a trope. His character revealed itself slowly. He was still, & in control of his emotions, but you could almost read them out loud from his face. Brilliant directing from Mark O'Connor.

And I loved that I was guessing, & wondering, & never had those disappointing 'I know exactly what's going to happen next' moments.

I think Daniel Fee has a bit of a way to go, but as a first time actor, he gave a good portrayal of the unsure & often stupid teenage Will. It's just that Luke McQuillan owned the screen, & as the viewer, that's where you wanted to keep returning. More of Luke McQuillan please!!!!!

Aidan Gillen is always a riveting watch. He plays the gangland boss, Power. There's one scene (not a spoiler) where he's simply eating chips / French fries, and he's absolutely terrifying and menacing.

Power is a 'strong man' character too, as Danny is, but not the kind of man anyone wants in their life.

Mark O'Connor's skill as a director makes these characters so believable. And the locations he films in are real Dublin - I know because I live here. Beautiful parts, good parts, but tough & dirty areas too. Just like those characters.

Go and see it, & watch something real. Unless you only like slick, big budget, movies showing nice & tidy stories!

As per the title, the acting was vastly amateurish (particularly the young main character) to go along with an old, done to death theme.

Obviously extremely cheaply made but it absolutely.

With this type of movie there should be a connection to the characters from the viewer but poor acting and direction made that impossible.

A lot of 10 ratings in the reviews, one can only assume they have come from people connected to the movie, or connected to the people who are connected to the movie. There is absolutely no way whatsoever that this is anywhere near the high marks.

Do yourself a favour and give this one a miss.

I've just seen this film in the cinema and it's one of the best indie films I've seen in 2025. It caught be off guard as I was not expecting it to be so powerful. The cinematography was breathtaking and really helped in showing the character's depths through certain frames and omissions. The directing by Mark O'Connor and acting were stellar, making it easy to be invested in Danny's story and his relationship with Will especially. It touches on important themes and is essentially a story about profound loss and represents a side of Dublin that often does not get represented. It's interesting how many different genres this film blends - thriller, family drama, action - and manages to switch between them to take an aspect from each one to make them all work together. Everyone should watch this film if they get a chance!

"Amongst the Wolves" is an Irish revenge thriller crossed with a heart felt character study. Danny, a homeless ex-soldier, grapples with past trauma and PTSD on the mean streets of Dublin. Danny takes Will, a troubled young man under his wing. Will is harassed by a drug gang. Danny will face off against the gang, where his deadly soldier skills will come into play.

Director Mark O'Connor, already delivered one classic Irish gangster film in "Cardboard Gangsters". He's done it again with this film.

"Amongst the Wolves" is an excellent Irish revenge thriller crossed with a heart felt character study. I strongly recommend it.

Amongst the Wolves is a gut-punch of an Irish thriller that doesn't hold back. Luke McQuillan is straight-up incredible as Danny, a homeless ex-soldier battling PTSD and his demons on Dublin's rough streets. His quiet intensity carries the whole film-every glance and move feels so real. The story hooks you when Danny connects with Will, a teenager (Daniel Fee) tangled up with a brutal drug gang led by Power, played by Aidan Gillen, who's as chilling as you'd expect.

The film's raw and grounded, with Dublin's gritty corners practically a character on their own. The cinematography's stark, and the sparse soundtrack lets the emotions breathe. Yeah, it hits a few familiar crime drama notes, and the ending wraps up a bit too quick, but man, it's intense and gripping. McQuillan's performance is the heart of it-you feel his pain and fight. If you're into hard-hitting, character-driven stories that dive into the dark side without flinching, this one's a must. Really stuck with me. 8/10.