Bring Them Down
6.8(66 votes)
1h 45mFebruary 6, 2025Overview
When the ongoing rivalry between farmers Michael and Jack suddenly escalates, it triggers a chain of events that take increasingly violent and devastating turns, leaving both families permanently altered.
Cast
Christopher Abbott
Michael
Barry Keoghan
Jack
Colm Meaney
Ray
Susan Lynch
Peggy
Nora-Jane Noone
Caroline
Paul Ready
Gary
Aaron Heffernan
Lee
Conor MacNeill
Nathan
Diarmuid de Faoite
James
Adam Behan
Daniel
Key Crew
Director
Christopher Andrews
Writers
Christopher Andrews, Jonathan HouriganProducers
Ruth Treacy, Julianne Forde, Jacob Swan Hyam, Ivana MacKinnon, Cassandre WarnautsCinematography
Nick Cooke
Music
Hannah Peel
More Insights
Background
The film marks a notable entry in contemporary Irish cinema, both in tone and thematic ambition. Written and directed by Christopher Andrews, Bring Them Down is his directorial debut. The project garnered attention early on due to its powerful script and performances by actors like Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbott (replacing Tom Burke and Paul Mescal, who were initially cast). Produced by Wild Swim Films and supported by Screen Ireland and BBC Film, it showcases the emerging strength of Irish film production on the international stage.
Setting and Cinematic Tone
Set in a remote mountainous region, Bring Them Down draws from the atmospheric intensity of Irish rural life, often portrayed in literature and film as both majestic and isolating. The isolation of the characters mirrors their emotional suppression and the harsh, unspoken codes they live by. The use of natural landscapes not only enhances the aesthetic but symbolically reflects the internal struggles of the characters, reinforcing the film’s tension. The cinematography draws comparisons to the work of directors like Cormac McCarthy adaptations (The Road, No Country for Old Men) and films such as The Wind That Shakes the Barley and Calvary, with a focus on moral ambiguity, violence, and the weight of legacy.
Cultural Reference
At its core, Bring Them Down is steeped in the cultural legacy of rural Ireland, where land is not just property—it is heritage, identity, and often the cause of deep familial conflict. The central rivalry between farmers Michael and Jack echoes ancient feuds rooted in real Irish history, where land disputes tore communities—and families—apart. The film also reflects the cultural expectations of stoicism and strength among men in traditional Irish society, with emotional repression leading to cycles of violence. The title itself, Bring Them Down, may allude to the destructive consequences of pride and revenge, echoing classical tragic narratives. In many Irish myths and tales, cycles of vengeance destroy entire bloodlines—this film modernizes that theme in a raw, intimate way.