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‘Bring Them Down’ Review: A Well-Tuned Character Driven Thriller

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After viewing Bring Them Down, this reviewer had one question: Between this movie and The Banshees of Inisherin, why are the Irish so resentful of one another? Much like The Banshees of Inisherin, the feature film debut by Chris Edwards sees bitter men slowly tearing each other down, but instead of it being about a break-up, Bring Them Down sees a simple misunderstanding build to a spiraling rivalry between locals.

Bring Them Down is a deliberately uncomfortable film. It feels like walking into the middle of a heated argument between two intoxicated roommates shouting outside their home. Yet, it’s tempting to grab a lawn chair and watch the drama unfold from a distance.

Bring Them Down: the story

The film stars Christopher Abbott (Possessor) as Michael, a quiet man who mostly tends to his sheep. He lives a reserved life except for caring for his antagonistic father, Ray, played by Colm Meaney (Star Trek: The Next Generation). It also implies that Michael has a troubling past of letting his emotions get the best of him. The setup shows a moment in time where Michael sparked a motor vehicle accident in a fit of anger, and in the present day, some around Michael still harbor resentment for the incident.

Bring Them Down Christopher Abbott Paul Ready
Christopher Abbott and Paul Ready in Bring Them Down. (Nick Cooke/©MUBI)

The neighboring family also sells rams and sheep, but a subtle conflict remains with the husband Gary (Paul Ready) because Michael has a romantic history with his wife. After a misunderstanding regarding ownership of sheep, tensions escalate. Gary’s son, Jack (Barry Keoghan), feels emboldened to involve himself in the conflict; however, he lacks the whole story like Michael and Gary. As misunderstandings accumulate, the situation descends into chaos, leading to irreversible decisions. When things become brutal, we uncover a different side of the story that changes everything again.

The suspense of ignorance told through Chris Andrews’ screenplay

Bring Them Down skillfully presents one of my favorite types of conflict in thrillers: the absence of knowledge. For instance, in the stage play Romeo and Juliet, the suspense arises from the fact that the tragedy could have been avoided if Romeo had been aware of Juliet’s plan. With Bring Me Down, there is a similar fight between two houses, and it all stems from both opposing forces having zero understanding of the actual catalyst of their warfare. However, it is evident from Michael and Gary’s history that the slightest push would inevitably bring them to a feud.

The technique of keeping characters unaware while the audience witnesses a slow-moving disaster is challenging to achieve. In the wrong hands, it can feel forced, making it seem like the characters are avoiding communication because the plot demands it. Fortunately, in Chris Andrews’ script, this dynamic feels genuine. We fully grasp why neither side is willing to come together to discuss their issues. Moreover, we fear what might happen if they sit across each other.

The film’s most intriguing aspect occurs in the second half, when it takes an unexpected narrative turn. At this point, the movie reaches its peak of discomfort. The script begins recontextualizing the story once the viewer believes they understand blame. As it does so, new details emerge, adding depth while blurring the lines between good and bad characters. It’s incredible scripting that visibly shows there was attention to detail.

Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbott in Bring Me Down
Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbott in Bring Me Down. (Patrick Redmond/©MUBI)

Bring Them Down is a well-crafted thriller from MUBI

To be clear, this is a stellar film that balances strong character drama with seat-squirming suspense. However, Bring Them Down will not be for everyone. Animal cruelty plays a key role in the movie; for some, a trigger warning might be required. We never see the violence inflicted, but enough is conveyed audibly to imagine what transpires.

Adding to this, the tone is intentionally unpleasant throughout the 100-plus minute runtime. It’s a satisfying film with rich character work and storytelling, but as a viewer, be prepared to experience some harsh sequences.

For this reason, this writer recommends Bring Them Down with a small dose of caution. Everyone has various default settings regarding what they are comfortable watching, and hopefully, this will provide enough information to make an informed viewing decision.

Still, Bring Them Down is a gripping character-driven thriller about the poisonous nature of resentment. This type of film used to have mainstream appeal. The kind of adult thriller (such as Primal Fear, Fargo, Prisoners) that is no longer common except in the independent environment of movie making.

Christopher Abbott, Paul Ready, and Barry Keoghan deliver subtle and fierce performances. Overall, it’s the most unpleasant but great time one might have this weekend. Check out my discussion with Vin on the film below or visit our YouTube channel and subscribe for more movie and show reviews. 

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John Dotson

Born and raised in Texas, John Dotson has been a film pundit for over 10 years, writing reviews and entertainment coverage at various online outlets. His favorite thing in the world is discussing movies with others who also love the art form.

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