In Bring Them Down, director David Keating puts a unique spin on a traditional crime drama. Instead of two factions feuding over guns, drugs or turf, it’s two families fighting over livestock. It’s an unusual premise, but one that’s used to craft a tense, morally complex narrative where the stakes might seem low at first, but ultimately feel deeply personal.
The film is carried by two standout performances from Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbott. Keoghan, who is no stranger to playing characters with simmering intensity, brings a raw, unsettling energy to his role. Abbott is equally compelling, playing off Keoghan’s volatility with a quieter, more calculated intensity. Both characters carry past traumas in a way that brings their disdain for each other to the forefront, and the tremendous acting is what seals the deal.
The film’s dual perspective structure is used effectively in showing us both sides of this conflict. By allowing Abbott’s side of the story to play out in its entirety before flipping to Keoghan’s, we think we’re getting all the information we need to piece the whole narrative together. That’s not the case, though, as the plot becomes a little more complex once we eventually have all the facts laid out for us. This shifting viewpoint allows us to understand both of their motivations, and the root of the boiling hatred between their families.
Bring Them Down takes a seemingly mundane premise and forms it into something truly gripping. It’s a film about power, pride, and how trauma and toxicity can echo through generations. The structure and performances elevate what could have been a typical crime thriller into something that lingers long after the credits roll. The film opens in select theatres Feb 7th.
3.5/5