Calm with Horses (2020)
A raw Irish crime drama about a former boxer torn between loyalty to a ruthless crime family and love for his young son.
Calm with Horses - Movie Information
- Original Title: Calm with Horses
- Release Year: 2020
- Directed by: Nick Rowland
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 13, 2020 (United Kingdom), June 17, 2021 (South Korea - 19)
- Alternative Titles: The Shadow of Violence (US), ئارامی لەگەڵ ئەسپەکان (IQ), Trách Nhiệm Đen Tối (VN), 종말 (KR)
- Production Companies: DMC Film, Film4 Productions, Element Pictures, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland
- Production Countries: Ireland, United Kingdom
Calm with Horses - Plot
In darkest rural Ireland, ex-boxer Douglas 'Arm' Armstrong has become the feared enforcer for the drug-dealing Devers family, whilst also trying to be a good father to his autistic five-year-old son, Jack. Torn between these two families, Arm's loyalties are truly tested when he is asked to kill for the first time.
Calm with Horses - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the tension of rural Ireland unfold:
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Calm with Horses - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Nick Rowland
Main Cast
- Cosmo Jarvis
- Barry Keoghan
- Niamh Algar
- Ned Dennehy
- Kiljan Moroney
- Brid Brennan
- Liam Carney
- Simone Kirby
- Anthony Welsh
- David Wilmot
Writers
- Joseph Murtagh
Producers
- Ed Guiney
- Iman Kiashemshaki
- Daniel Emmerson
Calm with Horses - FAQs
What is Calm with Horses about?
Calm with Horses follows Douglas 'Arm' Armstrong, a former boxer turned enforcer for a ruthless Irish drug family in rural Ireland. Caught between his criminal obligations and his love for his autistic son Jack, Arm faces an impossible choice when ordered to commit murder for the first time.
Is Calm with Horses based on a true story?
Not a true story, but it's rooted in real literary fiction. The film is adapted from Colin Barrett's short story 'Calm with Horses,' published in his acclaimed 2013 collection Young Skins. Barrett's work draws on the gritty social realities of rural western Ireland, lending the film a grounded, authentic feel.
Where can you stream Calm with Horses?
You can catch Calm with Horses on Tubi TV and Plex Channel for free. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads is another option if you want to watch without paying.
What makes Barry Keoghan's performance so memorable?
Barry Keoghan plays Dympna, the weak-willed but dangerous heir to the Devers crime family, with an unsettling mix of charm and menace. His ability to make Dympna simultaneously pathetic and threatening is a masterclass in ambiguity, and many critics singled out his work as a career highlight even before his later stardom.
Who are the main actors in Calm with Horses?
The film is led by Cosmo Jarvis as the brooding enforcer Arm and Barry Keoghan as the volatile Dympna. Niamh Algar delivers a standout turn as Ursula, Arm's sharp and determined ex-partner. The supporting cast includes Ned Dennehy, David Wilmot, Brid Brennan, and Simone Kirby.
Does Calm with Horses have a happy ending?
Without giving too much away, the ending is bleak and uncompromising. The film stays true to its noir roots, refusing easy resolutions. Arm's journey reaches a violent, emotionally devastating conclusion that feels both inevitable and heartbreaking, leaving viewers with a lingering sense of tragedy rather than relief.
How was Calm with Horses received by critics?
Critics were enthusiastic about the film. It holds a strong score on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers praising Cosmo Jarvis and Barry Keoghan's performances, Nick Rowland's assured debut direction, and the film's atmospheric depiction of rural Irish crime. Many called it one of the most compelling British-Irish crime dramas in years.
Where was Calm with Horses filmed?
The film was shot on location in County Mayo and County Galway in the west of Ireland. The bleak, windswept landscapes play a vital role in the storytelling, reinforcing the sense of isolation and entrapment that defines Arm's world. Cinematographer Piers McGrail captures the region's raw, unforgiving beauty with striking effect.
More About Calm with Horses
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