Rough

After the end of the conflict in Northern Ireland, paramilitary groups turned into gangs that enforced their own street justice. Their decisions are incontestable and irrevocable. But when a local dog receives a death sentence, it may turn out that this time the thugs are trying to bite off more than they can chew. Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs is an innocent child’s play as compared with this perverse gangster cinema with a remarkable awareness of the convention, sense of humour and distance.

Directed by Adam Patterson, Declan Lawn, Rough leans on a strong ensemble — Ryan McParland, Michael Smiley, Gerard Jordan — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2020.