Swing Bout

Swing Bout is a visceral, intense, gritty indie production, I really enjoyed it and was never bored once unlike some bigger budget budget films, so hats off to all involved.

All of the characters were strong and direct with snappy dialogue and one or two punches were thrown verbally and physically(poor Micko) The main action isn't where you might expect it which was actually a nice surprise which left me wanting more(Swing Bout two, maybe?) I thoroughly recommend this film which should really be seen on the big screen, go see it in the cinema for full dramatic effect, you won't be disappointed.

A constantly surprising independent film that can go to toe to toe in any ring with the big shots.

Buyoed by a set of captivating central performances, Swing Bout captures a seedy underbelly of corruption while keeping a clear focus on strong character development and finds a way to make a virtue of a tight budget while still feeling like a momentous fight night.

At times it seems like a roving documentary crew have managed to invade some grimy inner sanctum to lay bear the faults and failures of a system thay brutalises bodies while propping up suits in the background. Strongly recommended.

We have all seen poorly made boxing films where the action is spoiled by unconvincing fight scenes. This is not one of those movies.

A boxing themed film where you never once see the ring? Never see the combatants following the Queensbury rules? Shouldn't work. Absolutely does work. Beautifully

The story is the double dealing backstage antics and rivalry of many different threads and not the fights themselves. And it is far, far more interesting because of this.

There's humour a plenty from O'Riordan and cast, drama and high stakes. But there is also sensitivity and real gut wrenching emotion from Berkeley and Cronin in particular, wonderfully driven by O'Riordan.

Not what you expect. But all the better because of this.

Well done in all aspects.

A gripping film with a big heart and a captivating collection of characters. The story unfolds in the locker-room, offices, toilets and corridors, and cleverly manages to keep up the exhilarating tension without ever bringing us into the ring, and the fact that we never see the ring makes the story all the more powerful. The very relatable characters are brought to life by brilliant performances and sharply written and authentic dialogue. All the above along with a great soundscape, rich cinematography and thoughtful visual design make this a refreshing treat of a film. I'll look forward to the team's next creation.

Great independent Irish cinema with no agendas, just great storytelling and great characters on a roller coaster of adrenaline. I loved the characters, they felt real and relatable. The plot and sub-plot interweved perfectly and the comedy and drama balance was perfect. Well done to all involved.

When you consider the rubbish that Hollywood is churning out with massive budgets and then when you see what talented passionate people can produce with tiny budgets without the interference of studios and agendas it's clear that allowing directors and producers to be their authentic selves and tell stories they believe in leads to far superior work. It's a pity the industry is so upside down like this, but its refreshing to know that great cinema still exists. Highly recommend.