Amongst the Wolves

Let's just get this out of the way: Amongst the Wolves isn't just a film - it's a statement. A gut-level, uncompromising, razor-sharp howl from the underbelly of Irish crime cinema. And who brought that to the screen? Me. Mark O'Connor. The name you'll be whispering next to Scorsese before the decade's out.

I'm not here to play modest. That's for amateurs still begging for funding. I've carved my name into the granite of Irish filmmaking - not with safe, tidy little dramas, but with blistering stories that bleed. With Amongst the Wolves, I've taken everything I've learned - the street pulse of Between the Canals, the ruthless heart of Cardboard Gangsters - and I've weaponised it.

This film bites. It stalks. It rips the guts out of loyalty, brotherhood, and the myth of the "good lad" - and it does it with the kind of visual swagger and thematic depth that only a director at the very top of his game could pull off.

The cast? Savage. But don't get it twisted - they didn't just show up with talent. I dragged those performances out of them. I created an atmosphere so real, they stopped acting. Every grimace, every clenched jaw, every broken silence - that's me, behind the curtain, conducting chaos.

And look, people throw the "Scorsese" comparison around like confetti - but here's the truth: I didn't study Marty. I matched him. While he had New York gangsters, I've got Dublin wolves. My streets are colder. My characters bleed harder. My camera doesn't just follow - it hunts.

So go ahead, critics. Scramble for your adjectives. Call it gritty, raw, poetic, unflinching. But just know this: Amongst the Wolves didn't come out of a focus group. It came out of me. Out of my past, my rage, my obsession with truth. It's Irish cinema, unfiltered, and it roars with the voice of a director who knows exactly what he's doing - and where he's going.

I an going straight to the top.

• Mark O'Connor

(Writer. Director. Wolf. The Irish Scorsese, only hungrier.)

"Amongst the Wolves" is an Irish revenge thriller crossed with a heart felt character study. Danny, a homeless ex-soldier, grapples with past trauma and PTSD on the mean streets of Dublin. Danny takes Will, a troubled young man under his wing. Will is harassed by a drug gang. Danny will face off against the gang, where his deadly soldier skills will come into play.

Director Mark O'Connor, already delivered one classic Irish gangster film in "Cardboard Gangsters". He's done it again with this film.

"Amongst the Wolves" is an excellent Irish revenge thriller crossed with a heart felt character study. I strongly recommend it.

Decent story of a veteran dealing with PTSD, bad luck and bad people. This story has been told many times, rarely breaking new ground in the crime genre, only this felt more real than most. The low budget helps capture Dublin's grim urban landscapes with damp streets, dirty canals, dimly lit alleys that present a mood and create the right amount of tension. If you are entertained by depictions of urban despair and the gritty side of life and are not expecting a polished, high-budget thriller and you don't need a tidy happy ending you'll probably like it. If you're into happy sappy endings this definitely isn't it.

Amongst the Wolves is a gut-punch of an Irish thriller that doesn't hold back. Luke McQuillan is straight-up incredible as Danny, a homeless ex-soldier battling PTSD and his demons on Dublin's rough streets. His quiet intensity carries the whole film-every glance and move feels so real. The story hooks you when Danny connects with Will, a teenager (Daniel Fee) tangled up with a brutal drug gang led by Power, played by Aidan Gillen, who's as chilling as you'd expect.

The film's raw and grounded, with Dublin's gritty corners practically a character on their own. The cinematography's stark, and the sparse soundtrack lets the emotions breathe. Yeah, it hits a few familiar crime drama notes, and the ending wraps up a bit too quick, but man, it's intense and gripping. McQuillan's performance is the heart of it-you feel his pain and fight. If you're into hard-hitting, character-driven stories that dive into the dark side without flinching, this one's a must. Really stuck with me. 8/10.

I was bracing myself a bit, before going to see this, as I knew it was about an ex-soldier and his PTSD. So, I thought it'd be a difficult watch.

But, I was surprised by it. It wasn't just about the brutality & misery that people inflict on each other. Those things were there, but they served as a back drop to the humanity & compassion of Luke McQuillan's character, Danny.

Even though Danny has a lot of pain, sheer bad luck, and looks like no way to get out of it, he rises above it, to help the teenage Will. (played by Daniel Fee) It's that compassionate humanity of Danny that just can't stay silent and do nothing.

You spend the whole movie hoping against hope that they'll beat the odds. Rooting for Danny especially, as he's put so much on the line.

The cinema was silent throughout the movie - everyone else was holding their breath too.

Yes, it wasn't a perfect movie - after all, it's Indie, low budget etc, but, Luke McQuillan was sooooo powerful & magnetic on the screen, you just couldn't look away. The perfect hero - the strong guy who has a heart, & protects those who are weaker. But not a trope. His character revealed itself slowly. He was still, & in control of his emotions, but you could almost read them out loud from his face. Brilliant directing from Mark O'Connor.

And I loved that I was guessing, & wondering, & never had those disappointing 'I know exactly what's going to happen next' moments.

I think Daniel Fee has a bit of a way to go, but as a first time actor, he gave a good portrayal of the unsure & often stupid teenage Will. It's just that Luke McQuillan owned the screen, & as the viewer, that's where you wanted to keep returning. More of Luke McQuillan please!!!!!

Aidan Gillen is always a riveting watch. He plays the gangland boss, Power. There's one scene (not a spoiler) where he's simply eating chips / French fries, and he's absolutely terrifying and menacing.

Power is a 'strong man' character too, as Danny is, but not the kind of man anyone wants in their life.

Mark O'Connor's skill as a director makes these characters so believable. And the locations he films in are real Dublin - I know because I live here. Beautiful parts, good parts, but tough & dirty areas too. Just like those characters.

Go and see it, & watch something real. Unless you only like slick, big budget, movies showing nice & tidy stories!