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Barry Keoghan showcased his incredible acting chops once again in the first teaser clip from his upcoming revenge thriller Bring Them Down.
The actor, 32, stars in Christopher Andrews’ directorial debut opposite Poor Things star Christopher Abbott, which is set to be released in cinemas in February.
The brutal and vengeful film follows Christopher's Michael, the last son of a farming family, lives an isolated existence with his ailing, cantankerous father Ray.
Burdened by a terrible secret from his past, Michael has isolated himself from the world and dedicates himself to his prized flock.
When the ongoing conflict with rival farmer Gary and his wayward and unpredictable son Jack - played by Barry - stirs old tensions and grievances, it triggers a chain of events that take increasingly violent and devastating turns, leaving both families permanently altered.
The chilling first clip shows the tension ratcheting up between Barry and Christopher, and the rest of the cast - Colm Meaney, Nora-Jane Noone, Paul Ready and Susan Lynch.
Barry Keoghan showcased his incredible acting chops once again in the first teaser clip from his upcoming revenge thriller Bring Them Down
The actor, 32, stars in Christopher Andrews’ directorial debut opposite Poor Things star Christopher Abbott, which is set to be released in cinemas in February
The brutal and vengeful film follows Christopher's Michael (pictured), the last son of a farming family, lives an isolated existence with his ailing, cantankerous father Ray
Set to a very eerie thumping drum beat, the characters are seen looking sombre interspersed with shots of the isolated farm and many sheep.
Showing his prowess for playing quietly dangerous characters, Barry can be seen creepily telling Michael: 'You know what they say, where there's lives stock, there's dead stock.'
Glimpses of the violence to come are shown throughout, with multiple characters seen aiming rifles at each other and yelling, as well as flashes of a fire and a violent car crash.
At one point Barry can be seen punching Christopher's character in the face, while he can be seen smashing Barry's car with a tyre iron.
The Saltburn star is noticeably caked in blood in several scenes, while Christopher's Michael can be seen becoming increasing unhinged, with the trailer ending with him on his back and screaming in fear while bracing himself for a killing blow.
Bring Them Down was filmed in Ireland in February last year, with Barry replacing his fellow Irish actor Paul Mescal for the role of Jack.
It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and was also selected for BFI London Film Festival 2024.
In the first reviews, the film received praise for examining the perils of toxic masculinity, with bleak and brutal consequences.
Burdened by a terrible secret from his past, Michael has isolated himself from the world and dedicates himself to his prized flock
When the ongoing conflict with rival farmer Gary and his wayward and unpredictable son Jack - played by Barry - stirs old tensions and grievances, it triggers a chain of events that take increasingly violent and devastating turns, leaving both families permanently altered
The chilling first clip shows the tension ratcheting up between Barry and Christopher, and the rest of the cast - Colm Meaney, Nora-Jane Noone, Paul Ready and Susan Lynch
Set to a very eerie thumping drum beat, the characters are seen looking sombre interspersed with shots of the isolated farm and many sheep
Glimpses of the violence to come are shown throughout, with multiple characters seen aiming rifles at each other and yelling, as well as flashes of a fire and a violent car crash
The Saltburn star is noticeably caked in blood in several scenes, while Christopher's Michael can be seen becoming increasing unhinged, with the trailer ending with him on his back and screaming in fear while bracing himself for a killing blow.
Variety praised director Christopher Andrews on a 'brutally violent directorial debut' that 'veers between pitch-black humor and pervading melancholy.'
Barry and Christopher's performances also received praise, with reviewer Siddhant Adlakha adding: 'Both actors are utterly fascinating to watch, and manage to play with vastly different modes within the same narrow framework, depending on whose perspective the film reveals.'
Digital Spy's Mireia Mullor gave the film three stars, saying despite an at time 'insufficent' plot, the 'themes of generational trauma, toxic masculinity and tradition against modernity are delivered with brutal efficiency if not always depth or precision.'
While she also singled out the lead stars for praise, writing: 'Abbot and Keoghan are renowned masters of the quiet-but-dangerous character, so it's no surprise that here they nail every awkward silent stare.'
In another three star review from The Telegraph, the film was described as: 'A midway outrage against a flock of sheep, perpetrated by greedy rustlers, yields some of the most soul-deadening images – and sounds – in recent cinema. It’s a dead-of-night massacre in mist, punctuated by bleats of primal agony.'
While The Hollywood Reporter's Jordan Mintzer said it was 'so grim it can be something of a chore to sit through', but added that the 'underlying adrenaline' and performances of 'terrific' actors Barry and Christopher elevated the film.
He added: 'Keoghan, who’s always a fascinating performer to watch, turns Jack into a fragile young man whose moral conscience has been worn down by so many years of poverty, isolation and toxic masculinity.'
Bring Them Down will be released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 7 February 2025
In the first reviews, the film received praise for examining the perils of toxic masculinity, with bleak and brutal consequences
