User reviews

Very similar to his work on Philomena. A brilliant narrative investigating a mass shooting and the tortured soul on trial. Much more that a legal drama. Its a dark journey into a barbaric (and hopefully much remedied) prison system in South Africa.

Steve Coogan has carved himself a specialty with these films. He brings intensity and brilliant deduction into this character and his scenes.

Also of note is that this appears to be from first time writer and a first time director. Very pleasant surprise that they are so good at delivering a moving subject in their first venture to attract the talented Mr. Coogan.

The young murderer is also very well cast and I can expect other large roles in his future.

On a local radio talk show this morning listeners were asked to phone in and name a film that they had walked out from. A lady responded and stated that she and one other person on the other side of the theater, were the only viewers. An hour into the show the other person stood up, walked over to her and said ' I can't take it anymore, it's too gruesome' and walked out.

This brilliant film by Anant Singh tells the story of psychological trauma suffered by a South African prison warden, who lands in court for a most serious crime. In this court drama the facts come to light as the case progresses, until the verdict is given. Based on true facts this movie gives viewers insight into the trial and tribulations of this 17 year old warden.

The movie may be too graphic for some viewers, but it presents actual happenings, without which the movie would be senseless. The end result is an admirable film, leaving scope for thought. This gem has perhaps not had widespread circulation, but is certainly recommended if you come across it.

This is very moral based and has a purpose. So if you don't like a movie to hammer something into you, this may not be a movie for you to watch. Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of tension and edge of your seat kind of stuff going on. Not to mention violence and drama about people who try living their lives, but have a lot of baggage.

The psyche of people who have a tough job is really fragile. So when at the end you get the and this happened shortly after in real life, you probably should not be too surprised. And you probably won't be too surprised about the outcome of the movie anyway. The acting is good, the direction is good and if you don't mind court dramas with moral flavour, you could do worse

An extremely disturbing film, especially being based on truth. It raises several questions regarding the death penalty, and illustrates how apartheid South Africa affects not only the oppressed, but also he perpetrator.

Steve Coogan gave a great performance, but for me young Garion Dowds gave an engaging and moving performance that stole the show.

What was interesting was the layering of emotions, and the psychological portrayal of what happens to ordinary people subjected to a continual barrage of negativity (in this case hanging & the death penalty), and how this leads to emotional numbing & blunting.

A great if somewhat unsettling watch.

This beautifully filmed drama, set in apartheid era South Africa manages to be at once brutal and sensitive. Steve Coogan and Andrea Riseborough face each other in the trial of a psychologically broken prison guard, accused of a multiple murder. Graphic and harrowing at times, delicately picking an unconventional course to its conclusion. Effectively a period piece, convincingly set in 1980's Pretoria, filmed in Cape Town in pleasing detail. Centred in the courtroom, but repeatedly flashing back to the accused's past as a prison guard on death row and following Coogan's progress through the trial in his defence. The prison and execution scenes play out in sickening detail, with a host of convincing supporting actors. The courtroom too has several well observed characters, from the judge to the bereaved relatives. The accused guard is well played; too, too young, and a mental and emotional shell of a man, opening up painfully slowly during the piece. Coogan though is the star; at first reluctant, then intrigued and finally quite determined as the defence counsel. The camera holds him close in this very convincing portrayal. The whole film is beautiful, cleverly lit and stylish, with great attention to all the details of the time and the place. The Afrikaaner Warrant Officer quietly chilling, the courtroom relatives, glorious. A genuinely emotional and thought provoking film, touching on several aspects of the capital punishment debate. It alternately brought to mind Oscar Pistorius' trial and Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit'. Be prepared for mixed feelings at the end!

If you like in court movies, with cases that are inevitable to make one and only one outcome, and magic happens ,then watch this movie.

its a heartwrenching, heartbreaking, flawlessly acted movie at all points and all areas.. its so well made that it made me feel sick at times.

the grumpy old man can just recommend

This is an interesting look at how executions were performed during the apartheid era in South Africa. The way they killed prisoners in groups was heinous in itself. The boys who were made to work in the prison gallows were obviously traumatized by the cruel way prisoners were killed. This film examines how one young man had PTSD from his experience and then kills innocent people in an apparently random way. The film never really explains why the crime happened but that's likely the nature of PTSD which wasn't even a term back in 1987. You also see how the minority white people control every lever of power back then. Apartheid fell for a good reason shortly after this happened.

Courtroom drama's, to be honest not really my cup of tea, as most of the time there is a lot of talking and not a lot of action, but in this case the story is so appealing and captivating I really enjoyed this movie. Based on true events this story is even more interesting as we try to understand why a vicious crime has been committed, why some moral dilemmas have not been studied before. How can a caregiver also be an executioner at the same time? It's a really good story to follow, never boring and the cast is also quality. A great Garion Dowds, very promising, and a good Steve Coogan as the attorney defending the murderer. Shepherds And Butchers, not a very inviting title, but to me one of the better courtroom drama's I've seen in a while.

It's nothing more than a prolonged speech against capital punishment, with needless and numerous depictions of group hangings. The courtroom scenes ring very absurd, as no judge in his right mind would allow such obviously prejudicial testimony. To drive points home the film makers relies on sheer repetition and ludicrous scenes of intelligence unsulting dialogue. Well made. Well acted. But unlimately not entertaining or informative. Not in the least.

This is a difficult film to watch. What initially appears to be just another horror of the nasty apartheid regime in South Africa blossoms swiftly into a deeper disturbing insight of its unwitting agents.

Challenging and moving account probing the depths of human depravity.

Steve Coogan is majestic - seriously understated film. Waiting for the end is no problem but what an ending. ..!!

An excellent thought provoking film. Another great performance by Steve Coogan surely an understated serious actor who grows with every role.

Oh and how they told and put this together. Coogan really takes this role to his heart.Humans inhumanity to another human is sometimes bewildering. Must watch film.

It's such a shame that a really powerful story was turned I to a soap! Poor performance by Steve Coogan. I'd like to see it re-made with better actors and better direction

This film will haunt you for the rest of your life..Especially the gruesome execution scenes during apartheid rule. The courtroom scenes are well executed.

Steve Coogan is an excellent actor.

In this film he plays a defence attorney for a man who has killed seven men for no apparent reason.

The accused doesn't wish to be defended, cannot remember what happened and refuses to talk about it.

In my opinion, other than the opening scene, the film begins slowly but builds to a crescendo as Coogan's character puts questions to the accused in an attempt to find the cause or trigger for this event to occur.

The facts of the case are self evident and there is no argument against that but why would he do this to people he did not know?

The film uses flashbacks where the Coogan character poses these questions and we get to see the situations the defendant was in and what he had to do. We see his slow progress that leads to the murders.

The end footnotes state that this case had an influence in changing South African law regarding the death penalty.

One thing mentioned in the film was that with murderers and victims, no one remembers the victims. Lets hope this isn't the case.

35 years ago is not distant past. It's barely history. It's now July 2022. As the United States endures senatorial hearings regarding the January 6th Insurrection when a frenzied mob chanted "Hang Mike Pence" I'm watching this movie feeling sick that a 17 year old boy was instructed to escort men to be hung for their deaths. His 2nd day on the job was #1 and he escorted 163 more men.

South Africa was still enduring racist brutalities in 1987.

Law enforcement and Justice need not be despensed savagely.

This movie represents the brutish nature that is a Hallmark of racism.

Watching this movie , remember, it's based on true events.

This movie is scripted from the novel of the same title. The novel is a propaganda vehicle aimed at making capital punishment look at outrageous and primitive as possible in which it has a great deal of success. The depictions of group hangings are graphic, explicit and repulsive in the extreme. There should be a content advisory for people who might have a less than sturdy psychological tolerance of brutal cinematography. At the least one should keep in mind that novels are works of fiction. That will help. The story line is that assisting in such brutal mass executions can cause an otherwise person to become mentally ill to the point of being dangerous to others. This is used as a defense in the trial of a prison warder who has committed a violent crime shortly after one such execution. The acting is very good, dialogue holds up pretty well and the suspense over how the trial will turn out is well effected. Overall a watchable movie - if the you have the stomach for it.