When it comes to the evolution of the Irish crime movie as a genre in its own right - seemingly unthinkable as recently as the early oughts - Dubliner Mark O'Connor has done the state/slate some service. He's the writer-director of Between the Canals, Cardboard Gangsters, the TV series Darklands, and now Amongst the Wolves, another gritty-as-you'll-get look at the lives behind the headlines.
Here, O'Connor's co-writer Luke McQuillan plays Danny, a former British Army soldier whose life has crumbled since his return to Dublin. Suffering from PTSD and now homeless, Danny befriends Will (Daniel Fee), a teenager who is sleeping rough after falling foul of local drugs boss Power (Aidan Gillen). With Power's gang closing in and Danny trying to keep his own violence in check, the stage is set for an urban western showdown.
With its man-comes-back-to-town storyline, Amongst the Wolves keeps one eye on the door and another on Ireland's ills as it drives towards its bloody conclusion. Using the loss of empathy as his central theme, O'Connor's depiction of misfortune, menace, and mayhem is frighteningly realistic and pushes the viewer into acknowledging how desensitised we've become to much of the world outside the cinema. No easy answers - and no easy watch.
Made for €16,000 and filmed in 15 days, Amongst the Wolves is a good mix of established talents and up-and-comers. McQuillan is strong in the lead role of the walking timebomb and is also double jobbing as mentor because co-star Fee is making his feature debut as the bewildered foil. Such a heavy story is a lot to ask of someone so young, especially with time and money so tight, but the teenager shows he has potential. In supporting roles, there's fine work from Louise Bourke as outreach volunteer Kate and Jade Jordan as Danny's estranged wife Gill. A special mention goes to Dane Whyte O'Hara who gets everything he can out of his scenes as henchman Joyce. No small parts indeed.
O'Connor's next film will be a change of both pace and climate - a comedy-drama set in the south of France. In terms of creed and can-do, he leaves the mean streets with nothing to prove, but you get the feeling he'll be back before too long.
