Seven Psychopaths (2012)

Gimly October 6, 2018

★ 7/10

**The following is a long form review that I originally wrote in 2012.** The movie is incredibly convoluted, so it's hard to know what to say that definitely won't end up being a spoiler, so maybe it would be better if I just stuck to talking about the actors, as it's a crazy bunch of them for McDonagh to bring together. Don't believe the trailer, and certainly don't believe the posters. _Seven Psychopaths_ has nothing to do with either of them. Olga Kurylenko (_Max Payne, Quantum of Solace_) is shamefully under-used, but at least Martin McDonagh acknowledges that his film's female characters are not a focus point, and their weakness is his own failing (in a rather surreal way). I've adored her ever since I first saw her in _Hitman_, and was absolutely blown away by her _Centurion_ performance. Though she does practically nothing here, it's always fantastic to see her get more w…

r96sk March 14, 2025

★ 6/10

’Seven Psychopaths’ didn’t quite do it for me. It’s not far adrift from being a good movie, I just wasn’t able to connect to it in the end. It kinda has similar issues that I found with this director’s previous film, ’In Bruges’; it’s better than that one, mind. The comedy is lacklustre and the cast don’t feel at their best. Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson being in the same flick is a recipe for success, so I am disappointed to say that I didn’t rate this one. The story has some solid moments and in summary is intriguing, though how it is all connected together with everything in-between and how it’s portrayed to us simply didn’t satisfy me unfortunately. His early two films have surprisingly disappointed me, thankfully Martin McDonagh followed them up with two absolute crackers. I hope his upcoming fifth release follows…

CinemaSerf June 26, 2025

★ 7/10

“Marty” (Colin Farrell) has an idea for a great screenplay, but thus far has only come up with a title. Hungover, as usual, he’s chatting with his pal “Billy” (Sam Rockwell) who is just full of ideas for his psychopathic characters but hates to impose on his creatively constipated buddy. Now “Billy”, aside from having a vivid imagination, is also involved in a cunning wheeze with the cravat wearing “Hans” (Christopher Walken) that involves a bit of high-end schnauzer snaffling! Yep - they dognap! It’s when he turns up to visit the suitably bemused “Marty” with a perfectly pet-icured Shih Zhu and they take quite a perilous trip into the desert that perhaps his juices might flow again? That might be inspiration, but is more likely fear as the dog’s owner is the none-too-charming hoodlum “Charlie” (Woody Harrelson) who wants his mutt back preferably with a few …

badelf April 26, 2026

★ 7/10

**Seven Psychopaths (2012)** _Directed by Martin McDonagh_ This is pure fun, a twisted crime comedy with an all-star cast firing on all cylinders. Colin Farrell plays a struggling screenwriter named Marty trying to finish his script "Seven Psychopaths" while his friends Billy (Sam Rockwell) and Hans (Christopher Walken) run a dog-kidnapping scheme that goes sideways when they steal a gangster's (Woody Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu. The plot is twisted in more ways than one, folding back on itself as the real-life chaos becomes material for Marty's screenplay. The meta angle works here. McDonagh plays with the conventions of violent crime films while making one, commenting on the genre while delivering exactly what the genre promises: sharp dialogue, gleeful violence, eccentric characters. It's Tarantino viewed through the British dry humor lens, all the blood and wit but with that…