A Prayer Before Dawn

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1:36

A Prayer Before Dawn

R,

2018,

1h 57m,

Action/

Mystery & Thriller

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92%

64 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

64 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

The amazing true story of Billy Moore, an English boxer incarcerated in Thailand's most notorious prison. Thrown into a world of drugs and violence, he finds his best chance to escape is to fight his way out in Muay Thai tournaments.

Critics Consensus

A Prayer Before Dawn is far from an easy watch, but this harrowing prison odyssey delivers rich rewards -- led by an outstanding central performance from Joe Cole.

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Leslie Felperin

The Hollywood Reporter

Dec 21, 2018

Midnight Express' meets 'Ong-Bak,' and that's a good thing.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Oct 4, 2018

2.5/5

Ultimately, there is something distasteful about this approach ― especially as the stylistic bravura seems calculated to leave minimal room for thought.

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Michael Sragow

Film Comment Magazine

Sep 27, 2018

Overloaded with physical peril and over-strategized to convey the jitters of a strung-out junkie, the movie runs a deficit on emotional intelligence and journalistic information.

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Nyle Coleman

InSession Film

May 9, 2024

A-

Not many films have the ability to touch you while at the same time showing you such horrible human brutality.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Jun 2, 2022

4/5

A punishing, uncompromising prison drama of the highest order...The level of authenticity achieved here is gut-punchingly raw.

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Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Sep 1, 2021

70/100

Episode 11: Moving On

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Anakin W

Mar 15, 2019

Biopic on an odyssey in a Thai prison among toxic, murderers and loves with the "ladyboys", raw, violent and brutal even in the directorial choices, as interesting as a documentary on sex tourism in the same nation. Luckily it grossed just half a billion dollars. (Mauro Lanari)

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Albus R

Jan 29, 2019

If you enjoy movies about faggy diseased prison sex then this movie is right up your pooper pipe.

Leia L

Jan 13, 2019

well acted and shot, just not that entertaining. Probably a better read than a film.

Leia G

Dec 31, 2018

Shaky camera with a lot of close ups. No subtitles and 95% of the film is in Thai, so you do not understand...you have to guess. Don't bother, this one is only good for movie critics and not for the common folks like myself.

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Leia S

Dec 5, 2018

Best movie I have seen in a long time

Harry M

Dec 3, 2018

Definitely not a chick-flick. Not much of a plot, a lot of fighting and grunting. Basically no conversation either. Filming and photography kind of artsy, otherwise. A brilliant plot would be nice

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Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire

Director

Joe Cole

Billy Moore

Billy Moore

Billy Moore's Father

Pornchanok Mabklang

Fame

Panya Yimmumphai

Keng

Chaloemporn Sawatsuk

M

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A Prayer Before Dawn: Trailer 2

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Synopsis

The amazing true story of Billy Moore, an English boxer incarcerated in Thailand's most notorious prison. Thrown into a world of drugs and violence, he finds his best chance to escape is to fight his way out in Muay Thai tournaments.

Director: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
Producer: Rita Dagher, Nicholas Simon, Roy Boulter, Sol Papadopoulos
Screenwriter: Jonathan Hirschbein, Nick Saltrese
Distributor: A24
Production Co: HanWay Films, Indochina Productions, Senorita Films
Rating: R (Drug Use|A Brutal Rape Sequence|Language Throughout|Some Sexual Content and Nudity|Strong Violence)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 10, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 7, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.5K
Runtime: 1h 57m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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