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A Prayer Before Dawn
2018 116 min Cambodia, China, France, United Kingdom, United States of America R 18+
★7.2
Drama, Action, Crime
Director: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
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 prison Muay Thai tournaments.
US Gross:
$14,453
Worldwide:
$958,883
Starring
Joe Cole
Actor
Vithaya Pansringarm
Actor
Cherry Miko
Actor
Awards
1 win & 7 nominations total
Key opinion
A Prayer Before Dawn is widely recognized as a grueling, naturalistic prison drama that prioritizes psychological and physical immersion over traditional sports movie tropes. While most critics praise its authentic atmosphere and Joe Cole's committed performance, audiences remain divided over its relentless bleakness and the effectiveness of its stylistic choices.
| Acting | Joe Cole delivers a physically demanding and authentic performance that serves as the film's vital anchor. | |
| Direction | The director creates a suffocating, immersive atmosphere that effectively places the viewer inside the brutal realities of a Thai prison. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as an unflinching character study of survival and addiction, intentionally eschewing standard sports clichés and sentimental arcs. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography and editing styles—characterized by tight close-ups and raw, documentary-style handheld shots—create a visceral sense of presence, though some find the combat scenes chaotic or poorly framed. | |
| Emotion | The film’s extreme, unrelenting focus on violence, drug abuse, and depravity is viewed by many as a powerful artistic choice, while others find the experience excessively dark or exhausting to sit through. |