Hiding out in the Belgian city of Bruges after a hit-job in London results in the accidental death of a child, gunman Ray (Farrell) and his mentor Ken (Gleeson) try to pass the time as they await judgement by their gang boss Harry (Fiennes). In a witty script, the pair discuss life and the nature of their trade.

After a number of comic and, in Ray’s case, violent encounters, Harry calls Ken and orders him to kill the younger man. But the older man cannot do it while Ray in turn threatens suicide in remorse of the child’s death. After Ken confesses his inaction, Harry immediately embarks for Bruges. On arrival he plans to kill Ken for disobeying orders but faced with Ken’s passivity shoots him in the leg instead. The denouement, in which Harry dies and Ken sacrifices himself to save Ray, is both terrifying and hilarious.

Bruges is clearly limbo, with frequent visual allusions to the work of Hieronymus Bosch, and it’s clear from the beginning that death and final judgement are in the air. The film has many influences, from Harold Pinter’s play The Dumb Waiter to Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now (1973) and Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast (2000), but this is very much McDonagh’s vision.

“This film debut by the theater writer and director Martin McDonagh is an endlessly surprising, very dark, human comedy, with a plot that cannot be foreseen but only relished.” Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

“Brendan Gleeson is brilliant as Ken … along with his partner in crime, Ray, played by Colin Farrell in probably his best performance.” Claudia Puig USA Today