A Prayer Before Dawn

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1:36

A Prayer Before Dawn

R

Released Aug 10, 2018

1h 57m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

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.

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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

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

Dec 21, 2018

Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

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

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 4, 2018

Full Review

Michael Sragow

Film Comment Magazine

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.

Sep 27, 2018

Full Review

Nyle Coleman

InSession Film

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

Rated: A-

May 9, 2024

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

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

Rated: 4/5

Jun 2, 2022

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 11: Moving On

Rated: 70/100

Sep 1, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Gareth D

A hard watch, miserable, violent, dirty and almost as realistic as a documentary. Brilliant acting in a role almost without dialogue by Joe Cole. I came to know about the film from a Vice documentary on Billy Moore. Well worth a watch, but don't expect to enjoy it - expect to be moved by it. Some of it was a little slow, like the tatooing scene - could have been wrapped up faster reducing the run time to a sharper 90-105 minutes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

Full Review

victoria t

It’s very intense and I think it’s a tale that doesn’t always make it to the screen with this quality of actors but I made my 20 year old son watch it before he went over there it’s British cinema at its best and being an ex addict the whole process of unwinding from that plus the violence he faced , Tip Top

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/05/24

Full Review

Terry S

Difficult to watch and overall unpleasant to watch. Not for the faint-hearted.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

Goran G

A movie with almost no dialog but still excellent!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/18/24

Full Review

j F

The pacing was jumpy, and the action was often brutal. But engaging, and had a few tender moments behind bars.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/16/23

Full Review

Stephanie L

Joe Cole always plays his role to a T, he is a perfect actor. Great movie, disturbing at some parts but great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/13/23

Full Review

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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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