Filth

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Filth

R

Released May 30, 2014

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

95 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A drug-addled, manipulative misanthrope (James McAvoy) begins to experience increasingly severe hallucinations as he tries to solve the murder of a Japanese student.

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Critics Consensus

Warped, grimy, and enthusiastically unpleasant, Filth lives up to its title splendidly.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Filth is ghastly and unpleasant, but also kind of brilliant, and therein lies both the reward and the rub.

Sep 5, 2018

Full Review

Josh Kupecki

Austin Chronicle

To its detriment, Filth too often pulls its punches, and if you're striving for pitch black, that is most definitely a cardinal sin.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 5, 2014

Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

"Filth" lives up to its title and then some, but a no-holds performance by James McAvoy is reason enough to watch.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 5, 2014

Full Review

Robert Sims

Lights Camera Austin

Jon S. Baird's manic adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel maintains a constant high for much of its 97 head-spinning minutes before it sets up into a confrontation between a broken man and his personal demons.

Jan 22, 2022

Full Review

Jim Ross

TAKE ONE Magazine

Although it often stumbles into gaudily hedonistic mud-rolling, Jon S. Baird's film boasts a bold tone, sharp dialogue and a towering performance from James McAvoy.

Feb 13, 2020

Full Review

Shikhar Verma

High on Films

The vomitous, lingering ill effects of Filth will stay with you for a long long time.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 13, 2020

Full Review

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Rod S

Filth's a tough assignment to convert book to movie. There are harder titles penned by Irvine Welsh, but this one is tricky. Capturing the spirit and essence of the book was no easy task and yet... Jon S Baird did an excellent job. Considering its relatively short runtime, this is an object lesson in concise story-telling. Tragedy, friendship, psychology, love, hate, sex - Filth takes a wild ride across the human condition through the eyes of its damaged, magnetic, layered leading character. Such a film succeeds or fails on the performance of its protagonist, and James McAvoy crushes it - a lightning rod, capturing much of the nuance Welsh fired into his lead character. Superb performance, and not unique from this actor. It's a very stylised film - overtones of Guy Richie's work are in there, but there is also surprising depth - beautifully clear notes that linger after the credits roll. As Welsh adaptations go, this probably takes second place to Trainspotting - it isn't quite as pristine as that - but it has echoes of its greatness. Impressively apt soundtrack, brilliant lead performance, fun plot, very humourous, and with more gravitas that you'd imagine it could warrant given its comedic tone. Top marks all round. Outstanding film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

Full Review

Ainsley F

McAvoy is definitely the go-to guy for the tortured soul roll. Amazing performance. Intense film, but not for the socially squeamish.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

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Tom M

Too much! Mcavoy is brilliant. There are some laugh out loud moments. It's never boring. But...it is a little...too much.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

Angela B

Problem was I love him as an actor in all of his movies especially as professor X but when I saw him while he was high he tried to molest that young underage girl I turned the movie off and haven't watched him since. He could of not done that or maybe just talked to her but not tried to get in her pants. Made me sick to my stomach. So it really wad Filth.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/24

Full Review

Mike B

James' performace was unbelievably great, 100% awards-worthy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

Jacob H

**Spoilers** The first 40 minute of this film are great, but as the protagonist's life starts spiraling downward so does the film overall.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

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Jon S. Baird

Director

James McAvoy

Bruce Robertson

Jamie Bell

Ray Lennox

Eddie Marsan

Bladesey

Jim Broadbent

Dr. Rossi

Imogen Poots

Amanda Drummond

Filth: Official Clip - Same Rules Apply

2:46

Filth: Official Clip - Phone Sex

2:58

Filth: Official Clip - Tulips on My Bulbs

1:31

Filth: Official Clip - Defamation of Character

2:14

Filth: Official Clip - A Fine Man

3:00

Filth: Official Clip - Dirty Cop

3:00

Filth: Official Clip - Painful Hallucinations

2:59

Filth: Official Clip - Wanna Hear You Squeal

2:54

Filth: Official Clip - There's Something Wrong With Me

2:39

Filth: Official Clip - You Are Filth

2:19

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Synopsis

A drug-addled, manipulative misanthrope (James McAvoy) begins to experience increasingly severe hallucinations as he tries to solve the murder of a Japanese student.

Director: Jon S. Baird
Producer: Mark Amin, Christian Angermayer, Jessica Ask, Jon S. Baird
Screenwriter: Jon S. Baird
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Logie Pictures, Steel Mill Pictures
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Drug Use|Language|Some Violence|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 30, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.3K
Runtime: 1h 37m

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