Calm with Horses streams now for free on Channel 4, bringing the 2019 Irish crime thriller to a wider home audience after its theatrical release was cut short.
Directed by Nick Rowland in his feature directorial debut, the film follows ex-boxer Douglas ‘Arm’ Armstrong as he works as a feared enforcer for the drug-dealing Devers family in the West of Ireland, Digital Spy reported. Arm struggles to balance his violent criminal duties with caring for his young, autistic son alongside his estranged ex-girlfriend Ursula Dory, played by Niamh Algar.
The movie is adapted from a short story in Colin Barrett’s collection Young Skins and was written for the screen by Joe Murtagh. Cosmo Jarvis stars as Arm, while Barry Keoghan plays Dympna Devers, Arm’s manipulative best friend and handler within the gang.
Critics praised the film’s gritty tone and central performances upon its initial release, earning it a 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Observer called it “an immersive tale of tortured masculinity and divided loyalties that pulls the viewer right into the raging bull mindset of its haunted protagonist,” according to a review cited by Digital Spy.
Boxer Turned Enforcer
The core of the narrative centers on Arm, a once-promising boxer who quit the sport following a tragic event in the ring, joe.ie reported. Recruited by the Devers family, he spends his days acting as muscle for Dympna.
Arm faces a severe crisis of loyalty when the clan orders him to kill someone, forcing a direct clash between his criminal handlers and his real family responsibilities. The production features a supporting cast that includes Ned Dennehy, Kiljan Moroney, and David Wilmot.
Metro noted in its review that the movie is shot with such confidence. NME labeled the feature “powerful,” and Monocle described it as “visceral and wrenching.”
Awards and Recognition
The film earned four nominations at the 2021 British Academy Film Awards, including Outstanding British Film and Best Supporting Actor for Keoghan. Its theatrical run in Ireland began in March 2020 but was quickly disrupted by COVID-19 restrictions, limiting its initial box office reach.
Following the film’s release, Keoghan’s career continued to ascend with roles in projects such as Netflix’s Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man and Saltburn. He is also slated to portray Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’ upcoming four-part Beatles cinematic event series.
The Digital Fix summarized the project as “a magnificently confident and impressive first feature for director Nick Rowland.” Alongside its streaming availability on Channel 4, the movie has also been broadcast on Film4 and made available via the Mubi platform.
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