A Prayer Before Dawn (2017) Online

Joe Cole gives a ferocious performance in this relentlessly intimidating crime/biopic based on an english boxer (Billy Moore) who gets incarcerated in Thailand's most notorious prison, the "Bangkok Hilton."

This is visceral and often unwatchably brutal stuff. At times watching it felt pretty much like getting a knife to the gut, especially in one unbearable scene that I don't want to spoil, plus it's a bit to graphic to explain. The director also opts for no subtitles, so unless you speak thai, it instantly gives you a claustrophobic feeling, thus putting us right inside the prison house of Billy's mind. Don't let that deter you as there is dialogue, and what it lacks in, Joe Cole makes up for with a sensational display as he captures his character's relentless aggression and the low cunning he needs to survive whilst also showing us Billy's humanity and very occasional moments of vulnerability. It was 100% method-style madness, so kudos to Joe Cole for a Performance I really can't commend enough.

The fight scenes were well shot and included some awesome knockouts that seemed completely real, especially the first fight he has in prison, wow! The tattoo-covered convicts are terryfying and all sensational supporting actors.

All in all, amateur director Jean-Stephane Sauvaire has masterfully crafted a brutal biopic that packs one hell of a poetic punch! Must see! Check us out on Instagram @MovieFest

A Prayer Before Dawn touches upon almost every grand subject of life. Love, lust, hate, deep anxiety and the willingness to survive. Even though he does is with minimal dialogue, Joe Cole's performance is one of the greatest I've ever seen. So raw. So full of energy and all different kinds of emotions. This film was a proper hit to the gut. Punt intended. Bravo.

It's not a typical movie... it's a slow, realistic, painful movie, about what happens inside a Thai prison, which is basically hell, Don't expect to see an action movie, it is not, and do expect to see some horrible and disturbing sites. It's important to anyone to see this movie, as it also has educational value. The Thai boxing is just a minor part of the movie, and a tool to show how far a man is willing to go, how much suffer, to get a redemption, and fight his inside demons. Amazing camera work, and the acting of all actors especially the Thai prisoners (most participant are not actors at all) is fabulous. It looks so real you almost forget it's a movie and not a real life documentary. The leading actor in this movie is a brave guy to take such a hard role, which required a lot of practice and preparations. I highly recommend you watch it, some scenes in this movie you will never forget.

Brutal, multidimensional, powerful and raw, this is a one of a kind event, indistinguishable from reality in every way. Truly mesmerising and utterly convincing, one can only imagine it might be the truest 'true story' one mat ever view. An inspiring story of the power of human resilience against all odds, any critic not giving this film the perfect summary it deserves is either pretentious, ignorant to art, or, more forgivable, utterly out of touch with the dark side of the world.

As much as I love the Rocky films and the franchise offspring Creed, I must admit that A Prayer Before Dawn makes those films seem like feel-good Hollywood fairytales. And as much as I recommend this film for its cinematic achievements, I must also say that this film isn't for everyone. Why? As a brutal assault on the senses, there isn't a single moment that allows the viewer to think "it's only a movie". Your only choice is to either look away, or absorb every horrific moment and wish it never happens to you or anyone you know.

Based on the memoirs of British boxer Billy Moore, his heroin addiction and ensuing drug bust in Bangkok, the film begins with his arrest and incarceration in a Thai prison. Not only is Billy (Joe Cole) the only white face in a prison cell with dozens of other hardened local criminals, the deplorable living conditions and lack of any sort of law and order would comparatively make life in Alcatraz seem like a privilege. And then, during his first night in, Billy is held with a knife to his throat and forced to watch an act of gut-wrenching, nerve-rattling brutality. French director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire uses this scene to set the tone for the rest of the film where it remains consistently bleak and unapologetic. After days of copious cruelty and violence (or months, as a timeline is not revealed), Billy realises that his survival depends on his skills as kick-boxer. With sympathetic help from a lady-boy he befriends in jail, Billy starts training as a Muay Thai fighter. It might just let him live another day.

Billy's training scenes are a stark contrast to the trumpet blaring training montage in any of the Rocky films. That's because this film isn't about the glory of winning a fight but solely about staying alive. Which is why A Prayer Before Dawn is first and foremost a survival film, followed by a blood sport film as a close second. Green Room actor Cole is remarkable as Billy and the main reason for recommending this film despite its ugly premise. Somewhere along the film's two-hour runtime, Cole's Billy transforms from a beat-down British expat to a fighter releasing his fears and frustration into every explosive blow with brute force. It's a physically demanding role that Cole gets right but also helped by the jarring camerawork that puts us in the ring and under the skin of relentlessly pounded flesh. It all feels so authentic and immersive that one can't really say if they are acting or beating each other senseless. Add to that, the film was not only shot in an actual Thai prison, Cole was also working with real life prisoners who were still under detention. For the millions of tourists who visit Thailand every year, this film doesn't paint a pretty picture and neither does it intend to. Like Nicolas Winding Refn's moody Only God Forgives, Sauvaire has a story to tell about Bangkok's seedy underworld that most tourists don't often see. The anti-drugs message is severe and the price to pay is extreme, but as a real life story told with conviction, A Prayer Before Dawn is about humanity's most defining virtue of persistence even in the most hellish of places.

Really intense prison-/boxing-/survival-drama. Its shocking, uncomfortable and harsh. Fortunately I have never been to a Prison like that but It felt so real. Where did they find all these tattooed thugs? The characters are all believable and the cinematography is original. You can see an impressive "oner" during the first fight in the ring. There is very little dialog and the subtitles for are absent for most of the time. I suspect this is done on purpose to make us feel like the protagonist Billy Moore. The sound design is great! The panting is loud during some of the scenes and the clashing, sweaty bodies in the fights sound just fantastic! The only complaint that I have is that it felt a bit long because it got a little repetitive, especially during the training sessions.

It didnt felt like a movie, it felt like real life and a hidden camera that records everything.. It's one of those films you forget you're watching a film, it sucks you totally in as you become one with the characters and events played on the screen.

Simply an amazing masterpiece! Go watch it!

This is not your typical Hollywood production, but wow was it produced really well.

The score was perfect. The setting outstanding. The cinematography on point. The acting by all cast - even extras (mostly ex-convicts) was very convincing and intense, and Joe Cole nailed his role. The directing was fairly decent although the last fight scene was just too many close ups.

My main beef is the writing - either bad editing or cutting by the director. There were too many scenes that were missing info, such as what did the letters from his dad say? Why even have that in the film if it wont be elaborated. My other beef is the lack of subtitles where subtitles were needed (90% of the film). I'm not sure if it was my copy missing all the important dialogue subtitled, or the actual film, but I was left unsatisfied not knowing what everyone was saying, or at least many important scenes.

Nevertheless, a really intense film based on a true story, filmed really well overall. A great watch, especially if you're into the martial arts and Muay Thai. A well deserved 8/10 from me.

Joe Cole did a phenomenal job!! I'm so impressed with the authenticity, using real inmates in a real jail - the show was nonstop. I'm so impressed!!

The fact that this is a true story just gives me the shivers! Well played by Joe Cole, the directing and casting, top notch. I actually thought they were real prisoners until I found out that they all were ex-cons. The acting was that good. One of the few movies I didn't want to end! Very very good stuff.

Been waiting for this for ages, didn't disappoint, savage film some disturbing bits, i've lived in Thailand so know Thai prisons are harsh especial if you have no money like Billy, would say it's a little bit slow, but still one wicked prison film, Joe Cole was defo the man for the part, quite a lot of Thai spoken, luckily i understand some of it, but if you you like prison films this is a must, it is up there,

Films about prisons and martial arts are usually attractive. "A Prayer Before Dawn" is a combination of the two genres and the most important: based on the true story of the English boxer William "Billy" Moore brilliantly performed by Joe Cole. The story of the addicted in heroin boxer that is arrested in Thailand and sent to a notorious prison, learning Muay Thay and winning an important tournament that changed his life gives the sensation of a documentary shot in a prison in Thailand. The plot and scenes are realistic and brutal, totally different from most of the Hollywood productions of the genre. It is not in the same level of the masterpiece "Midnight Express", but expresses the sensation of a Caucasian in a foreigner prison. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

This is Midnight Blue transposed to Thailand with Rocky on meths. But somehow they make it work, I usually hate subtitled films but this film somehow made narrative unnecessary. The background is Muay and Wando fighting, but violence as such is muted and not gratuitous ( which is why some might find it boring, hard men they are ). It's a good story that happens to be true, with usual dramatic interpretation, but still well worth watching

This little gem of a movie was quite worth the watch. Gritty, some uncomfortable to watch scenes- but wildly successful with regard to storytelling. The main Character (Joe Cole) is so damn interesting, he draws you into his world and the structure of the movie forces you to see the world from his eyes. There is very little English dialogue and not many subtitles- but you won't even notice - which is impressive. It's a simple story about a guy arrested and incarcerated in a foreign land, fighting to survive, but it delves so much deeper than that. Joe Cole IS the movie and he carries the story.

If there is a film which has the elements of something great and without the cheesiness of the usual fighting films & has its reality based harshness of the real world, this is the movie to watch. One can see the hardship of things but to lost paths & situations faced for someone to travel from the journey of addiction to supporting others like him to walk the line, the film does great with character development & in the end one is invested in Billy for good. Without the loud music or slow motion action sequences or any other things which we come to expect form film of this category, it stands out. Some may comment that its a bit slow, but thats the journey which I felt was very much required for us to feel for the guy & situation.

Loved it. Brilliant performance by Joe. could not stop thinking how did they managed & shot the film in actual prison environment & managed to make this strong piece of story. Do watch if you favour real movie stuff of unfiltered & harsh reality, may be not your type if you are the one who watches these films for large set pieces & epic music !

The movie has a good storyline but the pacing is extremely slow. The movie was better if they cut it in a 1 and a half hour movie.

This is the true storey of William Billy Moore a scouser who is imprisoned for drugs in the Bangkok Hilton and his only way to service is mauy Thai boxing full contact . The film is brutally gripping and dark but the cinematography is fantastic and the storey is really gripping as billy is struggling his heroin ( yaba) addiction and it's tbe friendship of a few in the prison one being a lady boy helps billy through his drastic horrific ordeal. I was gripped it's captivating viewing . Enjoyed the film immensely.

Great cinematography. Realistic prison drama. Fighting sequences OK. Background story non-existent, IMO main character or story not interesting and you dont get to know the main protagonist at all, viewer is left to his own conclusions. Lots of loose ends, no development between characters, despite years of incarceration in small quarters together, random shallow conversations. Title of movie is meaningless in context of pictured events, simply a made up "catchy" title. Story premise, "fighting for his freedom", is false. Freedom from prison by fighting not a possibility in story, gets easy treatment and transfer/short sentence for being "farang"/western. Freedom from drugs not shown in any way as a goal for the character. Fighting for his life by being transferred to "softer" accommodations away from the gangs could be a purpose, but not sufficiently shown in movie and is attacked by gang anyway after transfer. Dads appearance seems made up and only put in to give the real Billy Moore a cameo. All in all great cinematography, shot in a style that gives you the feeling of being there, story is rubbish - waste of time.

This film is based on the true story of Billy Moore, a British boxer who was imprisoned in Thailand for drugs offences. Before being transferred to a British jail he spent three years in a Thai prison; it is that time that is covered here.

After we see Moore's arrest, the prison movie requisite rape scene (of an unnamed extra) is quickly dealt with and we move on to the meat of the story. Moore swears a lot; gets bullied; starts fights; continues his drug habit; joins the prison boxing team; has a tender, sexual relationship with a 'ladyboy'. Although engrossing, it is all rather unstructured - Moore appears to be the only Western prisoner; the addition of an English-speaking pal to whom he could speak, à la John Hurt in 'Midnight Express', would have helped the audience understand what was going on in his mind, even if it would have been factually inaccurate... a voice-over, perhaps? Adding to the confusion, Thai dialogue is not always translated, although this may be a device to highlight Moore's own bewilderment as to what is going on around him (in which case, it succeeded!) And while the fight scenes are extremely fast-paced and violent, the camera gets in so close that at times it is hard to tell who is pummeling who.

Fans of leading man Joe Cole - impressively muscular - will be pleased that he rarely wears more than a pair of shorts (and certain sections of his fanbase may also enjoy the sight of him in handcuffs and leg irons). As for his acting, I would not say the role stretches him but he is convincing. Overall this is worth watching - and do keep an eye out for the scene in which the boxing team gather around Moore as he gets his first prison tattoo - it is a wordless, but very powerful, expression of comradeship.

While this was a good movie, with good acting and directing, I found the entire experience to be painfully slow. Not really what I was expecting at all (in relation to title description). I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen. Not much did actually. Disappointing ending. Watch something else that you won't feel was a wasted 2 hours.

Great photography, very good direction, good editing. If you were to watch this movie without knowing it is inspired to a portion of life of someone, you could think it is a sort of visually satisfying mockumentary about Thailandese prisons. Joe Cole does a great job, but it is not enough to save the movie from itself: too tight, too monotonous, too didactic. Just like the prison it portrays. Cole is left alone, in isolation, trying to portray Billy Moore. But the writing keeps everything two-dimensional: a lot of things happen during the movie, but somehow they pass Billy and us by.

Extremely grim & uncomfortable viewing. Almost got motion sickness from the awful, shakey camerawork. Nonetheless I found myself wanting to carry on watching to the end. Interesting & very different from the norm.

Billy Moore kick-boxes and does drugs in Thailand. One lands him in a Thai prison, which appears worse than a Turkish prison. He represents his prison in a kick-box tournament and then gets out writes a book and makes a movie about it.

That is it. Based on a true story. Acting was fine, I just didn't find the film entertaining about how one guy messed up his own life. Mostly prison scenes which don't appeal to me.

Guide: sex and nudity.

Fantastic movie and it gives me chills because it is based on true events.

Makes Midnight Express look like kindergarten. A must watch.