By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 7/09/2025
The film begins with a man opening the door to what appears to be a new home, as his wife and child enter. However, this scene quickly transforms into a nightmare of sorts. His child pleads with him to wake up, and he suddenly does—it becomes apparent that this was a dream or a distant memory. He wakes up in the woods, homeless.
Despite his situation, he doesn’t resemble the typical homeless individual. While sitting by a creek, he is confronted by a gang of young men who ridicule him and record the encounter for their entertainment. They appear to be influencers of sorts, and they jump him, beating him badly while he does nothing to fight back. He seems weak and docile, but as the film progresses, he starts to undergo a transformation after they severely injure him.
The film is quite dark and explores the Irish underworld in Dublin. The main character, Danny, played by Luke McQuillan, is a retired war veteran struggling with PTSD. Haunted by an incident involving his son—which is never fully explained—Danny is desperately trying to regain partial custody from his child’s mother, but his approach is misguided. He sneaks into their old house and shows up unannounced. Longing to reunite with his family, he is unable to cope with reality and suffers from mental illness. Although he is good-looking and evokes sympathy, he struggles with even the simplest tasks.
In the woods, he meets a young teenager named Will, played by Daniel Fee. Will is hiding from a crime lord named Power, played by Aidan Gillen, to whom he owes money. Danny tries to help the boy, but Will’s situation is far more complicated than he anticipated, and Danny ultimately takes on more than he can handle.
Directed by Mark O’Connor, known for “Cardboard Gangsters,” and co-written by O’Connor and McQuillan, “AMONGST THE WOLVES” is set to captivate American audiences when it hits theaters on Friday, July 11th. The film will premiere in select theaters in Los Angeles, Orlando, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago, and it will also be available on all major VOD platforms. Released earlier this year in Ireland and the U.K. to critical acclaim, “AMONGST THE WOLVES” promises powerful storytelling, blending high-stakes tension with emotional depth and visceral performances. Its unflinching portrayal of life on the margins makes it a bold and unforgettable entry in the Irish crime genre.
Trailer:
