Tyrannosaur (2011)
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A grieving widower and a woman escaping domestic abuse form an unlikely bond in a gritty northern English town.
The story
Joseph, a middle-aged widower in northern England, finds himself spiraling into a series of violent outbursts, including the killing of his dog and the assault of several men. Seeking refuge from his own rage, he hides in a charity shop where he meets Hannah, a devout Christian and the store's owner. Despite his initial hostility and mockery of her faith, Hannah offers him kindness and prayer. As Joseph navigates his grief and volatile temper, he encounters Hannah's own domestic struggles with her abusive husband, James, leading to a complex dynamic of mutual support and shared trauma.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Joseph, a middle-aged widower in northern England, kills his dog in a drunken rage and assaults several people in a pub. He seeks refuge in a charity shop owned by Hannah, a devout Christian who treats him with kindness despite his insults. Joseph reveals his late wife's nickname, 'Tyrannosaur,' and his deep regret over his past behavior. Meanwhile, Hannah suffers severe abuse at the hands of her husband, James. After James violently assaults her, she moves in with Joseph. After attending a friend's funeral, Joseph discovers James's bloodied corpse in Hannah's home. Hannah confesses to killing James to escape years of rape and abuse. A year later, Joseph reflects on their bond, having dealt with a local child's predatory dog. In the epilogue, Joseph visits Hannah in prison, where they embrace before he walks away alone.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paddy Considine
- Writers
- Paddy Considine · writer
- Cast and characters
- Peter Mullan · Joseph; Olivia Colman · Hannah; Eddie Marsan · James; Paul Popplewell; Sally Carman
- Genres
- drama; crime
- Themes
- redemption; domestic violence; rage; grief
- Tone and mood
- brutal; visceral; gripping; miserablist
- Premise and plot tags
- British crime drama; rape and revenge; domestic violence; independent film
- Source material / true-story basis
- Dog Altogether (short film)
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews, being described as a brutal but rewarding story of redemption and a visceral dissection of abuse. It was praised for its performances and gripping character study.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 83% · review count: 88; Metacritic · score: 65 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actress · Annual Kermode Awards · win
- Production trivia
- The film's title is a metaphor revealed in the movie.; The film depicts an environment similar to Considine's upbringing on a council estate in the Midlands.; The Manners Estate is named after the parish where Considine grew up.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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