Seven Psychopaths (released in theaters on October 12, 2012) fires off an endlessly clever, bloody, and self-reflective barrage of dark humor that deconstructs the Hollywood crime thriller with razor-sharp precision. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, the narrative follows Marty Faranan (Colin Farrell), a struggling Los Angeles screenwriter suffering from severe writer’s block as he tries to finish a script titled Seven Psychopaths.
Marty’s life spirals out of control thanks to his best friend Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell), an unemployed actor who makes a living stealing prized dogs and returning them for reward money alongside his dignified accomplice Hans Kieslowski (Christopher Walken).
Their dognapping scheme hits a deadly snag when Billy steals a beloved Shih Tzu belonging to Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson), a terrifying, unhinged mob boss who will slaughter anyone in his path to recover his pet.
As Charlie and his henchmen hunt the trio down, Marty suddenly finds himself surrounded by real-life killers who fuel his screenplay’s absurd stories.
Billy places a newspaper ad seeking actual psychopaths to share their tales, attracting Zachariah Rigby (Tom Waits), a bunny-carrying former serial killer who hunted other killers alongside his lover decades prior.
Meanwhile, personal relationships crumble under the crossfire, impacting Marty’s frustrated girlfriend Kaya (Abbie Cornish) and Charlie’s glamorously dangerous mistress Angela (Olga Kurylenko).
Trapped in a bleak desert hideout with Billy and Hans, Marty watches helplessly as his companions debate the philosophical ethics of violent cinematic climaxes while real bullets begin to fly.
The escalating standoff forces Marty to confront his own creative voice, realizing that the chaotic violence around him carries deep human grief, guilt, and unexpected heart.
Harry Dean Stanton, Željko Ivanek and Kevin Corrigan round out the supporting cast.
Colin Farrell in Seven Psychopaths (Photo/CBS Films)
Reception for Seven Psychopaths
Seven Psychopaths grossed $4.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing ninth at the box office. The top film was Taken 2, which earned $21.9 million on its second weekend.
The film grossed $29.3 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave Seven Psychopaths three and a half stars in his review.
Legacy
Seven Psychopaths‘ legacy endures as a celebrated cult classic of modern meta-cinema, widely praised for McDonagh’s razor-sharp, Oscar-caliber dialogue and deconstructive narrative structure.
Farrell delivered a wonderfully grounded performance as the exasperated centerpiece, brilliantly supported by an electric, career-highlight comedic turn from Rockwell and a deeply touching, subversively quiet performance by Walken.
Seven Psychopaths is remembered as an extraordinarily smart, wildly entertaining meditation on storytelling, grief, and Hollywood violence.
