'71

Empire by

The villainy is, perhaps unavoidably, somewhat signposted, but this is a tense, gripping thriller that combines real-world relevance with high-concept entertainment. In a superb ensemble, O’Connell is outstanding.

The Guardian by Andrew Pulver

It's a film that holds you in a vice-like grip throughout; only wavering towards the end with a faintly preposterous climactic shootout.

CineVue by Ben Nicholson

'71 is a pulse-raising actioner that stumbles a little in navigating the typically hazardous political terrain.

Time Out London by Dave Calhoun

Demange is a strong storyteller and masks the script’s tendency to nod to every opinion and social division by offering a masterclass in tension as soon as his dramatic bomb starts ticking.

IndieWire by Eric Kohn

'71 constantly thrills without sensationalizing its surprises. The war-is-hell ethos drives it forward, so that the movie retains its suspense in conjunction with its dour outlook.

Variety by Guy Lodge

A vivid, shivery survival thriller that turns the red-brick residential streets of Belfast into a war zone of unconscionable peril.

Slant Magazine by Kenji Fujishima

It distinguishes itself from Pual Greengrass's films by virtue of its close attention to political and moral ambiguities.

The Hollywood Reporter by Leslie Felperin

This outstanding, muscular feature debut for French-born, British-based director Yann Demange almost never puts a foot wrong, from the softly underplayed performances to the splendidly speckled cinematography and fine-grained period detailing.

Total Film by Matt Glasby

A brutal army thriller that feels like the truth, thanks to take-no-prisoners storytelling and a tell-no-lies performance from Jack O’Connell.

The Telegraph by Tim Robey

The film’s stark realism and bruising impact are enough in themselves, but the risk, and the real artistic payoff, is its bold sensory plunge into this Hadean inferno.