--- title: "Calvary: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/calvary/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/calvary" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 25 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Calvary (2014): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 25 reviews: 23 positive, 0 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews lean strongly positive, with twenty-three of twenty-five critics recommending the film. Almost all of them begin with Brendan Gleeson, whose performance as a decent priest threatened with murder is called monumental, magnificent or simply the thing holding the film together. Beyond him, most critics praise the way McDonagh’s script moves from small-town black comedy into a serious inquiry into faith and the Church’s legacy of abuse, and several rate it a clear step up from The Guard. The ensemble of eccentric, often grotesque parishioners is widely enjoyed. The reservations cluster on structure and tone. Several critics feel the film tries to do too much, falls between genres, or loses momentum in a middle act that leans on the mystery. Consequence finds it rings true but too loudly. The spread is otherwise narrow, with two outright dissenters: Slant Magazine sees sketches that never add up to a larger point, and Vulture finds the characters cartoonish and the film bludgeoning, while still crediting Gleeson. ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2014. The critic finds the film an exhilarating and angry satirical drama about a good priest facing a deadly threat in a fractured post-Catholic Ireland. He singles out Brendan Gleeson's powerfully charismatic performance as the key element holding the film together. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/10/calvary-review-gleeson-mcdonagh-peter-bradshaw-film-of-the-week) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2014. Festival review. The critic praises McDonagh's nuanced second feature and Gleeson's performance as a priest of profound integrity, noting the film's powerful drama enriched by black comedy and contemplation of faith. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/calvary-sundance-review-672450/) ## The Times Rating *****. 11 April 2014. The review calls Calvary a masterful and emotionally devastating film that seduces with humour before delivering a body-blow and sermon on faith and Ireland's crises. It praises the performance of Brendan Gleeson and the director's deeper exploration of Irish themes. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/calvary-rfpzzmc73d2) ## Total Film — Andrew Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 31 March 2014. Anchored by a sensational performance from Gleeson, this blend of passion play, detective story, rural comedy and inquiry into faith is destined for classic status and a major step up from The Guard. It offers black comedy alongside a serious examination of how compassion and faith interlink in a secular society. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/calvary-review/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2014. Festival review. McDonagh's masterful follow-up to 'The Guard' is a caustic yet contemplative work grounded by Gleeson's monumental performance as a priest facing death. It offers a mordantly funny survey of small-town iniquity that shifts into a deeply felt lament for faith and the Church's legacy of abuse. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/sundance-film-review-calvary-1201065125/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2014. The film is gripping, moving, funny and troubling with an uncompromising yet uncynical finish. It showcases Brendan Gleeson as a standout priest while featuring strong supporting turns from a range of character actors. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/calvary-review/) ## Film Comment — Scout Tafoya Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). The critic describes the film as a mythic passion play with wry twists, strong on biblical imagery and comparisons to Westerns and giallos, anchored by Brendan Gleeson's flawed priest navigating faith, betrayal, and compassion in a cynical Irish town. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/review-calvary-john-michael-mcdonagh/) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/4/5. 10 April 2014. The review hails the film as one of the year's best, commending its sensitivity, even-handedness, and Gleeson's monumental central performance. It singles out the nuanced handling of religious themes and the strong ensemble of eccentric yet humane side characters. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/calvary) ## Los Angeles Times — Mark Olsen Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2014. The film is a surprising, serious-minded yet lightly comedic rumination on life, death, faith and community that builds moral gravity through its episodic structure. Brendan Gleeson's compelling presence as the priest anchors the story of a threatened clergyman navigating his troubled flock. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-calvary-review-20140801-story.html) ## Sight and Sound — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2014. The critic praises the film as a serious examination of faith and uncertainty, highlighting Brendan Gleeson's powerful performance as the priest. It notes the film's blend of black comedy and moral inquiry, calling it an audacious advance with genuine philosophical substance. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-calvary) ## Time Out — Cath Clarke Rating 4/5. 9 April 2014. The critic describes the film as a wickedly funny black comedy with heart and intelligence, praising its gallows humour and shaggy-dog mystery structure. It highlights Brendan Gleeson's compelling presence as the priest and the brilliant comic turns from the Irish cast. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/calvary) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2014. The film is worth seeing as a statement about faith and integrity in the Catholic Church after the abuse scandals, though it falls between genres and is not wholly convincing. Brendan Gleeson delivers a massive, treat-to-watch presence as the good priest facing trials from a gallery of grotesques. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/calvary-review-brendan-gleeson-is-a-massive-presence-and-a-treat-to-watch-9252052.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Glenn Kenny Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2014. The film is a darkly comic, absurdist allegory about forgiveness and faith centered on a week in the life of a beleaguered Irish priest. Gleeson's magnificent performance and McDonagh's sharp dialogue are singled out for praise, though the reviewer notes a couple of risks that do not entirely pay off. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/calvary-2014) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2014. Festival review. The review calls it a rich character drama that is eloquent and despairing, grounded by Brendan Gleeson's fine lead performance. It notes the film's philosophical ruminations on faith and human decency but flags potential challenges in tone and marketability. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/calvary/5065533.article) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2014. McDonagh's mordantly funny murder mystery follows a good priest marked for death by a parishioner seeking revenge on the Catholic Church. The stark Irish landscapes and the ensemble of eccentric, often repulsive characters are highlighted as key elements. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/01/movies/calvary-john-michael-mcdonaghs-murder-mystery.html) ## Slant Magazine — Jaime N. Christley Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2014. The film frustrates as much as it entertains; McDonagh fails to craft a larger philosophical gesture from the sketches, leaving the viewer mildly insulted by its presumptuous attitude. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/calvary/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2014. The critic finds the film bludgeoning and offensive, criticizing the quirky performances and cartoonish characters, though acknowledging Gleeson's strong performance. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/08/movie-review-calvary.html) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A-. 1 August 2014. The film is a dark, complex meditation on faith, forgiveness, and reckonings, anchored by Brendan Gleeson's incredible lead performance. It shows the intricacies of religion without becoming pedantic. [Read the review](https://collider.com/calvary-movie-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A-. 30 July 2014. The review lauds the inventive black comedy's masterful control over tone shifts, thematically rich exploration of Catholic Church scandals and existential themes, and Brendan Gleeson's terrific performance in a nuanced role. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-john-michael-mcdonaghs-inventive-masterful-black-comedy-calvary-20140730/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4/5. 11 April 2014. The critic highlights Brendan Gleeson's career-best performance as the priest at the film's heart, noting the darker tone compared to The Guard while praising its intelligent exploration of faith and human darkness, though it loses some momentum midway. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/calvary-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2014. The film is a more measured and moving work than the director's debut, anchored in modern Irish realities with strong performances, especially Gleeson's as an honest priest, blending barbed wit with hope amid themes of sin and virtue. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/calvary-2014-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## HeyUGuys — Stefan Pape Rating 4/5. 20 February 2014. Festival review. The critic praises the film's profound character study of a priest facing death, its Irish wit mixed with philosophical depth on religion and mortality, and Brendan Gleeson's nuanced performance. It marks a triumphant sophomore effort despite being darker than expected. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/calvary-review/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 August 2014. McDonagh's film is a fiery, blunt take on Catholicism and faith that rings true but too loudly at times. Brendan Gleeson's bravura performance as the embattled priest saves it from cynicism and carries the story's emotional weight. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2014/08/film-review-calvary/) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Rating 7/10. 23 January 2014. Festival review. Blends mystery, comedy and philosophy with strong performances but tries to do too much, missing perfect balance; impressive ambitious work. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/530002/brendan-gleeson-and-john-michael-mcdonagh-blend-mystery-and-philosophy-in-calvary-sundance-14-review/) ## Paste — Brent McKnight Rating 8.7. 30 July 2014. Gleeson and McDonagh's collaboration delivers a strong character study of a priest facing a death threat while ministering to a flawed parish. The film offers a philosophical examination of faith that is despondent yet hopeful, though the middle act leans too heavily on mystery. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/calvary) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/calvary.md