--- title: "Tyrannosaur" year: 2011 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/tyrannosaur" fi1m_score: 81 critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 21 published: "2026-09-16T13:21:55.823071+00:00" updated: "2026-09-16T13:22:08.940534+00:00" region: "US" 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." --- # Tyrannosaur (2011) Directed by Paddy Considine · 1h 27m · MPA NR · Drama, Romance **Fi1m score: 81** · Critics 74 from 21 reviews *In a sentence:* Peter Mullan makes accepting kindness look harder than starting a fight > Paddy Considine’s harsh drama is worth the discomfort for Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman, who make its damaged people matter. The repeated brutality can feel forced, but the connection between them convinces us. ## Synopsis In a Yorkshire town, Joseph (Peter Mullan) drinks, loses his temper and struggles to control his violent impulses. He finds an unexpected connection with Hannah (Olivia Colman), whose willingness to listen gives him a chance to behave differently. James (Eddie Marsan) is part of the damaged relationships around them, where abuse reaches beyond Joseph’s outbursts. Joseph wants contact with another person, but his anger keeps threatening to turn that contact into another confrontation. Getting close to Hannah means trying to accept kindness and keep himself from doing harm, while neither can readily escape the violence shaping their lives. ## Review Paddy Considine’s *Tyrannosaur* is a harsh, moving drama whose actors give us good reason to endure it. Joseph (Peter Mullan) is a man whose anger keeps finding someone to hurt, and Considine does not soften him simply because he is the lead. The film asks us to spend time with someone we would be sensible to avoid. It earns that attention, although the repeated brutality sometimes makes its point too insistently. Joseph’s drinking and violence could easily leave Mullan with nothing to do except shout. Instead, he makes the effort of holding back almost as troubling as the loss of control, so that we keep watching for anger even when Joseph is trying to be civil. We were frightened by him in his exchanges with Hannah, because the wish for company never quite removes the possibility of harm. Mullan lets us see how lonely Joseph is without asking us to excuse his behaviour. Olivia Colman gives Hannah a kindness that does not make her seem endlessly patient. Her connection with Joseph is convincing because Colman suggests a life beyond the task of helping him, and keeps us interested in what Hannah needs from it. Together, they make the awkward business of accepting another person’s company worth watching. Eddie Marsan gives James an ugliness that is difficult to sit with, though Considine’s writing allows him less breadth than it gives the central pair. Erik Wilson’s cinematography uses subdued colours and steady framing, giving us time to watch the actors without making every troubled moment look like a crisis. That restraint works: the performances have enough force without the camera competing with them. Simon Rogers’s production design sits comfortably within this plain treatment of the Yorkshire setting. The surroundings feel inhabited, and do not keep asking us to admire how convincingly they have been made to look bleak. Pia Di Ciaula’s editing gives the performances time to register without making the film’s 87 minutes feel padded. There is enough room for us to become uncomfortable with Joseph rather than simply react to his next outburst. The music by Chris Baldwin and Dan Baker is less persuasive when it presses for tenderness that the actors have already earned. Those nudges are unnecessary in a film where a difficult conversation can hold our attention on its own. The larger difficulty is Considine’s insistence on adding to the suffering. There are stretches where another humiliation tells us little that we have not understood already, and the writing could afford to let the existing hurt settle. Sometimes the gentleness feels too carefully placed to compensate for the punishment around it. Colman and Mullan keep the people believable, but the film does not always trust them to be enough. The familiar danger for a British realist drama this bleak is that suffering becomes the main reason we are expected to care. Considine comes close to that, but his actors give us particular people to worry about, rather than simply a succession of injuries. The quieter exchanges are absorbing enough to make us wish he had allowed himself more of them. Choose it for Mullan and Colman, but allow for the violence; the short running time does not promise an easy evening. *Fi1m score 81, published 16 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Tyrannosaur a punishing but compassionate drama, with praise centred on Paddy Considine’s assured direction and the performances of Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman. Colman receives particular attention for making Hannah’s suffering affecting, while Mullan earns praise for giving depth to a man struggling with violent instincts. The favourable reviews argue that careful character work and moments of human connection keep the film from becoming an exercise in misery. Several also admire the restrained visual approach to such volatile material. The spread is wide, though positive reviews dominate. Reservations concern the accumulation of brutality and whether the film earns its moments of hope; even some admirers find it excessive or sentimental. Slant Magazine sees manipulation where others find emotional force, while IndieWire disputes the claim that Considine escapes familiar working-class miserablism. Collider offers a harsher dissent, finding little purpose in the violence despite the actors’ efforts. ### Reviews we read (21) - **Radio Times** (5/5): British actor Paddy Considine's directorial debut is a bleak but brilliant tale that would rival Gary Oldman's Nil by Mouth for grimness. The critic singles out Olivia Colman’s terrific, powerhouse performance as the standout. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-cbx90q/tyrannosaur/) - **Screen Daily** (90/100, inferred): Paddy Considine makes a powerful and intense directorial debut with this hard and at times harrowing though ultimately redemptive story. The critic singles out the outstanding performances by Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman as driving the thoughtful, uncompromising film. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/tyrannosaur/5022613.article) - **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (A-): The review commends the film for avoiding clichés of British working-class miserablism through deep character work and strong performances, particularly from Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman. It highlights Considine's confident direction that balances bleakness with slivers of hope and human connection. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/tyrannosaur-1798170521) - **The Guardian** (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's powerful, painful dissection of rage, violence, abuse and dysfunctional relationships, noting it avoids miserablist clichés through visceral storytelling and strong performances. It highlights the excellent work by Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman and Eddie Marsan as creating a compelling human drama and calls the film an impressive directorial debut from Considine. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/oct/06/tyrannosaur-film-review) - **Empire**, Kim Newman (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a gripping character study of psychological damage and redemption, highlighting Peter Mullan's powerful performance as a man fighting his violent instincts and Olivia Colman's career-making turn. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/tyrannosaur-review/) - **Little White Lies**, Matt Bochenski (4/4/3): Tyrannosaur is a hugely confident and accomplished debut from Paddy Considine, vivid, bruising and electrifying. The critic praises the restrained assurance of the direction and the raw emotional power but notes a sentimental undertone that some may question. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/tyrannosaur) - **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (80/100, inferred): This is a punishing, battering story of two broken lives that leaves viewers exhausted, but its searing writing-directing debut and wrenching performances from Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman make the ordeal worthwhile. The almost documentary style and muted palette deepen the tragedies of damaged people seeking connection. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-nov-18-la-et-tyrannosaur-20111118-story.html) - **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (80/100, inferred): The film centers on damaged, angry men in a cycle of violence and drinking, with Joseph as a flawed protector figure. It offers no easy redemption or message, only raw reality of wounded personalities, powered by Peter Mullan's muscular, unrelenting lead performance. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tyrannosaur-2011) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (80/100, inferred): The review praises the intense exploration of violence and its corrosive effects, highlighting Peter Mullan's terrifying yet morally centered performance and the credible bond with Olivia Colman's character. It notes that the emotional arc is rich and earned, leaving viewers shaken but with a whisper of atonement. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/sundance-review-peter-mullan-packs-94189/) - **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (75/100, inferred): The debut feature is a grim, intense drama of violence, abuse and unlikely connections in a Yorkshire town, with Peter Mullan giving a granitic performance as the volatile Joseph. It observes the bleak lives of its characters with a still, composed style that underscores their emotional turbulence. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/movies/tyrannosaur-with-peter-mullan-review.html) - **Variety**, Charles Gant (75/100, inferred): Paddy Considine's strong feature debut recycles his short film's setup for a gritty tale of rage, pain and refuge, with fine performances from Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman and Eddie Marsan that suggest deep interior lives. It favors situation over story but delivers a satisfying narrative payoff amid the grimness. [Read](https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/tyrannosaur-1117944334/) - **Sight and Sound**, Trevor Johnston (70/100, inferred): Paddy Considine’s sober, composed treatment of masculine violence and self-destruction marks an auspicious debut feature. The critic singles out Olivia Colman’s brave, affecting performance as the standout element that draws viewers in. [Read](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/6503) - **Time Out** (3/5): With this impassioned and unrelentingly bleak directorial debut, Paddy Considine reveals himself as a strong director of actors. The critic singles out Olivia Colman’s astonishing turn as Hannah for special praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/tyrannosaur) - **Slant Magazine**, Simon Abrams (45/100, inferred): The review acknowledges the effective intensity of some violent scenes and the film's sympathy for flawed characters but criticizes its over-the-top brutality and manipulative approach that prevents emotional complexity. It finds the drama crude and sensationalized despite moments of truth about inescapable rage. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/tyrannosaur/) - **IndieWire**, Erik McClanahan (40/100, inferred): The review describes the film as an uneven portrait of a damaged man, noting strong performances but criticizing its failure to convincingly justify a pessimistic worldview on gender and class violence. It finds the working-class miserablism conventional and the redemptive turn unconvincing. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general/viff-11-paddy-considines-directorial-debut-tyrannosaur-an-uneven-portrait-of-a-damaged-man-115727/) - **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (4/5): The critic calls it a harrowing yet brilliantly made debut in the tradition of downbeat British realist dramas, praising its sharp writing, confident direction, and standout performances from Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/tyrannosaur-review/) - **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (4/5): Considine's debut is a grim, visceral tale of damaged souls and unrelenting violence that occasionally wallows too much in brutality. The towering performances, especially from Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman, make it worth seeing. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/tyrannosaur-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) - **The Skinny**, Philip Concannon (★★★★): The critic notes the film's initial suffocating bleakness but highlights its deep compassion, harsh beauty, and the revelatory, emotionally powerful performances by Colman and Mullan that make it more than mere misery. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/tyrannosaur) - **Paste**, David Roark (6.5): The film is a gritty, difficult story of human violence with glimmers of hope; praises the powerful performances by Mullan and Colman that make the characters relatable despite the bleakness. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/tyrannosaur) - **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (70/100, inferred): The film centers on perseverance amid brutality and damaged relationships in a tough Yorkshire setting, with strong turns from Mullan and especially Colman providing the emotional core. It occasionally doubles up on tragedy in its third act. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-tyrannosaur-gets-to-the-heart-of-perseverance-in-the-face-of-brutality-20111117/) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (D): The critic finds the film grim and brutal without purpose, with strong performances but flat characters and a predictable, annoying narrative. Praises the actors' efforts but complains about the overcooked violence and lack of meaningful story. [Read](https://collider.com/tyrannosaur-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Paddy Considine - **Director:** Paddy Considine - **Writer:** Paddy Considine - **Cinematography:** Erik Wilson - **Editor:** Pia Di Ciaula - **Music:** Chris Baldwin, Dan Baker - **Production design:** Simon Rogers - **Costume design:** Lance Milligan - **Producer:** Diarmid Scrimshaw - **Cast:** Peter Mullan as Joseph; Olivia Colman as Hannah; Eddie Marsan as James; Ned Dennehy as Tommy; Samuel Bottomley as Samuel; Paul Popplewell as Bod; Sally Carman as Marie; Sian Breckin as Kelly - **Runtime:** 1h 27m - **Certificate (MPA):** NR - **Release (the US):** 18 November 2011 - **Genres:** Drama, Romance - **Budget:** $750,000 - **Box office:** $676,111 - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvyqXFmV-LI ## Where to watch in the US - Tubi: free, hd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $5.99, sd - Apple TV: buy $5.99, sd *Checked 2026-09-16.* Also available in: AT, AU, BE, CH, DE, ES, FR, GB, IE, NZ, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - BAFTA Film Awards 2012: Best Newcomer (won) - Independent Spirit Awards 2012: Best Foreign Film (nominated) - British Independent Film Awards 2011: Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film (nominated); Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best British Independent Film (won); Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film (won) - Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay 2011: Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay (nominated) - Sundance World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic 2011: Sundance World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic (won) - Sundance World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Acting 2011: Sundance World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Acting (won) ## If you liked this - *Nil by Mouth* (1997), Fi1m 87: Another bruising account of domestic violence, with compassion that never excuses it. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/nil-by-mouth.md) - *A Woman Under the Influence* (1974): Domestic distress made painfully immediate by performances that resist easy judgement. - *Rosetta* (1999): A young woman’s fight for work, filmed with comparable pressure and compassion. - *Maborosi* (1995): For the grief and human connection, with far more room to breathe. - *The Selfish Giant* (2013): A harsh account of two boys’ friendship, attentive to affection as well as anger. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/tyrannosaur