A Prayer Before Dawn (film)

Billy Moore, a young British boxer and troubled ya ba addict, is arrested in Thailand and charged with possession of stolen goods and a firearm. Incarcerated into Chiang Mai prison, he is quickly subjugated to the horrors of Thai prison life, including being moved into a crowded mass cell ruled by cell boss Keng, forced to sleep next to a corpse and witnessing at knifepoint the rape of a fellow inmate. Billy’s experiences with the other prisoners and personnel are tense, at one point going into a violent frenzy and biting into the neck of a prison guard after being refused painkillers. Following his punishment, he befriends transgender prisoner Fame. Life in prison worsens for Billy, and he retreats into heavy ya ba abuse; he subsequently beats two Muslim chefs half to death after being bribed by a corrupt prison guard.

Billy’s psyche finally breaks and he attempts suicide by slitting his wrist, though he survives. With a desperate need to fight again and battle his demons, he eventually joins the boxing team with the help of Fame, whom he later develops a romance with. Billy quickly adapts to the art of Muay Thai kickboxing and is able to win his first bout. Impressed by his performance, prison warden Officer Preecha has him transferred into the boxing team cell, with him being the first foreigner to compete in the national Muay Thai tournament and represent the prison. There he soon develops a comradery with the other boxers, receiving a tattoo on his back. However, he is ambushed by Keng and his gang, who threaten him with a pin prick attack if he loses the tournament. Even worse, it is established that Billy is suffering from hernia due to his drug abuse, and any subsequent damage could result in serious internal bleeding. Regardless, he still desires to compete. The resulting match is grueling for Billy, as he takes multiple shots to his stomach and is also fouled by his opponent. However, using what he learnt, he manages to knock his opponent out with a spinning back elbow and wins the fight. Despite the victory, the physical trauma is too much, and Billy ends up vomiting blood and passing out.

Billy is quickly rushed to hospital, and after waking up, he sneaks out of the building and into the cityscape. Billy soon reconsiders his actions and returns back to the hospital. After being transferred, he reunites with his father, where the two exchange a solemn smile.

• Joe Cole as Billy Moore
• Pornchanok Mabklang as Fame
• Panya Yimmumphai as Keng
• Somluck Kamsing as Trainer
• Vithaya Pansringarm as Officer Preecha
• Billy Moore as Billy's Father

In October 2014, it was announced Charlie Hunnam would star in the film, with Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire directing from a screenplay written by Jonathan Hirschbein and Nick Saltrese, based upon a memoir written by Billy Moore. Rita Dagher, Sol Papadopoulos, and Roy Boutler will serve as producers on their Senorita Films banner, alongside HanWay Films.[5] In October 2015, Joe Cole joined the cast of the film, replacing Hunnam.[6]

A Prayer Before Dawn: A Nightmare in Thailand was first published in 2014 by Maverick House, Dublin, Ireland. In February 2017, A24 acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[7] In April 2017, Altitude Film Distribution acquired U.K. distribution rights to the film.[8] The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2017.[9][10] It went onto screen at South by Southwest on 12 March 2018.[11]

It was released in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2018,[12] and in the United States through DirecTV Cinema on 12 July 2018, before being released in a limited release on 10 August 2018.[13][14]

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 92% based on 61 reviews, and an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "A Prayer Before Dawn is far from an easy watch, but this harrowing prison odyssey delivers rich rewards — led by an outstanding central performance from Joe Cole."[15] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]

• A Prayer Before Dawn on IMDb