The feature debut of writer/director Jamie Childs,
Jackdaw stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Jack Dawson, a
former soldier and motocross rider who returns to England's North-East
following his mother's death. Taking some work from a local criminal, Jack
finds himself double-crossed and fights for his life over the course of a
deadly night.
The film also stars Jenna Coleman, Thomas Turgoose, Rory McCann, Joe Blakemore, Vivienne
Acheampong
and Leon Harrop.
"We see so many American films set in atmospheric towns that don't tie
themselves to local, kitchen-sink stories," says Childs. "I thought, why don't we do this in Britain? We set out to push the
envelope of what was possible stylistically and tonally in our region. Its
clash of pastoral and industrial worlds is the perfect setting for an
exciting, pulpy chase thriller. I wanted to prove to an up-and-coming wave
of potential filmmakers that we can take advantage of what's right on our
doorstep and still appeal to an international audience."
Jackdaw is in UK cinemas from January 26th, 2024.
Check out the trailer and poster below.
The official synopsis reads:
JACKDAW is an unrelenting action thriller set over the course of a single night against the backdrop of North East England, an area where breath taking coastal landscapes meet the brutality of industry. Jack Dawson, a former motocross champion and army veteran, returns to his hometown to care for his brother after their mother dies. Hoping to start a new life, he takes what could be a life-changing job for an old school friend turned local criminal, Silas. What should have been a straightforward pick-up of a package in the North Sea turns into a nightmare when Jack is double-crossed, and his brother is kidnapped. As he fights for survival and searches for answers, Jack encounters friends and adversaries old and new across a violent night-time odyssey through England’s Northern rust belt.