Part survival story, part thriller, The Weight is a slow-burn movie that keeps you guessing the whole way through. Set during the 1930s Great Depression, it builds a tense, uneasy atmosphere that reels you in.
The story begins with single dad Samuel (Ethan Hawke) landing himself in a prison camp, separated from his young daughter, Penny (Avy Berry). Desperate to get back to her, Samuel takes a high-stakes deal from the shady prison warden, Clancy (Russell Crowe): successfully empty the loot of a remote gold mine deep in the wilderness with a motley crew of convicts and he’ll be a free man. The brutal wilderness is the least of his worries—fighting against the greed and desperation that creeps in among the men is the true test.
Hawke plays Samuel with a quiet, exhausted desperation, keeping the character’s angst just brimming beneath the surface. The tension it creates is menacing and engages you until the very end.
The Weight is a solid, gripping watch with great performances and plenty of heart.
The Weight opens in cinemas nationally this Thursday 17 September. Check your local guides for screening times.
About The Weight
Rating: MA 15+
Duration: 115 mins
Directed by: Padraic McKinley
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Russell Crowe, Julia Jones, Avy Berry, Austin Amelio, Avi Nash
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