God’s Creatures

Aileen is delighted when her son Brian unexpectedly returns to their remote Irish coastal village after he made a sudden departure to Australia several years ago. But there is underlying unease to Brian. He’s evasive about discussing his time away, and has decided to restart the family oyster business, something Aileen knows he doesn’t enjoy.

Aileen starts to wonder why Brian left. His return adds tension to their fraught family home as well as an already precariously edgy community. These all veer towards a breaking point when a local woman accuses Brian of a sexual crime, and Aileen must decide where her loyalties lie.

Featuring impressive performances from Emily Watson and Paul Mescal, this dark and tense drama slowly draws out an intricate and complicated exploration of the tensions in a mother-son relationship, building to a powerful climax.

“It’s bleak and understated, but strong performances and a thorny moral maze give this considerable power despite the gloomy skies.” Empire

“A tough story, told with conviction.” The Guardian

“A sharp-edged acting showcase and a devastating exploration of how justice and love do, and don’t, exist alongside one another.” Vox

15: strong language, sexual violence references, domestic abuse