The Butcher Boy (1997)

Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie ... See full summary »

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writers:

Pat McCabe (novel), Neil Jordan (screenplay),

Stars:

Eamonn Owens, Alan Boyle, Fiona Shaw

10 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eamonn Owens	...	Francie Brady
Sean McGinley	...	Sergeant
Peter Gowen	...	Leddy
Alan Boyle	...	Joe Purcell
Andrew Fullerton	...	Phillip Nugent
Fiona Shaw	...	Mrs. Nugent
Aisling O'Sullivan	...	Ma Brady
Stephen Rea	...	Da Brady
John Kavanagh	...	Dr. Boyd
Rosaleen Linehan	...	Mrs. Canning
Anita Reeves	...	Mrs. Coyle
Gina Moxley	...	Mary
Niall Buggy	...	Father Dom
Ian Hart	...	Uncle Alo
Anne O'Neill	...	Mrs. McGlone

Storyline

Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie to grow up are immense. When his mother eventually commits suicide and Joe goes off to boarding school, Francie sinks ever deeper into paranoia directed mainly against Mrs. Nugent, a nasty neighbor, and fantasy where he has visions of the Virgin Mary. After his father dies Fancie's condition worsens, his behavior becomes more bizarre and erratic culminating in the extremely bloody murder of Mrs. Nugent whom he holds responsible for all the wrongs visited upon him. The authorities arrest Francie and commit him to an asylum in an attempt to cure him.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | virgin mary | asylum | murder | vision | 

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Taglines:

This little piggy laughed all the way home!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1998 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

A kis véreskezű

Filming Locations:

Monaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$135,606 (USA) (3 April 1998)

Gross:

$1,822,193 (USA) (5 June 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Geffen Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital (5.1 surround) SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stephen Rea is credited as only playing Pa in the film but also plays the adult Francie uncredited.

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Quotes

Francie Brady: [to Jimmy the Skite] Feck off, you round tub of Guinness!

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Connections

Features The Brain from Planet Arous (1957)

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Soundtracks

"NUTROCKER"
Written by Kim Fowley
Ardmore & Beechwood Ltd.
Performed by B. Bumble & The Stingers
Courtesy of Janus Records, Inc.
By Arrangement with Celebrity Licensing Inc.

User Reviews

Brilliant. Simply, brilliant.

Just caught this movie on cable; I hadn't heard of it before.

It is a brilliant film; black comedy of the blackest sort. What is truly amazing is the acting ability of lead Eamonn Owens; in my mind the finest performance of a kid his age that I've ever seen.

The sardonic humor of this film, the way it treats such horrible things as lightly as it does, the acting, the script, the quaint narrative devices, and sense of menace cloaked in charming small town Irish life make this a thoroughly original and engaging character study.

Sinead O'Connor is a scream as the Virgin Mary.

The thick accents in this film make it a little bit difficult to follow in parts, but American audiences should still be able to understand most of the dialogue.

I cannot recommend this film highly enough; it is proof that you can still make a quality movie without buying into cheap Hollywood cliches.