A Prayer For The Dying (1987)

63% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
50% of users liked it
(2,606 ratings)

A man struggling to escape the political unrest of Northern Ireland finds that his violent past still follows him in this drama. Martin Fallon (Mickey Rourke) is a terrorist with the Irish Republican Army who, while attempting to blow up a British military transport, accidentally bombs a bus full of… More A man struggling to escape the political unrest of Northern Ireland finds that his violent past still follows him in this drama. Martin Fallon (Mickey Rourke) is a terrorist with the Irish Republican Army who, while attempting to blow up a British military transport, accidentally bombs a bus full of schoolchildren. The incident haunts Fallon, who decides to quit the IRA and escape to London. Fallon wants to relocate to America, but he lacks a passport, and his criminal past would prevent him from getting one. Jack Meehan (Alan Bates), a British gangster who knows about Fallon's past, offers him a deal -- he can get Fallon the papers and the cash to go to America, but in return he must kill a man. A priest, Father De Costa (Bob Hoskins), witnesses Fallon committing the murder, and Fallon wants to find a way to keep De Costa quiet without putting more blood on his hands. The original director of A Prayer for the Dying, Franc Roddam, left the production midway through shooting due to disputes with the producers, and star Mickey Rourke later attempted to disassociate himself from the film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Mike Hodges
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

In Theaters: Sep 1, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Feb 4, 2003
Studio: Virgin Vision

Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Muses on the difficulty once violent men have in ridding themselves of the mark of Cain.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Tense, Completely original and well-acted.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
"it's in need of salvation"

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

This above average thriller is rife with ludicrous performances and ripe in symbolism, even down to the blind girl Mickey Rourke falls for. Almost worth it for Bob Hoskins as a priest beating someone over the head with a dustbin lid!

Cast

            Mickey Rourke as Martin Fallon

            Bob Hoskins as Father Da Costa

            Alan Bates as Jack Meehan

            Sammi Davis as Anna

            Liam Neeson as Liam Docherty

            Christopher Fulford as Billy

            Alison Doody as Siobhan Donovan

            Camille Coduri as Jenny

            Ian Bartholomew as Kristou

            Mark Lambert as Ainsley

            Cliff Burnett as Varley

            Anthony Head as Rupert

            David Lumsden as Lance

            Leonard Termo as Bonati

            Stanley Beard as Krasko

            Dave Duffy as Publican

            Karl Johnson as Fitzgerald

            Ian McElhinney as Lodger

            Mark Monero as Boy

            Peter Needham as Cemetery Superindentent

            Maurice O'Connell as Miller

            Ken Sharrock as Gaskin

            Alan Talbot as Barman

            Peggy Aitchison as Mrs. Orton

            Robert Hamilton as Husband

            James Saxon as Ellerman

            George Shane as O'Connor

            Margaret Wade as Wife

            Norman Warwick as Priest
See full cast