Brendan Gleeson Stars in ‘Trespass Against Us’

Feb 11, 2017

Posted by: Dawn Johnson

Films, Gleeson, HP Cast, Movies, News, Trailers

Brendan Gleeson, well known to Harry Potter fans as the eccentric Mad-Eye Moody, stars as the head of the rag-tag Cutler family in the new film, Trespass Against Us. Gleeson has developed a knack for portraying the authoritative figure who commands attention while often acting unnervingly unpredictably, and here he employs that unusual charisma to lead those around him in a life of crime.

Gleeson plays Colby Cutler, a man whose family bands together in a small caravan outside town, content to wile away their nights with aimless talk and hijinks until necessity forces them to embark on yet another ill-planned criminal enterprise. Michael Fassbender stars as his son, Chad, himself a father of two. Chad is torn between the only life he’s known and the desire to finally break away from the rut in which he’s entrenched. But Colby just can’t have that.

The film, directed by first-timer Adam Smith, seems to steer it’s way through too many car chases and an uneven plot. But what does hold the viewers’ attention is the central relationship, the tension between Chad and Colby. And Gleeson is the true thief here, stealing every scene he’s in.

The Sydney Morning Herald describes his performance as follows:

“[His] wily, manipulative influence powers the film…Gleeson’s command of his role is so convincing and his inventory of Colby’s odious ploys so imaginatively arranged that you can’t look away.”

The Film Stage adds its praise for Gleeson’s contribution to the crime drama, hitting on its strengths:

“If there is anything here that works in the storytelling department it’s the moments involving the ramshackle Cutlers lying about, messing around, sitting by fires, and waiting for nothing. Chief to the occasional successes of these scenes is the physically overwhelming, emotionally overbearing presence of Gleeson’s Colby. The larger than life character needed the actor’s authoritative voice and narrow- eyed paranoia. It also needed Gleeson’s inimitable charm, a facet that’s most evident in his sweet scenes with Chad’s son Tyson.”

Whatever is lackluster about this film debut, it is not Gleeson, who shines. Trespass Against Us opened in limited release in the U.S. on January 20th. It is set to release in UK theaters March 3rd.

To read the full review from the Sydney Morning Herald, click here. For the full Film Stage review, click here. View the official trailer below!





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.