This film is set in Belfast in the 1970s. The title speaks truly and thoroughly about its events which evolve with drastic and attention-grabbing tension. It is directed by Robert Lorenz, and written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane. The writing is subtle in portraying a vast landscape of bad judgment and good intentions. In the Land of Saints and Sinners is a story of a man seeking redemption. However, that concept comes with a challenge with an array of bad choices throughout one’s life.

Liam Neeson plays Finbar Murphy. Finbar is a man who kills bad people and buries them in a secluded forest. If anyone has done a bad deed, he makes sure that they suffer…quietly. He is determined to find peace in his life and disregards this behavior. That is not as easy as it seems. Ciaran Hinds plays Vincent O’Shea, a police officer that has a close friendship with Finbar. He does not know about Finbar’s secret side of being a killer of bad people. Kerry Condon plays Doireann McCann, an individual with a bad vibe throughout the Irish village. Finbar realizes there are signs of abuse of a young girl. This puts Finbar in the mode to make the abusers suffer. The bad characters (associated with Doireann) are Curtis June (played Desmond Eastwood), Seamus McKenna (played by Seamus O’Hara), and Conan McGrath (played by Conor MacNeill). There may be a line up of thugs, but the viciousness of Finbar does not stop him from finding redemption. With the help of a friend named Kevin Lynch (played by Jack Gleeson), they both work together to put an end to the tormenting behavior that lurks in the Irish village.

With Neeson in his role as a hero, this is one of those where he is saving someone from a political and detrimental tide that also has culture tied to it. There are frequent classy moments of Finbar smoking his pipe and having a fascination for planting. The planting expertise links to his organized killings though. He is a man with a harsh life determined to take down harsher people in this Irish village. This setting may seem predictable, but has hidden gems that evolve over time.

Through the vast landscapes of Ireland, its writing creates meaning in terms of its setting. Whenever Finbar goes to his hidden graveyard with an individual it means that a consequence is about to happen. Whenever Finbar goes to an Irish pub, it means that there is an unlikely moment of torment bound to happen. The tension keeps building amongst the thinking of revenge for its audience in a spectacular aspect—someone will have a price to pay. The question though is one of Finbar being able to move on with his life after accomplishing what must be done for those who he truly cares about. Does Vincent truly know what kind of activities Finbar is into in his spare time? How dangerous is the gang for Finbar? Can his sidekick Kevin be a big help for his detrimental actions? The vibe of bad attitude in this film stirs with compelling thoughts. The Irish setting boils to the breaking point. A crime-thriller with meaning where consequences make their mark. Three out of four stars.