Review of A Prayer for the Dying (1987) by Stephen C — 12 Mar 2012
Even average Mike Hodges is better than some directors can manage their whole career and if we are led to believe the film was messed about with after Hodges completed it and the rumour is his cut is miles better.
As it stands the miscasting (Hoskins as a priest!!!!!!!!!!!!) and Rourkes strange accent hamper the film and stop it from being an interesting comment on the torment caused by one killers mistake.
When Rourke kills a bus load of School kids in Northen Ireland ,he flees to London and tries to stay undercover .
This doesnt last as sadistic London gangster Jack Meehan puts him to work.
This leads to Hoskins witnessing Rourke offing a guy in his church and the film leads to a climax on the church roof.
Hodges does have some interesting points but Bill Contis score wrecks the films drive and Liam Neeson who plays Rourkes friend would have been better as the lead.
That said you do get a nasty performance from Alan Bates as Meehan and Bob Hoskins does get to stove someones head in with a dustbin lid,so all is not lost but it should have been a lot better if it had been as Hodges intended.
This review of A Prayer for the Dying (1987) was written by Stephen C on 12 Mar 2012.
A Prayer for the Dying has generally received mixed reviews.
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