Liam Neeson's thriller climbs Netflix charts despite critical backlash

Liam Neeson's latest flick has just dropped on Netflix for UK and Ireland viewers, and it's going down a hit. In the Land of Saints and Sinners, set in Ireland, features well-known Irish actors such as Kerry Condon, Colm Meaney, and Ciaran Hinds.

This film revolves around former hitman Finbar Murphy, portrayed by Neeson, who strives to escape his violent history in a tranquil Irish coastal hamlet. As he endeavors to distance himself from The Troubles of the 1970s in Ireland, fate has other plans.

Neeson's character becomes entangled in a perilous chase after finding out that a dubious new villager has been mistreating a young local girl.

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Drawing from his own past growing up amidst conflict, Neeson's performance mirrors his experiences for this Netflix feature on The Troubles era.

It's reported that after a frank discussion with a priest, Neeson swore off church for good. The pivotal decision for his character is whether to defend his village while risking revealing his dark past.

Upon initial release, the movie received its share of criticism, yet it has surged in popularity on Netflix. Having premiered at the Venice Film Festival back in September, it's now widely accessible for cozy home viewing.

Opinions were mixed upon the film's debut, with several reviews slamming its cliched representation of Irish culture.

As stated by The Hollywood Reporter: "The paddywhackery's as thick as the Oirish brogues and flavorful caricatures in Robert Lorenz's In the Land of Saints and Sinners."

"Not since the merry blarney of Wild Mountain Thyme has a movie leaned so hard into Emerald Isle stereotypes, which makes it remarkable that Liam Neeson as a pipe-smoking, Dostoevsky-reading assassin manages to play it straight."

Meanwhile, Screen Daily said: "For some, that film was a little too bleak and the humor a bit too black: The Land Of Saints And Sinners will be the more palatable Irish thriller for those in that market. And Neeson looks as strong as ever in the 'big lad' role: he's 71, and signs are that he will just keep on sinning as long as there is a child in distress."