Vertical is pleased to announce the UK & Ireland cinema release of writer/director Padraic McKinley’s acclaimed feature film debut The Weight starring BAFTA Award and five-time Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke, BAFTA Award and Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe, Julia Jones, Austin Amelio, Avi Nash and Sam Hazeldine. The tense, atmospheric crime drama releases in cinemas nationwide on Friday, October 2nd.
When Samuel (Hawke) is torn from his daughter and sent to a brutal prison, Warden Clancy (Crowe) offers a high-stakes proposition: smuggle gold out of a remote mine with a dangerous crew of prisoners and he’ll win his freedom. But as the group journeys into the unforgiving wilderness, the real threat isn’t the terrain – it’s the betrayal and violence festering within their ranks. Surrounded by greed, suspicion, and danger, Samuel must risk everything to reunite with his child.
Padraic McKinley’s tense, atmospheric Depression-era crime drama follows a group of desperate convicts on a perilous journey through a physically and morally treacherous backcountry. The film draws on the introspective action cinema of the 1970s, combining gritty survivalist set pieces with uncommonly intelligent dialogue and finely drawn characters. Although rich with period detail, The Weight is charged with elemental energy, fueled by brothers Latham and Shelby Gaines’ harrowing score and Matteo Cocco’s vivid cinematography. Ethan Hawke gives a muscular performance as the film’s reluctant but resourceful hero, while Russell Crowe is quietly menacing as his foil. Julia Jones brings dignity and defiance to her role as Anna, the sole woman in the group.
Story by Matthew Booi, Leo Scherman and Matthew Chapman, The Weight received its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in 2026, where it was met with critical acclaim. The film will be released in US cinemas on September 18th.
