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The Nightingale

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Overview

In 1825, Clare, a 21-year-old Irish convict, chases a British soldier through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. She enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.

Media

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The Nightingale - Official Trailer I HD I IFC Films

Cast

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Damon Herriman

Aisling Franciosi

Sam Claflin

Baykali Ganambarr

Director:

Jennifer Kent

Writer:

Lynne Vincent McCarthy, Jennifer Kent

Release Date:

2018-09-23

Run Time:

136m

Tagline:

Her song will not be silenced.

Genres:

Drama Thriller Western

Keywords:

19th century australia australian aboriginal brutality colonization murder racial prejudice rape rape and revenge revenge tasmania woman director

Financials and Popularity

Budget: Not Declared $

Revenue: 855,756.00 $

Vote Average: 7.1/10

Vote Count: 652 Votes

Movie Popularity: 2.2723

Spoken Languages: Irish, English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 30 April 2026 at 5:50 am

9 Based on 1 Votes

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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10 THE SUMMARY Director Jennifer Kent follows up *The Babadook* with a high-quality, unflinching look at the brutality of colonial Tasmania in 1825. Clare (Aisling Franciosi), a young Irish convict, is seeking an honest escape from her life of servitude under the sadistic Lieutenant Hawkins (Sam Claflin). When Hawkins commits a legendary and horrific act of violence against her and her family, Clare sets out into the rugged wilderness to hunt him down. She enlists the help of an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr), a man who is also carrying the weight of his own high-quality trauma. It’s a legendary and punishing story of vengeance and the unexpected bond between two people discarded by the system. THE PROS This earns its 9/10 and "Epic Status" because it is one of the most honest and high-quality portrayals of colonial history ever put to film. Aisling Franciosi is a total winner; her performance is sincere and visceral, capturing a level of raw grief that is absolute quality. Baykali Ganambarr is equally legendary in his film debut, providing a high-quality and nuanced perspective that shifts the movie from a standard revenge flick into a deeper, more sincere exploration of shared pain. The cinematography is a total banger, using a boxed-in 1.37:1 aspect ratio to create a high-quality sense of claustrophobia even in the vast, legendary Tasmanian bush. It hits the 9 mark because it’s a high-quality challenge to the audience, forcing a sincere look at the "Black War" and the systemic cruelty of the era without ever flinching. THE CONS It misses the perfect 10/10 mark only because it is an absolute quality "tough watch" that won't be for everyone. The level of violence is honest and extreme, which might feel like a slow-roller of trauma for some viewers. The pacing in the final act is a touch quality-deficient compared to the tight tension of the first two acts, lingering on the misery a bit longer than necessary. It’s a legendary achievement, but its sheer intensity makes it a sincere "once is enough" shout for many, keeping it just shy of that universal, repeatable 10/10 status. THE VERDICT A 9/10. An epic status masterpiece that is a winner for those who appreciate high-quality, fearless filmmaking. It’s a legendary, sincere, and bruising experience that serves as an honest reckoning with history. While it’s a total banger in terms of craft and acting, be warned—it’s an absolute quality gut-punch that will leave you feeling sincere and shaken long after the credits. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Aspect Ratio: To keep the atmosphere honest and high-quality, Jennifer Kent chose to shoot in a 1.37:1 "Academy" ratio. This legendary choice was meant to make the audience feel as trapped and claustrophobic as the characters, focusing the high-quality framing on their faces rather than the scenery. • Cultural Consultation: To ensure the portrayal of the Aboriginal Palawa people was absolute quality and sincere, the production worked closely with Tasmanian Aboriginal elders. This high-quality collaboration ensured the language and customs shown were legendary and honest to the era. • Claflin’s Villainy: Sam Claflin was so sincere in his high-quality portrayal of the monstrous Lieutenant Hawkins that he reportedly apologized to his co-stars after every legendary and brutal take. He wanted to ensure that while the performance was absolute quality, the working environment remained honest and respectful. THE VIBE Like walking through thick, cold mud in the dark. It smells of damp earth, stale gunpowder, and the metallic tang of an iron chain.

Videos

The Nightingale - Official Trailer I HD I IFC Films

Cast

Damon Herriman

Aisling Franciosi

Sam Claflin

Baykali Ganambarr

Harry Greenwood

Ewen Leslie

Charlie Shotwell

Michael Sheasby

Matthew Sunderland

Magnolia Maymuru

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The Nightingale

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 30 April 2026 at 6:50 AM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10

THE SUMMARY
Director Jennifer Kent follows up *The Babadook* with a high-quality, unflinching look at the brutality of colonial Tasmania in 1825. Clare (Aisling Franciosi), a young Irish convict, is seeking an honest escape from her life of servitude under the sadistic Lieutenant Hawkins (Sam Claflin). When Hawkins commits a legendary and horrific act of violence against her and her family, Clare sets out into the rugged wilderness to hunt him down. She enlists the help of an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr), a man who is also carrying the weight of his own high-quality trauma. It’s a legendary and punishing story of vengeance and the unexpected bond between two people discarded by the system.

THE PROS
This earns its 9/10 and “Epic Status” because it is one of the most honest and high-quality portrayals of colonial history ever put to film. Aisling Franciosi is a total winner; her performance is sincere and visceral, capturing a level of raw grief that is absolute quality. Baykali Ganambarr is equally legendary in his film debut, providing a high-quality and nuanced perspective that shifts the movie from a standard revenge flick into a deeper, more sincere exploration of shared pain. The cinematography is a total banger, using a boxed-in 1.37:1 aspect ratio to create a high-quality sense of claustrophobia even in the vast, legendary Tasmanian bush. It hits the 9 mark because it’s a high-quality challenge to the audience, forcing a sincere look at the “Black War” and the systemic cruelty of the era without ever flinching.

THE CONS
It misses the perfect 10/10 mark only because it is an absolute quality “tough watch” that won’t be for everyone. The level of violence is honest and extreme, which might feel like a slow-roller of trauma for some viewers. The pacing in the final act is a touch quality-deficient compared to the tight tension of the first two acts, lingering on the misery a bit longer than necessary. It’s a legendary achievement, but its sheer intensity makes it a sincere “once is enough” shout for many, keeping it just shy of that universal, repeatable 10/10 status.

THE VERDICT
A 9/10. An epic status masterpiece that is a winner for those who appreciate high-quality, fearless filmmaking. It’s a legendary, sincere, and bruising experience that serves as an honest reckoning with history. While it’s a total banger in terms of craft and acting, be warned—it’s an absolute quality gut-punch that will leave you feeling sincere and shaken long after the credits.

INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Aspect Ratio: To keep the atmosphere honest and high-quality, Jennifer Kent chose to shoot in a 1.37:1 “Academy” ratio. This legendary choice was meant to make the audience feel as trapped and claustrophobic as the characters, focusing the high-quality framing on their faces rather than the scenery.

• Cultural Consultation: To ensure the portrayal of the Aboriginal Palawa people was absolute quality and sincere, the production worked closely with Tasmanian Aboriginal elders. This high-quality collaboration ensured the language and customs shown were legendary and honest to the era.

• Claflin’s Villainy: Sam Claflin was so sincere in his high-quality portrayal of the monstrous Lieutenant Hawkins that he reportedly apologized to his co-stars after every legendary and brutal take. He wanted to ensure that while the performance was absolute quality, the working environment remained honest and respectful.

THE VIBE
Like walking through thick, cold mud in the dark. It smells of damp earth, stale gunpowder, and the metallic tang of an iron chain.

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