About Seven Psychopaths

Seven Psychopaths is a black comedy crime film released in 2012. In the film directed and written by Martin McDonagh, struggling screenwriter Marty Faranan (played by Colin Farrell) becomes entangled with the LA criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster’s beloved Shih Tzu. It's a blend of bloody violence and absurdist humor. The film makes wry comments on the nature of violence, storytelling and masculine codes of honor.

Making / Production

Seven Psychopaths was produced by Blueprint Pictures, BFI Film Fund, and Film4. Filming began on 11 November 2011, in Southern California and was finished in the early part of 2012 and the film was released in October 2012.

Actors

• Colin Farrell as Marty Faranan - Portraying a struggling Irish screenwriter, Colin offers a likeable yet frustrated character who becomes embroiled in a dangerous LA underbelly.
• Sam Rockwell as Billy Bickle - Rockwell delivers a quirky performance as Marty’s friend who is an unemployed actor and part-time dog thief.
• Christopher Walken as Hans Kieslowski – Walken plays an old man, who along with Billy, runs a dog-kidnapping scheme. His unique style brings both gravitas and sympathy to the role.
• Woody Harrelson as Charlie Costello – Harrelson plays a psychopathic gangster whose Shih Tzu gets kidnapped. With charm and menace, he provides the violent edge to the film.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The script was featured in the 2006 Blacklist, a list of the "most liked" unmade scripts of the year.
• The dog in the film, Bonny, was actually owned by director Martin McDonagh.
• The movie was originally going to be called "Psychopath #1."
• Tom Waits actually owns a rabbit farm, much like his character.

Awards

The movie won Best Screenplay - Motion Picture at the 8th Irish Film & Television Awards. The movie was also nominated for several awards at the British Independent Film Awards and the Satellite Awards.

Quotes

• "Put your hands up." "No." "But I've got a gun." "I don't care."
• "You can't let the animals die in a movie... only the women."
• "I like it. It's got layers."

Music, Soundtrack

• "Angel of Death" by Hank Williams
• "The First Cut is the Deepest" by P.P. Arnold
• "Different Drum" by Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt