With Gangster Squad and Killing Them Softly/Coogan'sTrade on the way, late 2012 is looking like a mighty fine time for criminal laced thrillers, and few look better than Lawless.

It’s the latest from The Road and The Prosposition director John Hilcoat and sees him dropping the definite article for a true life story of the bootlegging Bondurant brothers in Depression era Virginia. In fact, the film is based on the book The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant, a direct descendent of the original family members.

The cast is looking impressive, with Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman and Jessica Chastain on board. And there’s also Shia LaBoeuf, who is still out to prove that he can carry a grown up role – we’ll just have to wait and see.

Lawless nabs a short new trailer today, which crams in a lot of action as well as a few more welcome moments with Hardy.


It’s looking dark, gritty and all kinds of awesome – closer to The Proposition in tone and with the added weight of some serious character actors, a great aesthetic and a few more dollars on screen than Hilcoat is used to, especially that CG sandstorm that looms over the small Western town. In short, we can’t wait.

Lawless is set to arrive in cinemas in the states on the 29th of August before a September 7th release in Ireland and the UK.