"Thankfully Tyrannosaur offers more beyond its many (primarily ideological) flaws, namely genuine emotional resonance from a cast who perform in admirable strokes of sincerity. It is a thoroughly unsettling experience from beginning to end, an analysis of violence and its consequences. The most disappointing aspect of the film however is its impartial attitude to the environments these acts are evident in e.g. violence is everywhere, but what can you do?"
Brad of The Daily Rotation wrote, "Releasing on April 3rd on DVD and Blu is Tyrannosaur, the debut feature from outstanding Irish actor Paddy Considine (In America, Dead Man’s Shoes.) In Tyrannosaur, we follow Joseph, a ticking time bomb of anger and rage, played with terrifying subtlety by Peter Mullan. He spends his days wandering aimlessly and drinking heavily, waiting to run into the unfortunate person who will set him off. By chance, he stumbles into a Christian charity shop run by Hannah (Olivia Colman). She appears kind, affectionate, and warm-hearted; everything Joseph is not. She believes that the Lord can come into even the cruelest of hearts and change them for the good. Joseph believes otherwise, and isn’t afraid to let her know."
Empire Online: This feature-length expansion of Paddy Considine’s debut short film from 2007, Dog Altogether, opens with angry, unemployed hard man Joseph (Peter Mullan) kicking his own dog to death. Horrible as the act is, we realise it’s Joseph’s desperate attempt to cope with rages he would once have taken out on human beings.
Bone-idle writes "We’re introduced to Joseph, the protagonist of Tyrannosaur, as he emerges in a rage from the local bookies and proceeds to kick his beloved dog to death. Not the most charming of introductions. Played by Peter Mullan, Joseph is a walking cage of rage."
