Traders (2015) User Reviews

sticks to the brain somehow

[aftermik · 7/10 · 7 August 2016]

from the technical or artistic angle by no mean it is amazing. there's nothing remarkable, no treat for the senses.

however the subject is disturbing making the film interesting enough & leaving an impression on the mind (mine at least).

it's a dive in the world of losers with no hero in it but a wide bunch of losers accepting their condition & running to their death (one way or another).

what is missing beside that psycho-sociological study (through the Vernon character mainly but not only) is a spiritual/philosophical angle to make it truly deep & multi-layered with more subtle character development, better narration & dialogues (i would have liked to see/hear poetry or sarcasm or irony or real funny quotes -they tried but they fail IMO like at the co-worker funeral... something more).

in other words, what is missing is a Stanley Kubrick or a Shane Carruth (re-)writing it & directing it.

conclusion : worth watching but shame it's not the masterpiece it could well have been with more work & perfectionism in the writing & directing.

the generous 7 is because it does leave this lasting impression (unlike 99% of Hollywood productions forgotten 10 minutes after it's over)

Entertaining concept

[labng · 7/10 · 3 May 2019]

Darkly comic but leaning more towards dark. I was impressed with the script and the acting here. This was a notch above the average B Horror Fare. I feel sufficiently genre-versed to make that call.

Watch it Now!

[Eric_Cubed · 7/10 · 11 October 2017]

There is something unique and special about English revenge, bloody gangster, colorful evil people films. "Snatch" and "Shallow Grave" of course tops them all. I really liked this one, and even though it's barely in the ballpark of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" or even "Layer Cake," I found no problem watching it all the way through. The acting is nothing short of superb, and the character development at times masterful. Really enjoyed and highly recommend this one.

Dark, entertaining, not wholly believable

[Matt345 · 29 August 2017]

I only got interested in this movie because I like the actor John Bradley who plays Samwell Tarly in "Game of Thrones". The movie has an intriguing thriller premise that can't help but make one want to see how it continues when one has begun. "Ordinary" people and small business people who lost their jobs after inflation and find their existence in a bit of a pickle, participate in a "trading" scheme where they bet all their money in very straightforward, undramatic duels for their lives at remote spots where each time they dig one grave in advance.

The tone is relatively realistic as one would expect from the milieu of small-town business men, so that one could almost expect it to be a normal "drama" plot surrounding office workers, with John Bradley's Vernon Stynes - who came up with the scheme and its rules and put it up on the Dark Web - at first almost seeming like he could drop in at The Office for a moment. As one can realize afterwards, this is part of the characterization, with subtle hints about psychopathy (with not at all subtle consequences) and the stereotype about business men and psychopathy (mentioned casually). After all, the title itself is an euphemism, and the tale is clearly a parable about market crashes.

The narrative is relatively straightforward and never goes beyond this "realistic" tone, though it is relatively entertaining and intriguing. However there are some issues with the narrative, which are not altogether hard to guess at. It is not believable that people would see this trade as a good deal, and have as little hesitation and fear - even doubt - as displayed. The main characters undergo some development in that regard at first, especially the protagonist and narrator Harry Fox, who later becomes really good at it (whereas John Bradley as Vernon Stynes is predictably weaker and for most of the movie bedridden after their first half-canceled attempt), however the topic of fear and hesitation is discarded pretty quickly.

Once the trading scheme gets going pretty well, there is only one time when a character starts having fear, which is overcome by desperation. And while there is a rule that a participant has to write a suicide letter to avert basic suspicion, it is implausible that the police wouldn't become suspicious after a while (especially since all the people simply go missing, and the letters are probably bullshit) or that it wouldn't become aware of the existence of the scheme in the Dark Web or that word wouldn't trickle out.

Due to psychological themes playing such a small role, and the story being as straightforward as it is, without social, psychological, investigative plausibility providing some complication, it remains as a "small" though relatively entertaining movie. I might give it 6.5 points, but round down rather than up due to its off-putting nature.

Traders Review

[ddem2000 · 7/10 · 11 December 2016]

I was pleasantly surprised by this film, which is if you want a plot summary for i'm sure you can just go to IMDb or Wikipedia. I checked it out because I saw John Bradley was in it and i'm a big GOT fan. Alas in this film Bradley plays Vernon, an out of work want to be entrepreneur who concocts the idea of "trading" in which two people put all of their net worth into a bag, and challenge each other to a fight to the death in which the winner nets both bags. Vernon is very Samwell Tarylish in his neurotic-ness and the lead character, Harry, played by Killian Scott acted out his character arc brilliantly as out of work and hopeless man in the beginning to wealthy terminator by the films end. As the movie ran shortly under 90 minutes it felt like a long episode of an anthology series as opposed to an actual film, but nevertheless it was quite enjoyable and I suggest giving it a look.

It sound a lot like murder

[nogodnomasters · 7/10 · 5 November 2017]

After getting downsized from high paying jobs two employees have different ideas to survive. Harry Fox (Killian Scott) becomes a data entry technician for 24K a year, not enough to pay for his apartment. Vernon Stynes (John Bradley- poor man's Jonah Hill) decides to become a web designer with enhanced search. Vernon doesn't fair to well, living with mom, opts to open a page on the dark web where people down on their luck, sell everything they own, and gamble the money on a death match with someone with the same amount. Vernon calls it "Trading." The first fight is Vernon vs Harry. Vernon nearly gets killed as harry spares him and nurses him back to heath. Meanwhile Harry sets up fights as his funds run low.

One of the nice things of the film is that it had a unique plot making it unable to predict where it will go. On the down side is Killian Scott's character. the lead character, had no personality making the film unnecessarily boring when it should be exciting.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity. While this is an Irish film, the accents are not thick.

Shallow Plot

[abadguy44 · 4/10 · 24 July 2016]

At first, the Movie "Traders" seemed to have a unique story to be told. After watching it, I left the theater very disappointed with how the plot didn't have any teeth. The idea that you could bet your life against another person and winner take all seemed interesting almost provocative. However, the simplistic way that it was done was boring and unimaginative. The script lacked depth and imagination with how the story played out. There wasn't any hook to keep you interested in what happened next because the plot was too shallow and obvious. The acting wasn't bad but the characters were one dimensional and underdeveloped. I highly recommend that you don't waste your time with this one.

Not much of a thriller

[niaz_islam · 4/10 · 20 July 2016]

Although the movie genre defined it as a thriller movie it failed to hold the thrill throughout the film.

John Bradley performed very neatly though Killian Scott's acting was offbeat. he was one of the major character in the movie so when his expressions and dialogue delivery was sloppy it took away the gravity of that particular scene.

About the script, it was well written with a new concept of trading. But in the climax scene was not well thought because that scene lacks logic and does not coincide with the previous scenes which were shown and the conversations took place on that time. So the climax scene is a major letdown.

Another thing about the script is there was no twist or turns, entire movie was like a straight arrow; it was quite predictable. There was no thrill of what might happen next so I could not enjoy the movie that much.

The movie had great potential but all in all not worth your time. Not recommended.

A macabre take on the aftermath of the Economic Crash in Ireland

[Pairic · 8/10 · 6 April 2018]

Traders (2015): Harry Fox (Killian Scott) and Vernon Stynes (John Bradley) are left penniless when their company goes under in the economic crash. Harry takes work as a minimum wage data-entry clerk, Vernon returns home to mum to work on a business plan. A colleague who can't take the stress drives his car into a tree so that his family will get the insurance money.

Vernon comes up with the idea of Trading: you fight to the death with each participant putting up an equal stake. You double your money each time and bury the body of your opponent, each having taken turns digging the grave beforehand. Literally survival of the fittest. Harry excels and racks up the kills and accumulates capital. Ken (Barry Keoghan), an eighteen year old combatant complicates the story as criminals attempt to move in on the business. Orla (Nika McGuigan) is Vernon's neighbour and unrequited love interest but now Harry gets involved. But nothing is ever quite straightforward in this quirky Irish thriller which is veined with very dark humour.

A macabre take on the aftermath of the Crash in Ireland, never before has Dublin looked so desolate nor have so many bleak burial sites been located. I a particular irony, abandoned building sites are the arenas for many of the combats and also supply the grave sites. Good acting all round particularly from Scott, Bradley and Keoghan. Co- Directed and written by Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy this sharp thriller was under-appreciated on it's release. 8/10

I'm Tired of These Films: Well Made, Nothing to Say...

[nammage · 3/10 · 26 July 2017]

First 15 minutes I knew what this movie was going to turn into. As a film lover, I have seen quite a bit of films (19,000+ ratings here over 11,000 on films alone) and this (despite some other reviewers statements) is actually well produced; acting's good, scripted alright (in concern to writing ability), composition not bad but it does have that annoying narration that comes when you never want it. This is basically Fight Club (except people die in this on purpose) without the philosophical undertones. It's not even very good at even that. I mean, while most those fighting are out of shape, don't really know how to fight they still bet a lot of money on the fact their going to live. That seemed wholly unrealistic to me. Only one who is absolutely desperate could I believe would do such a thing, and no character in this film seemed so desperate as that.

If there's a moral to walk away from this movie it must be, "When needing some money, take all the money you have and hope you don't die in some fight with some other idiot just like you.". Otherwise...what's this film about? What was the plot? The point? I don't get it and was I supposed to? Now, do not think I am naïve. I have read in the newspaper, seen or have been referenced to YouTube videos, even seen on national and local news on people who come off as idiotic-minded people doing some idiotic-minded things. Like the girl from California driving with her 14 year old sister and friend in the back while live streaming the stupidity of being drunk behind the wheel and the consequences of a dead sister afterward. I know they exist. Movies like this with no sense of philosophical endeavor, underlining message, or even a strand of morality or ethical viewpoint are the entertaining companions of those types of people. And while I also recognize that movies like Fight Club may spark ideas in these types of people to do things where they have no understanding of the consequence or actions that tends not to be the film's fault, in such guise. Because like books and music etc., there's supposed to be an underlining message, right? As each year passes it seems it's either just remakes, sequels, or just movies to make a buck off of. I know (figuratively) everything's been done before but one should try to strive to build on what's been done before rather than just dragging it through the mud and calling it 'art'. Seems also these days, or it's always been (most likely) that even a realistic nature of things needs to be turned into a fiction. I reference 'Joy (2015)' and 'Hacksaw Ridge (2016)' as good examples of that. Take the latter: the real-life father was turned into a mean drunk, in real-life he was nothing like that. Why the fiction? They did the same in 'October Sky (1999)' -- turning the real-life father into a mean awful person who comes to his senses at the end. Not true about the actual man. It's bad enough fictional films take other fictional films and make them even more unbelievable but why do it for real life? The man who's the subject of 'Hacksaw Ridge', while he was alive, never wanted a film about him because they knew they would fictionalize his life and sensationalize it. After he died, what did Mel Gibson do: exactly that. My point is, when are we going to get back (if we were ever there) to what films are supposed to be? To me they were the imagination created by our minds; and when writing about actuality, having an understanding of what that actuality is rather than what we imagine it to be.

This film: not that there's much of anything in this film, mind you. While there are small scenes of violence throughout, most of the 'brutal' violence doesn't really start happening until 42-45 minutes in. The way these people just kill others, even for money, as if it's no big deal, as if they've been doing it all their lives and it's just another day at work, is also wholly unrealistic. The police in Ireland must be some of the most incompetent people on the planet, at least in this film. Never remember ever seeing a police officer once in this film. Maybe I missed them. Plus, they dispose of the bodies like amateurs (which they are), and the main character buries all his kills in 2-3 ft deep holes. There's a reason why 6 ft is the normal amount for burials; so animals can't get to them or weather etc., I mean, animals in this film must be incompetent, too, let alone the police. Maybe it's like all those horror films where after all the fighting is done then that's when the police and animals show up, or something.

This not an Action film. Not a Thriller or a Horror film or a Drama. It's nothing. Genreless. They do attempt to add a story but it's without a plot or pointless so it doesn't really mean anything, in the end. Sometimes even a bad movie is worth watching; this was barely worth this 'review'. I'm getting so tired of watching these types of films. Most likely watch another in the future but each one kills my love of films as time moves on.

Alienated and prominent gambler's heart deduction, can give people the feeling of overexertion

[yoggwork · 5/10 · 18 February 2019]

Alienated and prominent gambler's heart deduction, can give people the feeling of overexertion

Great concept!!! Something refreshing!!! Loved it!!!

[sparkas999 · 8/10 · 1 September 2016]

Somebody, in previous review, mentioned that the plot was straight as an arrow, but I have to disagree with that. I had no idea what will happen in the end, and it had plenty of twists, especially in the second half of the movie. New characters were introduced and disposed off, but each one of them had a particular part to fulfill.

John Bradley was in his character, close to the one of his in Games of Thrones. Killian Scott, I thought, did a good job, especially at the end.

The whole concept is refreshing and interesting. And I would recommend to watch the movie. 8 out of 10. Enjoy.

Out of work Traders come up with a dangerous fast cash scheme

[dale-51649 · 9/10 · 19 December 2016]

I am a big Brit flick/Mic flick fan, so when I stumbled on this find I was instantly hooked. A couple of 'yuppie mics" loose they're jobs at a bond trading firm, and the fat one comes up with a scheme to make a lot of jack. There is a catch though (isn't there always?), you could easily die doing it.

The boys decide to go to the Dark net, and arrange a fight to the death-winner take all MMA style knife fight dual. The cooler one , sort of a younger ,better looking stephen Rea type, is quite good at it (woudnt you have to be?)

The cool thing about it is, it is so original and twisted that you literally don't know what is going to happen. There is a love interest, a sort of not too bad looking Irish version of a trailer park pretty ,but they don't go all American style smash your face into it. The gal doesn't even boss him around.

The great thing about this film is, it actually has suspense. For an American who has been force fed Lifetime channel "it's for the children" formulas for so long we are perpetually nauseated, it was really refreshing. If you are looking for something well acted, different, and most of all non pandering, you will love it.

Captivating to the core: Might make you second-guess your moral compass.

[tsevatt · 8/10 · 3 December 2016]

I had low expectations based on this film's rating and synopsis but was pleasantly surprised. The plot sounded too dark, impersonal, and unrealistic to be any better than your everyday shock-value indie horror film. However, the idea of ordinary people voluntarily meeting up via the dark web to fight to the death in hopes of doubling their life's savings was just too enticing. The narrator and main character Kevin Fox played by Killian Scott (who I've never seen before) really pulls you in by somehow making the whole world of p2p mutual combatants seem feasible among those who are in financial despair. Then, he takes you along for the downward spiral that ensues when such a world becomes difficult to leave behind. Some of the lines in his narration are so well-written, ironic, and humorously delivered that they alone make the movie worth watching. I hope to see more of that lad!

The film also has a way of warming you up before things turn too sinister. Once the ball gets rolling, the writers manage to mix in comedic relief without being campy. There is also good character development which sets it apart from other movies with similar themes. This is despite your initial rejection of John Bradley (Sam from Game of Thrones) for Vernon Stynes as being the pioneer of said "trading" website. Sit tight, because you will come to find Bradley is the perfect cast for reasons I can't disclose without any spoilers. It isn't receiving 9 from me only because most of the rest of the cast just lacked the blockbuster talent required for it. But a 6.1 certainly just doesn't do "Traders" justice.

I Loved It

[ghcheese · 10/10 · 20 October 2017]

This is a total guy movie. I can see this movie being a cult favorite. I never heard of it. I watch it. And the story is so unusual and compelling. Some may compare this to Fight Club, but I don't think so. This is so much better. The only problem is they should have let him kill the girl. Equality and all. I can see this having a Traders II. Just watch it. And go beyond the first five minutes. I almost didn't. I'm glad I watched the whole thing.

Fight club... deadly version... almost as epic!

[TreeOfWolf · 8/10 · 3 September 2016]

When I saw screen captures, I dreaded to spend 2h bored watching a dumb looking fat guy... but I'm glad that I overcame my prejudices because he's actually the most interesting person in the movie! His cleverness made it all possible.

A lot of people get fired and commit suicide because of financial ruin, so he gets the idea to fight to the death to win the other person's money... A lesser of two evils.

Oh~ How I loved to hate him and his plots, the bastard.

The main fighter is a more likable person in spite of being a bit dull. But it's fun to watch him kill.

It's an original way to calm people's frustrations by showing them a bunch of people dying, it's a nice change from slasher movies with a crazy maniac as killer. That stereotype is wrong, it caused stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness, most of them are that way because they suffered more than they could bear, but they wouldn't hurt others. I like how the movie shows that you don't need to be insane to kill, all it takes is a rational motivation... and even the "best" people can do the worst if they see it as their best option.

It was nice to see ordinary "good and proper" people pushed into desperation enough to try to murder... Showing that anyone could do it when pushed hard enough. It's easy to be a good person when everyone is good to you and give you good opportunities... And people pride themselves with mere luck... But if that help is taken away and you fear to lose everything good, you might turn out more evil than you thought anyone could ever be. One of the fighters seemed old and I thought that he had no chance, but the way he fought really surprised me.

Thank you for this movie. It made me laugh~ Thankfully I'm not that desperate yet. I appreciated this movie, and I appreciate my life a little better.

Like a good old fashioned British film, but modern.

[amazon-77359 · 8/10 · 18 January 2017]

I was brought to this via following John Bradly (GoT), who does a sterling job here.

Really good solid film without all the self-congratulatory nonsense that fills Hollywood movies but still with high production values. Despite the unlikely premise that runs throughout, it is shot with a bleak but engaging realism. The characters are developed and yet refreshingly, we don't have to suffer too much relationship nonsense.

The plot is pretty straight forward and while some might say it was a bit thin, I was content to just let it flow to its conclusion. I was initially skeptical about the main premise being a viable concept (even within a film) but the small scale of how it started actually won me round.