A stark, deeply moving examination of a family stretched beyond breaking point by addiction and poverty.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 18, 2021

As a slow-burning, micro-budgeted Irish indie steeped in grim realities and propulsive emotions, Glassland is a vehicle that allows Reynor to truly shine.

| Original Score: 3.25/5 | Jul 20, 2019

"Glassland" boasts a strong lead cast who help lift the film greatly and to soaring heights in its emotional richness. If not for this, it may have drowned in its dark themes and story.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 5, 2019

A wonderful cast that is more than capable of making these dim lights shine.

| Aug 10, 2018

This really is Irish cinema at its best, a truly transcendent and palpable experience shedding glorious light on an issue all too relevant from a bold and emphatic director at the top of his game.

| Apr 5, 2018

We can't wait to see what he accomplishes with feature number three Brain On Fire, as we're sure [Gerard] Barrett the director will continue to go from strength to strength. Here's hoping Barrett the screenwriter doesn't remain too far behind.

| Apr 5, 2018

There's so much self-sacrifice that's meant to be noble - it's unhealthy - and yet there's not much going on in Glassland outside of that.

| Aug 14, 2017

Glassland has a minimalist purity to it, and Barrett avoids manipulation and lets the images and characters speak for themselves.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 17, 2017

You've seen stories of substance abuse and its effects on a family, but rarely one as deeply unsentimental and candid as this one.

| May 3, 2016

Glassland smartly plays off Jean's unhinged disintegration against John's tense, subdued control. In that contrast lies the power of this film.

| Mar 31, 2016

A harrowing Irish drama of a young man being torn apart by his mother's destructive alcoholism.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Mar 31, 2016

It earns its tears, even if it skimps out on everything else.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 31, 2016

Glassland is impressive, although Barrett struggles to give this carefully crafted narrative a coherent resolution.

Full Review | Mar 31, 2016

A downbeat serving of kitchen-sink social realism with the sink itself thrown in for good measure.

| Mar 31, 2016

Glassland is a small film with an emotional punch that wallops above its weight class.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 11, 2016

The dialogue is sparse, and a certain plot point is so vague as to be positively confusing. But the actors accomplish a lot with a hooded look, a weary sigh and a guilty sip of wine.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 9, 2016

While the cast masterfully shoulders the sad affair, their efforts are undermined by Barrett's unfortunate tendency to tell when showing has already done the job.

| Original Score: C+ | Feb 19, 2016

Two rock-steady central performances and a handful of gut-punch scenes raise Glassland above its lingering levels of aggressive despondency.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Feb 14, 2016

This is a hard, spare, tough movie, at times nearly jarring in its lack of adornment.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Feb 12, 2016

A moving drama that reveals the struggles of a compassionate caregiver at the end of his rope.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 12, 2016