A Prayer Before Dawn

Billy Moore, an English boxer, finds himself imprisoned in Thailand's most infamous prison, a place where the thin line between survival and ruin is measured in blood and fear. Cut off from his former life, he must navigate a brutal underworld ruled by drugs, extortion, and suspicion. To earn safety, or perhaps a way out, he enters the prison's Muay Thai tournaments, fighting for respect, leverage, and the chance to negotiate better terms with those who control the yard. Alliances shift by the day, loyalties fracture under pressure, and every encounter tests his will to remain humane amid extreme degradation. The real story unfolds through grit, endurance, and a fight that never ends inside. The once hopeful fighter confronts both his own limits and a system that tests loyalty, dignity, and the will to live.

Directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, the film presents Billy Moore's life with a raw documentary feel and unflinching physicality. It's adapted from his experiences by Jonathan Hirschbein and Nick Saltrese, grounding a high stakes prison drama in real events.

Critics praised Joe Cole's immersive performance and Sauvaire's unflinching camera work, heightening the sense of confinement. The film explores survival under coercion, the fragility of trust, and the moral ambiguity that arises when violence becomes a bargaining tool, blurring lines between victim and predator. It invites reflection on humanity under pressure as well as the costs of choosing not to surrender.

Its stark depiction of prison life and the brutal Muay Thai scenes sparked conversations about punishment, rehabilitation, and the human cost of survival. The film's intensity has lingered with audiences and it has become a reference point for indie crime dramas grounded in real experiences.

While the film earned attention from genre critics for its performances and direction, it did not rack up major awards. Its strongest footprint came from festival audiences and streaming viewers who valued its uncompromising portrayal of imprisonment and resilience.