I Swear
John Davidson was just 15 years old when he was officially diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. It began with small tics, from blinks and head movements to vocal noises, but soon it began to dominate his life and alienate him in a society relatively uneducated as to what Tourette’s was. His story was first brought to attention to the nation in the 1989 documentary John’s Not Mad, and it wouldn’t be the last time that John Davidson would be a household name.
Starring Robert Aramayo, Shirley Henderson, Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan, I Swear is a biopic that lifts the curtain further on John’s childhood and life to date. His early years are enacted brilliantly by young Scott Ellis Watson, who makes his feature film debut, and we meet a popular, athletic John with the world at his feet. However, his life begins to unravel as his tics develop and he soon becomes an outcast. Fast forward 13 years, and John now lives in a broken home and is on medication for his condition. Forming a fierce friendship with mental health nurse Dottie (Peake), John tries to get through life in as much of a normal way as possible, but whether it be police, the public or his own uncontrollable actions, there is always an obstacle in his way on the road to a peaceful existence.
With I Swear, director Kirk Jones has not only brought John’s story to the silver screen but created a heartfelt and moving piece of cinema that will bring a tear to your eye. It truly is astounding what John and other sufferers of Tourette’s have to endure in their everyday lives, and what this movie does is remind you not to take simple pleasures for granted. There isn’t any other way of putting it; Aramayo is utterly extraordinary in this leading role, mastering the mannerisms of a severe Tourette’s sufferer, while also encapsulating the heart of the entire feature with every fibre of his being. Paired with the effervescent Peake, the duo shine a light on the darkness in the world and show what a first-class team the real John and Dottie truly are.
Even more surprising is just how funny the film is, albeit at times you aren’t sure whether to laugh or not at some of John’s tics, (although I am sure he would push for the former). And crucially, I Swear is an educational experience. It’s very easy to judge individuals in the 21st century for their differences, but we also live in a far more accepting civilisation, and the lessons taught in this lovely film reach far more than just those who watch it. John Davidson was awarded an MBE for his services and efforts to increase understanding of the condition, and this biopic will continue to do just that. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but most importantly, you’ll leave the cinema more educated than when you entered. I Swear might just be the Best British drama of the year.
Guy Lambert
I Swear is released nationwide on 10th October 2025.
Watch the trailer for I Swear here:
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