Dublin Film Festival 2026: No Ordinary Heist

Intriguing and anxiety-inducing, No Ordinary Heist sets the scene in the crisp, wet winter air of Belfast, recounting the 2004 Northern Bank robbery that destroyed the lives of two individuals. Directed by Colin McIvor and featuring powerfully gruelling performances from Eddie Marsan and Éanna Hardwicke, the feature follows two co-workers with great disdain for each other who are forced to work together under the guidance of an enigmatic gang whose target is the Belfast Northern Bank branch. Amid the dangerous game of stealing money and keeping their family members safe, internal conflict with management and company restructuring adds further dramatic flair to an already tense chain of events.

The film relies heavily on the chemistry between its two leads, and both actors excel at expressing the intense emotions demanded by their roles. Trapped in a situation where one mistake from the other can cost their loved ones their lives, No Ordinary Heist focuses on the initial dislike between the two. Over the course of the picture, the theme of never truly understanding the hardship a person is going through unfolds, endearing the audience to them as their traumatic bond begins to develop. There’s an undercurrent of Richard (Marsan) becoming a sort of father figure to Barry (Hardwicke); the film allows this allusion to fester but not truly evolve, inducing a sense of longing within the viewer. In between the chaos unfolding at Northern Bank, there are moments with their family members and their suffering, as well as attempts to escape and manipulate their captors. These scenes build further tension around the already treacherous situation.

Production brings the film’s intensity to life through careful framing and camera angles that emphasise concealment, an important stealth tactic used by the characters, as evidenced by the constant cuts to CCTV footage throughout the film. The use of timestamps also adds to the suffocating nature of the story. There’s a tribal atmosphere imbued in the score as well, amplifying the volatile predicament the two protagonists and their loved ones are stuck in. The moral dilemma that Richard and Barry face throughout No Ordinary Heist is sharply emphasised by the use of mirrors and transparent surfaces, underscoring their constant hesitation and uncertainty about their actions. While the picture largely succeeds in creating an interesting heist film, some plot conveniences are heightened by the film’s detail-oriented approach, slightly dampening the overall viewing experience.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of No Ordinary Heist is its ending, where the stolen money is thrown away and burned, raining fire, cash and ash – a demonstration of fruitless destruction. It’s a heavy reflection of the continued mystery surrounding the 2004 Northern Bank robbery: there’s no happy ending to the story, and no motive was ever found. It’s this lingering sense of danger and uncertainty that will send shivers down the audience’s spine while watching No Ordinary Heist.