By Jack Shanley
It is rare for a film to make you laugh out loud and break your heart in the same scene, but I Swear manages both with remarkable grace. Directed by Kirk Jones (Nanny McPhee), this biopic tells the true story of John Davidson, a Scotsman who became a famous advocate for Tourette Syndrome.
The film follows John’s journey from a confused teenager in the 1980s—played with painful vulnerability by newcomer Scott Ellis Watson—to an adult (Robert Aramayo) navigating a world that often mistakes his neurological condition for bad behaviour. Robert Aramayo, best known for The Rings of Power, delivers a career-defining performance. Playing a character with Tourette’s is a high-wire act; it can easily slip into caricature. However, Aramayo portrays the physical tics with a restless, exhausting accuracy while never losing sight of the gentle, funny man underneath.
He is supported by a stellar British cast. Maxine Peake is wonderful as Dottie, the nurse who finally gives John the acceptance he craves, while Peter Mullan provides a gruff but deeply moving performance as a community centre caretaker who treats John like a human being rather than a problem to be solved. The movie doesn’t shy away from the “potty-mouthed” reality of the condition, leading to some genuinely hilarious moments of social awkwardness.
However, I Swear balances the comedy with the darker side of John’s life: the schoolyard bullying, the family tension, and the physical danger of being misunderstood by strangers. It effectively highlights that the biggest challenge isn’t the Tourette’s itself, but the public’s lack of understanding. While it follows the traditional “underdog” biopic formula, I Swear feels fresh because of its raw honesty and immense heart. It is a “feel-good” movie that earns its emotion.
In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘I Swear’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Four ½ stars. You can watch it on Netflix today. Director: Kirk Jones – Rating: 15A – Genre: Narrative – Run Time: 2h 1m Language: English. For more film content please follow @screen_.addicts on Instagram.