I’d seen the trailer for I Swear so many times during my visits to Cineworld that I was really looking forward to seeing the film when it finally arrived in cinemas on October 10, but then, lo and behold, Cineworld brought us a preview screening at Secret Screening 15!
Scottish setting, true-life story of John Davidson. Diagnosed with Tourette’s at 15, targeted as ‘insane’ by his peers, he struggled with a condition few had witnessed. Campaigning for better understanding and acceptance of the condition of Tourette’s as an adult, he found his life’s purpose and accepted his MBE from the Queen in 2019.
Director Kirk Jones (Waking Ned, Nanny McPhee) has brought us a wonderful film that is not only thought provoking it’s got plenty of hunour in it to bring the the characters to life on the big screen as we go on John Davidson’s (played by Robert Aramayo, Elrond – Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) life and the challenges he faced growing up with Tourette’s and the love and support that he recieved along the way to help him along the way.
Aramayo is superb as Davidson, and I found myself feeling for him as he had his ups and downs throughout the movie. All the cast come together so wonderfully in this true story, including Shirley Henderson as John’s mother, Maxine Peake as Dottie, who takes in John and helps him come to terms with his Tourette’s and in so many other ways. Scott Ellis Watson plays the younger John very well and is superb to watch as the Tourette’s starts to take hold of the young John, and let’s not forget Peter Mullan as Tommy Trotter, who gives John his first job to help. Tommy is a great character to watch.
I Swear is also a bit of an emotional roller coaster of a film. I found myself going through so many emotions, from anger to tears, but this is perfect for the film because it can bring out the feelings. We get some fantastic moments of humour, with some moments that I did feel a bit guilty laughing, such as the moment when John says he uses “Spunk for Milk” but that’s part of the humour that works, there is also a moment that I found very emotional with John blurting out, “I killled him”, when clearly he didn’t but is emotions got the better of him and the Tourette’s took over!
I’m so glad that Cineworld brought us I Swear as the Secret Screening, it’s a film that I love, it’s powerful, emotional and funny. As I mentioned earlier, the cast is superb, it’s well-directed, and it tells a wonderful story that shows that anything is possible.
I SWEAR will be released by STUDIOCANAL in the UK and Ireland on 10th October 2025
Images courtesy STUDIOCANAL
A Wonderful Film With Plenty of Humour
Movie title: I Swear (2025)
Movie description: John Davidson: diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at a young age which alienated him from his peers, he struggled with a condition few people had witnessed.
Date published: September 23, 2025
Country: UK
Duration: 120 mins
Director(s): Kirk Jones
Actor(s): Robert Aramayo, Peter Mullan, Maxine Peake
Genre: DocuDrama, Dark Comedy, Drama, Biography
Summary
Aramayo delivers an outstanding performance as Davidson, and I found myself empathising with him as he experienced various ups and downs throughout the movie.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
