I Swear (2025) Film Review: Profound docudrama is essential viewing for everybody

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Based on the remarkable true story, Scottish-born John Davidson finds his life irrevocably changed when he is diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome at the age of fifteen.

His dreams of becoming a professional football player are shattered, his parents and peers alienated by his unpredictable episodes of echolalia and uncontrollable ticks, and only the compassion, empathy, and understanding of those closest to him provide him with the strength and resilience to live with his condition.

Directed and written by Kirk Jones, I Swear (2025) is a biographical comedy drama charting the early life of its subject, John Davidson, beginning with his arising symptoms and eventual diagnosis, to his later life as a passionate advocate and campaigner for Tourette's Syndrome.

At age 16, he partook in the BBC documentary John's Not Mad (1989), at a time when his condition was largely unknown and unidentifiable, and he has become a national ambassador for the neurological disorder, having led frequent talks and workshops with school pupils, teachers, and members of the police to educate people and help others better understand the condition.

In 2019, he was appointed an MBE in recognition of his esteemed charity and volunteering work, which the film bookends, opening and closing with John's receival of the honour.

Robert Aramayo stars as John Davidson, a man diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome at an early age, who later becomes a celebrated campaigner for the condition to spread awareness and educate members of the public

This incredible movie is easily one of the best offerings of the year and is highly recommended as essential viewing for everyone due to the enlightening awareness it raises regarding the complicated, everyday challenges individuals with Tourette's experience. The film is the perfect example of an excellent entertainment piece, which also thoroughly educates viewers without ever coming across as too preachy or forced.

Real-life stories have time and time again proven to deeply resonate with audiences in a cinematic format, and this film is nothing short of extraordinary, presenting a genuine, sincere, and wonderfully uplifting cinematic treat which will make you laugh uncontrollably, whilst also bringing a tear to your eye with the raw authenticity and delicate care in which the disorder is presented.

The film is absorbing and enthralling from the very start, as Kirk Jones introduces us to a youthful, kind teenage John Davidson, completing his daily paper round underscored by New Order's electric 'Blue Monday'. It is 1983, and this recent historic setting could not be better captured during the first act of the film, complete with rubbish school lunches, regular visits to the headmaster's office for a harsh caning, and a time when families still gathered around the dining table to eat dinner together.

Jones strikes a pitch-perfect tonal balance as John begins to experience the symptoms of his Tourette's, presenting both a heartbreaking and equally hilarious motion of events, as the poor lad is forced to change his entire outlook on his future and is bullied by his peers and routinely punished by his headteacher, for something he simply has no control over.

This powerful docudrama fully humanises its subject, radiating warmth and humanity, and never shying away from the often nasty, dark side of living with Tourette's

Scott Ellis Watson carries this significant portion of the film like a pro and is instantly endearing with his sweet innocence and natural believability. The profanity and absurdist nature of John's random outbursts lead to plenty of crowd-pleasing moments of levity, and these darkly comedic set pieces are a solid, reliable recurrence throughout.

Make no mistake, the film is very funny, but it never feels exploitative of the condition; instead, it celebrates and draws awareness towards Tourette's in a bid to spark many important conversations regarding the topic.

The film is also brimming with humanity and warmth, which is represented exceptionally by its sublime performances. Robert Aramayo, probably most well known for playing a young Ned Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011 - 2019), is truly outstanding as the adult John Davidson.

For such a uniquely challenging role, Aramayo is fully on board and committed from the get-go, effortlessly drawing viewers in with his endearing charm and insanely likable nature. His performance never comes across as an exaggerated caricature, always feeling honest and respectful, and completely carrying the narrative with the blend of humour and more poignant

moments.

Without question, he definitely deserves an Oscar nomination and plenty of other awards for this stirring, impeccable performance.

The supporting cast is also brilliant here, with names like Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, and Peter Mullan all deserving praise and accolades for their fantastic work. Henderson plays John's often reserved, cold mother, who accepts her son's condition but can never fully appreciate or understand it and struggles to be seen in public with him.

It is a particularly devastating, tragic part of John's story and is heavily contrasted by Peake's lovely warmth and compassion as Dottie, a supportive family friend who largely becomes John's emotional anchor and main defender.

The movie exhibits a terrific supporting cast, with Shirley Henderson (left) and Maxine Peake (right) offering fascinating examples of the differing perspectives on the disorder

Peter Mullan plays Tommy Trotter, a local caretaker who is able to see past Davidson's disorder and offers him his first job to work alongside him. It is genuinely heartwarming and very often incredibly moving to witness these small moments of human compassion and empathy towards John, highlighting how important it is to see the broader picture and never judge someone solely based on a disorder they have no say in possessing.

I Swear is arguably one of the most important British films to be released in the past twenty years, and its truly inspirational, hopeful messages regarding Tourette's Syndrome and the people behind this neurological disorder remain completely timeless and relevant to all.

Based on the profound true story of a man who refused to let his condition debilitate him, this astonishing film is a genuine eye-opener and promotes wholesome compassion, empathy, and understanding towards other human beings. Transcendent and endlessly compelling, this movie MUST be at the top of everybody's watch list this year.

(It is also delightful watching this in the cinema and experiencing other viewers' visceral reactions too!).

Check out the trailer for I Swear (2025) below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!