The Crying Game (1992), written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, Forest Whitaker and Jaye Davidson, became one of the most talked-about films of the 1990s — largely because of a twist that audiences were begged not to reveal. But how well does it hold up, and how does it sit within the real history of The Troubles?

We explore the historical background behind The Crying Game, from the IRA’s campaign in Northern Ireland to the politics of hostage-taking, informers and splintered loyalties in the late twentieth century. How accurately does the film depict the Provisional IRA? What does it get right about the psychology of paramilitarism — and where does it lean into thriller convention?

We also dig into the famous twist: why it landed with such force in 1992, how it was marketed, and whether it overshadowed the film’s deeper themes of identity, performance and belonging. Was this really a shock for shock’s sake, or something more subversive?

Plus: accidental love stories, 90s awards-season politics, the strange art of spoiler campaigns, and whether this is actually one of the most misunderstood historical films of its decade.

📩 Remember the first time you saw The Crying Game? Think the twist still works? Or want to talk about cinema and The Troubles more broadly? Email us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.