By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture

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This I Swear film review has been a long time coming. Kirk Jones' biographical drama about Tourette's campaigner John Davidson is one of the most powerful, funny, and deeply human films to come out of British cinema in years. It is, quite simply, unmissable.

Cool Factor: 5/5

What is it?

I Swear is a 2025 Scottish biographical drama written, directed, and produced by Kirk Jones (Waking Ned, Nanny McPhee). It tells the true story of John Davidson MBE, a man from Scotland who was diagnosed with severe Tourette syndrome at the age of 15, at a time when almost nobody in the UK had heard of the condition. The film traces his journey from a misunderstood teenager in 1980s Britain through to his adult life as a leading campaigner and educator for Tourette's awareness.

It stars Robert Aramayo as John Davidson, alongside Peter Mullan as Tommy Trotter, Maxine Peake as Dottie Achenbach, and Shirley Henderson as Heather Davidson. Scott Ellis Watson makes his screen debut as the young John. Much of the story draws on the landmark 1989 BBC documentary John's Not Mad, which first brought Davidson's story to national attention.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and was released in UK cinemas on 10 October 2025 through StudioCanal. It landed on Netflix UK on 10 March 2026, and holds a perfect 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes from 40 reviews.

First impressions

From the very first scene, I Swear makes its intentions clear: this is not a pity story. There is no soft-focus, hand-wringing approach to disability here. Instead, Jones drops you straight into John Davidson's world with warmth, wit, and zero sentimentality. The 1980s Scottish setting is captured beautifully, textured and authentic without drowning in nostalgia.

What strikes you immediately is the tone. The film is genuinely funny. Not in a way that laughs at its subject, but in the way that life is funny when you are surrounded by people who care about you and you refuse to be defined by the worst moments. That balance is incredibly difficult to achieve, and Jones nails it from the outset.

The experience

Robert Aramayo's performance as John Davidson is extraordinary. It is the kind of role that could easily tip into caricature or Oscar-bait mimicry, but Aramayo delivers something far more nuanced. His portrayal of the physical and vocal tics feels completely lived-in, never showy or mechanical. More importantly, he captures the emotional weight underneath: the frustration, the isolation, and the hard-won confidence that builds over time.

It is no surprise that Aramayo won Best Leading Actor at the 2026 BAFTAs, beating out Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael B. Jordan. He also took home the EE Rising Star Award on the same night. Making him the first actor to win both in a single ceremony. The film itself received five BAFTA nominations and won two, along with Best Casting for Lauren Evans.

Peter Mullan is superb as Tommy Trotter, the community centre caretaker who becomes John's anchor. Mullan brings a gruff tenderness to the role that grounds the entire middle section of the film. Maxine Peake is equally impressive as Dottie Achenbach. The mental health nurse and mother figure who first helps John understand what is happening to him. There is a scene between Peake and Aramayo early on that is so quietly devastating it stays with you for days.

Where I swear excels

Where I Swear really excels is in how it handles the wider themes beyond Tourette syndrome itself. This is a film about what it means to be different. About how society treats people it does not understand. About the long, grinding work of changing minds. Anyone who has experienced trauma, lived through the care system, grown up in a foster or adoptive family, or simply felt like the world was not built for them will find something deeply personal in this story. It is universal in the truest sense.

The script is patient and intelligent. Jones dismantles common myths about Tourette's without ever turning the film into a lecture. He trusts the audience to keep up, and he trusts his actors to carry the emotional weight. The courtroom scene, where John is unable to take the oath without involuntary swearing at the judge, is both horrifying and darkly hilarious. It perfectly encapsulates the film's refusal to simplify a complex reality.

One small stumble

If there is a flaw, it is in the final act. The film stays remarkably faithful to the chronology of John Davidson's life. While that commitment to truth is admirable, it does mean the ending feels slightly stuttered. There are what feel like multiple conclusions arriving one after the other: the loss of Tommy, the promotion at work, the first family referral, the community workshops, and the broader campaigning work. Each beat is individually moving, but strung together they create a sense that the film is ending three or four times in quick succession.

It is a minor issue, arguably unavoidable when you are telling a real person's story with this level of honesty. But it does slightly dilute the emotional climax. A tighter edit in the final fifteen minutes would have landed the ending with even more force.

Value for money

I Swear is now streaming on Netflix UK as part of a standard subscription, which makes it an absolute steal. If you caught it during its theatrical run (rated 15), the cinema experience was well worth it for the sound design alone, which does remarkable work in immersing you in John's sensory world. You can also rent or buy it on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV if you prefer to own a copy.

For a film with a modest budget of around $6 million that took over $8 million at the UK box office alone, I Swear punches well above its weight. It stands comfortably alongside any of the big-budget dramas of the past year.

The verdict

Cool Factor

★★★★★

5 out of 5

I Swear is a 5/5 Ice cold. Robert Aramayo's BAFTA-winning performance is the headline, but this is a film where every element works in concert: Jones' script, the supporting cast, the period detail, the sound design, and a story that respects its subject without sanitising the reality. It earns its place as one of the best British films in recent memory. The only thing that prevented a completely flawless experience was the slightly stuttered pacing in the final act, where the film's commitment to real-life chronology creates a sense of multiple endings rather than one decisive crescendo. But that is a tiny blemish on an otherwise stunning piece of cinema. If you have experienced any kind of difference, any kind of struggle to be understood, this film will speak to you. I swear it is a must-see.

Looking for more honest film reviews? Check out our Hamnet film review for another standout British drama.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is I Swear worth watching?

Absolutely. I Swear is one of the best British films of the past year, with a perfect critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and two BAFTA wins including Best Actor. It is funny, moving, and genuinely important.

Is I Swear based on a true story?

Yes. The film is based on the life of John Davidson MBE, a Scottish man who was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at 15 and went on to become a prominent campaigner. His story was first told in the 1989 BBC documentary John's Not Mad.

Where can I watch I Swear in the UK?

I Swear is streaming on Netflix UK from 10 March 2026. It is also available to rent or buy digitally on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Sky Store.

What age rating is I Swear?

The film is rated 15 in the UK, primarily due to very strong language (much of which is involuntary as part of the Tourette's condition), brief violence, and some sex references.

Did I Swear win any BAFTAs?

I Swear received five BAFTA nominations at the 2026 ceremony. Robert Aramayo won Best Leading Actor and the EE Rising Star Award, and the film also won Best Casting. It was additionally nominated for Outstanding British Film and Best Original Screenplay.

How does I Swear compare to other disability dramas?

I Swear avoids many of the pitfalls of the genre. It is not a pity narrative or an inspiration-porn piece. It treats its subject with honesty and humour, and is closer in tone to films like My Left Foot than to more sanitised biopics.

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Published by Stiv in Film, Homebodies, Reviews
Tags: BAFTA 2026, biography, drama, film review, I Swear, John Davidson, Kirk Jones, Netflix UK, Robert Aramayo, Tourette syndrome