Given its world premiere last night as the opening presentation of the Sundance Film Festival, In Bruges marks an assured feature film debut as writer-director for playwright Martin McDonagh, an Oscar winner for his first short film, Six Shooter.

Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell play Ken and Ray, professional assassins who, after a London hit that goes disastrously wrong, are ordered to hide out in the medieval Belgian city of Bruges.

Ken is content to soak up the culture and architecture, which is of no interest to Ray, a randy Dubliner who dismisses history as "a whole load of stuff that already happened".

While they await instructions from their hard-boiled boss (Ralph Fiennes), Ken and Ray cross paths with Dutch prostitutes, a film crew shooting in the area, obese US tourists and anti-smoking Canadians.

Be prepared to expect the unexpected time and again in this exuberant, violent, expletive- littered comedy-thriller achieved with a distinctive visual style.

The three lead actors are on prime form, and Farrell has never been more engaging, as they feast on the crackling dialogue in McDonagh's tangled scenario of honour among killers.

The soundtrack features a driving score from Carter Burwell and includes Raglan Road performed by The Dubliners.

In Bruges will be released here on March 7th.