Netflix Releases Trailer for Macau Noir Ballad of a Small Player

Netflix has released the official trailer and promotional material for "Ballad of a Small Player," a psychological thriller directed by Edward Berger and starring Colin Farrell as Lord Doyle, a gambler in Macau struggling with debts and a haunted past. The film, adapted from Lawrence Osborne's novel and written by Rowan Joffe, features a mysterious casino employee, Dao Ming (Fala Chen), who offers Doyle a lifeline, while a private investigator, Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton), pursues him. The movie explores themes of obsession, risk, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion, set against Macau's neon-lit gambling world. "Ballad of a Small Player" premiered at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals in 2025 and received mixed reviews, though Farrell's performance and the film's atmosphere have been praised. It will have a limited theatrical release starting October 15, followed by global streaming on Netflix from October 29. The film also reunites Berger with key collaborators from his previous work, enhancing its sleek and haunting tone.