Directed By Julian Gilbey
Starring Melissa George, Ed Speleers, Sean Harris, Eamonn
Walker
Synopsis:
A group of five mountaineers are hiking and climbing in the
Scottish Highlands when they discover a young Serbian girl buried in a small
chamber in the wilderness. They become caught up in a terrifying game of cat
and mouse with the kidnappers as they try to get the girl to safety.
Review:
I was expecting this to be a survival horror and found it was
more of a tense thriller, that had the threat
of scenes in keeping with the survival horror genre. I kept an open mind to the
movie, especially as I do like Melissa George. She has had a good run of
playing strong characters and I was hoping that this movie would give her
another chance at doing what she does so well. I wasn’t disappointed in her
portrayal as Alison. To say that she carries the movie is a little unfair on
the splendid performances from the rest of the cast, but the movie does centre
on her character.
From the beginning it is apparent that the Directors have spent
much time and trouble locating remote Scottish places that would look
breathtaking on camera. The majority of the movie is very realistic, especially
with the opening sequence’s footage of the climbers. At one point I marveled at
the way that Gibley and Ali Asad (director of photography) showed a guy hanging
from the mountain face. The sheer terror is brought home from the way in which
a couple of shots were inserted; those from an inverted position, really giving
the audience an idea of what it could be like to hang suspended. I haven’t seen
this done properly and so evocatively in a big
budget movie before. If ever a remake of Cliffhanger was on the cards, these
guys need to be offered the chance to make it.
The film’s first act is concerned with setting up the characters
as mountaineers and to show Alison’s dedication and experience of it. One of
the group hears, what to me, sounded like Carol Anne in the TV set during the
movie Poltergeist. Upon investigation, they discover a young girl. Anna (played
by the excellent Holly Boyd) and the movie moves from exciting Scottish
travelogue to a cat and mouse chase through unforgiving landscape that made me
think of First Blood. The group are hunted by two guys with high powered
rifles. The pair are crack shots and Gilbey shows us this a number of times.
Apart from one “Rambo” moment when Alison takes a tumble and falls some
distance with trees breaking her fall, the movie pulls the viewer in with its
realistic approach. Eventually, additional characters are introduced and
participate as the survivors converge on a small town in the middle of a street
party (based upon the Beltane Fire festival). Once the characters enter the
village I was reminded a little of the action movie The Tournament. This is no
bad thing as the ante is well and truly upped with no holds barred gunfights
and brawls. The film is pacy, tense and thrilling, despite the last act that
strays well away from the established location referred to in the title.
Melissa George must have gone through a punishing shoot to
complete this picture in what comes across as a very physical movie, despite
how frequently a stuntwoman might have taken over during the more punishing
scenes, not that it’s obvious either way if she had of done. She puts
everything into her performance and even gets a Jack Bauer moment at one point
in the film. (To elaborate will spoil the movie but 24 fans will get my meaning
upon viewing the movie).
Summary:
This is UK
cinema on top form. It looks and feels uniquely British and is the old idea of
a cat and mouse hunt but put from a unique perspective. Enjoyably action-packed
and highly recommended.
Blu-ray Comments:
The disc is full of interesting extras; from a commentary that is useful due to the technical information given throughout and a seventy minute making of. There is also an interesting featurette on Julian Gilbey getting the climbing bug and climbing the French and Swiss Alps to raise money for Cancer charities. The disc is available at Amazon at £10.79 (as at 26/12/11); a great way to start 2012!
Score: 8/10
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