Get Away

So many bad reviews! So unwarranted! It's no Oscar winner, but it's also not that bad. Yes, I thought I saw the twist quite early, but I wasn't certain so it kept me guessing. It's good these days to get a film of sensible length, that maintains my interest for most of the movie. The comedy, whilst limited, was in keeping with the pace and characters. What do people want from a Sky Original? I'm not sure it will do much for Scandinavian tourism, but I'd be tempted to visit the island for novelty value. From unwelcoming locals to an incredibly useless police officer, the supporting cast did the job of supporting. The main cast were effective whilst remaining subtle in their roles. I enjoyed it for what it was - a 'B' Movie that knew it was a 'B' Movie!

When this movie ended my overall reaction was "Why did anyone choose to make this movie?" Everything in it is bonkers. Then I watched the three "extras" on the DVD and the writer explained his inspiration, from vacations he took over the years.

The writer is Nick Frost who also is in the lead role as Richard. Aisling ('ashling') Bea plays his wife, Susan. They have along with them a son and a daughter appearing about 20 or maybe a bit older.

There is an annual festival on a small, remote island and they time their trip to witness it. However they find the insular locals very unwelcoming.

To say much more would be to give away important spoilers but suffice to say it is a comedy/horror movie, as things develop we witness lots of blood and gore and dismemberments.

I watched it at home on DVD from my public library. The extras are essential. Would I watch it again, or recommend it to anyone I know? Definitely not unless you are a big Nick Frost fan.

Nick Frost likes a light horror. After just starring in the ghostly "Black Cab" he stars in and wrote extremely silly slasher send-up "Get Away". He & wife Aisling Bea (with teen kids Maisie Ayres & Sebastian Croft) go on holiday to a small, remote Swedish island that's about to go into its annual macabre festival... and does NOT want them there. Though the story has hints of "Midsommer" the style couldn't be more different, and the quality's way off too. Steffen Haars' direction is basic and the performances are mediocre (though Ayres is decent on her big-screen debut, as are Eero Milonoff & Anitta Suikkari as nutty local Swedes). It's moderately entertaining, but sure ain't great.

Okay, so I didn't really have high hopes for this film at first simply by reading the synopsis. The main reason I even picked out the film is because I love Nick Frost. I'm so glad I took a chance on this film as it is just so damn fun and entertaining from beginning to end. To say too much would be giving away the twist that makes the film such a great film. Frost also wrote the film and his sense of humor is all over the film. It's not the type of film you're expecting but the entire cast is so committed that it makes the experience of watching it so much more fun. Of all the Frost films released in '24, this was my favorite!

An English family of 2.4 children arrive on a small Swedish island, to witness and observe the celebration of Karantän, unfortunately a killer is also on the island.

There's something very old school about this movie, it felt as though it could have been made back in 2006, when this style was very popular, so from that point of view it was familiar, but fresh.

It doesn't deserve some of the negative reviews, I can't help but wonder if some of those are based on the first half of the movie, which is very, very slow, but countered by a riotous second half.

The twist was unexpected, and it was fun to see the tables turned.

The performances are good, and there are some hilarious one liners, with Frost daring to make jokes about subjects that have become humour free.

The first half is just too slow for me to class this as a good film, but the conclusion was a hoot. Once again you'll wonder what The Swedes must make of the way Brits like to portray them, only slightly less weird than in Midsommar.

6/10.