My Ratings:
Story 1.00 : Direction 1.25 : Pace 1.25 : Acting 1.25 : Entertaining 1.50
Total 6.25 out of 10.00
As I've stated in many reviews, I do like a good surprise. The surprise here was how much I enjoyed this film. Especially as the story has some glaringly weak points, and the film is shot in digital and not analogue, and some of the acting is as wooden as it can get.
The story is about a forgotten soldier from World War II. Dead and abandoned in a secret underground bunker. That is, until two teenage boys, hunting squirrels, rabbits, and the like, literally stumble across the hidden opening. Well, I guess you know what happens next(?) That's right; they go home and live happily ever after... Well, not quite. Only one lad makes it home... er... I'm lying again, he only makes it to the hospital... before he too karks it.
From here on out, chaos, murder, and mayhem are the rule of the day.
The element I liked, in particular, was the killings. More rightly, their motivation and implementation. This lifts the film a smidgen out of The Slasher sub-genre. This killer is trained in guerrilla warfare and psychology. This is highlighted best in the scene where the missing woman has been stripped, scalped, and hung between two trees for the soldiers and the police to discover. However, I didn't think the concept was utilised fully throughout the story.
Another good component was the characters and their traits and peculiarities. Predominantly, these characters are believable and relatable. I loved the female PC who, after the boy's hospitalisation, wanted to search for his friend; though "The Friend" could have been a figment of his imagination. The scene between the two coppers as she asks permission is true and empathetic. I could see myself in this woman's actions.
There's also the officious, sanctimonious, and sarcastic jerk of a boss, in the form of DI Reed. This guy is so well written by John and Peter Adams, and portrayed by Paul Reynolds, you want the soldier to do his dirty work with him.
However, there are some serious structure and plotting issues too. When the lad in the hospital dies, it's the doctor who passes on the last words to the detectives. Except it's more like a soliloquy rather than his dying breath. This would have worked better had we seen the boy acting out his death scene. As it stands, all I could think was, Yeah! Right!
There's also a heavy-handed and awkward scene between the missing boy's parents and the cops. I had the impression the Adams brothers were making a sarcastic statement about the state of the youth and parenting habits of today. Especially when the unconcerned Ma and Pa state, "They're teenagers! They do what they want nowadays." It didn't help that the parents were actors from the wooden school of acting either.
The most heinous thing about the story is the reason soldier Bob Pierce is still active and enlivened. He REALLY hates Nazi's. Oh, God! Couldn't they have at least used the oldie-but-goodie, the super-secret reanimating gas the defence department developed? This is a major flaw in the storytelling. As is the soldier's demise - just to warn you.
Now, I have stated I don't like digital media and I still don't. It gives the film a cheapness and an amateurish look. This film would have looked so much better, either shot on film stock or higher grade digital cameras. Using digital effects, often, make the scene look inadequate. The pow and shock, you should get, become lame and powerless. The reason the strung up woman scene works well is because it's real, authentic and substantial. John Adams, who directed, should have stuck to this style of effect.
Apart from that, his direction is above average. The scene with Unwin walking through the barn is both shot and structured well. There's the right amount of infused tension and threat. However, it's the ending of the scene that works best as Unwin flings open the barn doors to safety... and is nearly run over by a police car with blues and twos going.
Another great surprise is the skill of the cast. For a budget move, there are a lot of cast members with lines. Granted, some, like the above-mentioned parents of the missing boy, are wooden and hammy. However, these are few and spatter through the film. My favourite characters have to be; DI Reed, as mentioned above, who is superbly brought to annoying life by Paul Reynolds. The strong and confident Jane Dale is portrayed, just as powerfully, by Tanya Franks. And I have always liked John Rhys-Davies, he is one of the main reasons I watched the film. He comes across as he always does, and he never lets his accent slip.
This is one of those love it or hate it movies. I can understand why many people would be put off. However, I believe you should give it a try. It's strangely enjoyable for all its faults. Because there are more positives. Just leave your brain at the door, and enjoy.
Cast your gaze across to my Absolute Horror list to see where this weirdly pleasing film ranked. Who knows, you may find your next fave, or at the very least, your next feature to watch.
Take Care and Stay Well.
