The Survivalist

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

19K

YOUR RATING

In a time of starvation, a survivalist lives off a small plot of land hidden deep in forest. When two women seeking food and shelter discover his farm, he finds his existence threatened.

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Drama Sci-Fi Thriller

In a time of starvation, a survivalist lives off a small plot of land hidden deep in forest. When two women seeking food and shelter discover his farm, he finds his existence threatened.In a time of starvation, a survivalist lives off a small plot of land hidden deep in forest. When two women seeking food and shelter discover his farm, he finds his existence threatened.In a time of starvation, a survivalist lives off a small plot of land hidden deep in forest. When two women seeking food and shelter discover his farm, he finds his existence threatened.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

19K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 3 wins & 11 nominations total

Trivia
Was filmed in Antrim, Northern Ireland

Goofs
After Milja is abducted from the pond by the snatcher, the survivalist and Kathryn search desperately for her. They reach the pond, but Milja is missing, finding only her boots on the bank. Milja is then shown with the snatcher in the tall grass wearing her boots.

Quotes
[last lines]
Milja: [waiting outside gate of settlement] What happens now?
Watchwoman: They'll be taking a vote. Shouldn't be long. When are you due?
Milja: Six months - I think.
Watchwoman: Do you know what'll you call it?
Milja: If it's a boy...

Connections
Featured in The EE British Academy Film Awards (2016)

User reviews106

Review

Featured review

9/10

Finally a credible piece on post-apocalyptic survival

Extraordinarily well executed, fresh, replete with lots of smart details bring it all to life. The characters are believable; raw and wild, running on their baser instincts, struggling to be civil in a world where gnash-toothed animals survive and civility only gets you dead. They try to be civil! Oh bless their hearts they try.

What I loved the most is the transformation you see in the characters; they go from feral, viciously unlikeable creeps to slowly warming up and right before your eyes they bloom into something like humans again, full of love and empathy and hate and greed and loyalty and all the paradoxes of the human condition. The setting is well fleshed out, with enough mystery regarding the details of society's breakdown to suspend any disbelief you might have about the premise. You feel like it's real. The characters further help you sense the desperation and anxiety of the world portrayed here. It's very somatic; you feel the hunger, the distrust, the anger and the violence of revenge.

I was left feeling grateful for the world I live in, which is the purpose of theme I suspect. It really could be worse. Watch this movie and feel intense gratitude for your humdrum life. Enjoy!