A Lonely Place to Die

[funthing29]

An OK film that sacrifices characterisation for non-stop action. The cinematography puts the Scottish landscape to fantastic use. The scenic shots are breathtaking and the hiking looks impressive. There are some thrilling chase sequences and the pacing and sense of urgency is maintained throughout. Some brutal moments that never became too gruesome. Some more character development or backstory would have added another dimension to the film, since the hikers are boring and interchangeable, nothing unique or memorable about any of them.

The little girl was quite good despite having no dialogue, yet her terror, confusion and shock is conveyed well. Sean Harris was good as the villain, quite similar to the cold-blooded assassin he plays in The Borgias. Melissa George pouted her way through the film, playing the role competently.

My major problem with this film was the heavy and overpowering soundtrack. The score felt really out of sync with the mood of the scenes and I found it distracting.

5/10.

[LiteupLee]

I found it odd that the baddies didn't have guns?? Well, they did in the end, but what if they hadn't have run into those 2 blokes that were out???

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

I thought this was a very decent, well paced chase thriller. Its not groundbreaking or anything but there were a few good edge of the seat thrills. Although there were plenty of deaths, none were really gory hence the 15 cert instead of 18, I mention this because some of you seem to be wary of this element.

So I enjoyed it. The beginning reminded me of cliffhanger and I wished there were more of the vertigo inducing action scenes. The main problem I had with the movie was all the cutaways from the hunted protagonists to some really boring characters in a car. Although they were key to the plot, I didnt give a s**t about them. The climactic ending was way OTT too, which was a shame. It was still exciting but believability suddenly took a sharp dive into the abyss at that point.

Was good to see weirdy again. glad you can watch 15 cert films now...its a whole new world out there, lad. And its a dark and sinister one mwahahaa

Rating 7/10.

[Yinster]

Saw this in Showcase Ballieston, Glasgow. Big farce with people turning up around 18:20 but were told that screen was still being used for another film till 18:55. About 18:30 I suggested to the SKY rep perhaps she should think about starting a queue as otherwise it would be a riot when cinema was finally opened. Luckily she did and a queue formed. Some disgruntled people as obviously they were earlier than others but then do they want to take their chances in chaos?! Probably not.

As for the film, yeah the scenery was nice and everything for about 10 minutes but then it just looked the same. Hills, trees, river, more hills, more trees, more river. Must admit I got bored from the film and I don't know why. Maybe cos the director was trying to be artsy in some shots, slowing down or getting the camera to run behind them or look in a different view. Whatever it was I just didn't like it.

Continuity was a big problem with some many mistakes. The fact that I even notice them shows how much I was bored of it. How many bullets did the bad guys have? Their pockets must had been pretty deep as they were filling their guns with bullets. And I know you wearing brightly coloured clothes on the hills for easier visibility but no one thought to take them off when being chased. And how on earth did Drako have a 63 plate car? Car of the future. Why didn't Melissa George used one of the kitchen knives in the kitchen scene instead of (I think) a kettle?

Must admit I did think it was the end when you see Melissa George succumbed right at the end as there was a blackout of the screen for a minute. But nope. Another scene happened.

It could had been a good suspense film but failed for me. OH actually thought I was sleeping halfway through. 3/10

[prettyxcool]

Its a run for your life with your companions being killed all around you type film.

Thanks steve9872, this really sums it up!

What is it with all these killing films at the moment! The little girl was good but a so, so film, so many holes in the story, so unbelieveable plot, so boring, so many killings, so boring. Yawn! And the music was so distracting. Didn't expect to like it and didn't. 5/10

Had us waiting until 6.20pm at Vue Islington before letting us in, and told by the Sky reps, not to leave gaps between seats. FMUKers all dashed to the back.

Then 10 seconds before the film ended the lights went up! What was all that about? So another spoilt screening to complain about!

Lovely to chat to ejwrank and david, sit with Beate and hopeprince who dashed off as soon as the lights went up! Hope they made it to WIQ, as we started late.

I'm off to Westfield on my own I've checked the violence rating and it should be ok

The film or the area?

Good one Yinster. Hope it all went ok valda

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Then 10 seconds before the film ended the lights went up! What was all that about? So another spoilt screening to complain about!

Wow, exact same thing happened at O2. Strange. There is probably a cue on all the film reels to turn lights on, but they are all synced wrong.

[valda]

how come there are never Sky reps where I go? Westfield was pretty full as it was a small screening room but lovely big screen as they all are in the newer venues.

As MrG said, it was rather like Cliffhanger at the beginning but I soon got bored, well not bored just meh I didn't like any of the climbers, especially the last guy standing, I wish he'd got it first. Melissa George was pouting and I didn't beleive for one minute she was a climber ( do you always have bubble bath when mountain climbing?)

The baddies were good, making the most of what they had to do, it was good to see Eamonn Walker on the big screen, he's sort of forgotten now Idris Elba has come on the market.

Halfway through I thought we were going to go all Wickerman , sadly not.

6/10

[TheDude]

I didn't expect much from this and it turned out to be an okay (ish) thriller, the little girl was really good, and the mountain scenery looked great, but after a good start with some interesting twists, it all descended into familiar territory. Glad it wasn't too gory! There was a lady sitting next to me who seemed very stressed out by the whole thing, she was jumping in terror every five minutes, poor thing. Agree the score was somewhat overbearing, and there were just too many sketchy characters I didn't care about... 5/10.

[Beate]

Whenever I am early for a screening I start a queue. I ignore all well-meaning advice to go and sit down on the sofa as it will be a while. No-hee, I want the good seats. And we got them. Back row right in the middle above the stairs, ready to shoot down like a cannonball at the end. Hopeprince ended up next to us and got immediately asked by the guy next to her whether she intended to eat all that popcorn because he wasn't going to sit there otherwise. Poor thing didn't dare touch the popcorn at all after that! The damn film started about 7 minutes late which did nothing to improve my mood but it was lovely to see so many FMUKers!

The film wasn't scary but had a hight body count, with the first guy ending up dead after half an hour or so. After that it was a lot of shooting and it uneasily reminded me a little of the massacre in Norway, with people ending up in the water and all sorts. I didn't really care for any of the one-dimensional characters, and the ending was distinctly underwhelming. I thought one of the hit guys towards the end was Idris Elba, but I can't find him credited?

5/10

[opas]

I thought one of the hit guys towards the end was Idris Elba, but I can't find him credited?

I think the guy you thought was Idris Elba is actually Eamon Walker. I remember he was in various British sitcoms in the 1990s but he also played Said in the HBO series, Oz, so they have both followed similar career paths in terms of taking starring roles in critically acclaimed US dramas.

Regarding the film, I'm not sure what I think about it. I agree that the characterisation was poor. I didn't really care for any of the characters although I did feel sorry for the group by the end. And that sound track - it had me jumping out of my seat a few times. Not sure what anyone else at the O2 thought but I thought it was too loud. I apologise to the man sitting next to me, I'm sure he was giggling at my reactions but all that foreboding music made things very tense for me - and not necessarily in a good way!

Wasn't sure how it was all going to turn out - the festival at the end just added to their weird and dire situation. Overall I would give it 6/10 but maybe they needed to give us a bit more detail of the characters and make it seem like they had a fighting chance, hollywood style