Calibre film reviews movie#

The highlight of the film is the choices that individuals as well as groups make when faced with certain situations. The script follows its own course through the chain of events and the horror that unfolds is not so much from the blood and violence but more from the darkness that spills out from human beings.

The village and its inhabitants form a major part of the storytelling and so does the cinematography which focuses on the wilderness with enough intensity to add a perfect background to the unfolding drama. Giving any details of what happens next will be treading into spoiler territory but suffice to say that the friends head for some genuine tough moments. After a booze fest in a village pub the duo heads to the forest in the morning with their hunting gear. We can get a sense of some impending disaster as the breathtaking mountain scenery and the calm little village conveys a sense of foreboding. The mild mannered Vaughn is soon to be a father and as he exchanges goodbyes with his wife to join his rather assertive and coke snorting best friend Marcus.

Calibre film reviews movie#

The movie does not waste much time or moments in setting up the stage and we see two old friends Vaughn ( Jack Lowden) and Marcus(Martin McCann) heading for a weekend hunting trip in a remote village of the Scottish Highlands. But Palmer spins the web of events with mastery by keeping a single tragedy at the center while weaving each thread around it with the right tightness and tension so that once the events start rolling it gets hard to look away from the screen. The plot is kept in a straight line and there are no conventional shocks and thrills to grab the viewer’s attention.

In his debut film writer and director Matt Palmer has allowed his story to take control and make the viewer feel the uneasiness, as the characters are forced into corners to make difficult choices. In case you are in the mood to steer away from the blockbuster extravaganza to enjoy something more closer to the ground, Calibre can be a very good choice as a weekend or late night movie.