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Bookmark this pageShallow Grave (1994)
Director: Danny Boyle
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
When their mysterious new flatmate suffers a fatal overdose, David, Alex and Juliet (Eccleston, McGregor and Fox) find a fortune in bank notes stashed in his room. They quickly resolve to keep the money, but nothing comes for free, and the price here involves not only dismemberment and burial, but the trio's trust, sanity and friendship. This impressively assured, highly accomplished British feature doesn't dwell on moral niceties, but goes straight for the gut. John Hodge's screenplay has the kind of unrelenting forward momentum and close-to-the bone sense of purpose which sees you safely through a good many logical minefields, even if nagging question marks occur in retrospect. Given that most of the action takes place in the flat, it's remarkable how agile and invigorating Boyle's direction is. As the friends fall out, the movie loses some of its black comic edge, perhaps, but only to gain in sheer, back-stabbing, bloody-minded mayhem.Author: TCh
User reviews of this film
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- Paul Nicolson said...
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Posted on Jan 17 2009 15:39
I like horror and thrillers and love home grown films.
I have enjoyed nearly all Danny Boyles offerings.
However, I went to the cinema to see Shallow Grave and left with a bitter taste in my mouth.
Perhaps that was Boyles intention, but it was the one and only time I left the cinema feeling physically sick and not a little disturbed.
Perhaps because the characters were very recognisable, perhaps because I was in Edinburgh where the film is set.
The characters turn on each other and none are very likeable.
We have no empathy for their predicament and have no desire to see them succeed.
The body chopping etc is awful.
So if all of that appeals then this is the film for you, but I think anyone who really enjoys this needs to look at themselves.
Before anyone says it, Im no shrinking violet, just for some reason this film disturbed me and I have no desire to view it again. - Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Danny Boyle
Producer: Andrew Macdonald
Cast: Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston, Ewan McGregor, Ken Stott, Keith Allen, Colin McCredie full cast
Genre(s): Thrillers
Duration: 92 mins
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