A Lonely Place to Die and Dying for All the Right Reasons: A Movie Review

*here be some spoilers.

Director: Julian Gilbey.

Writers: Julian Gilbey and Will Gilbey.

Cast: Melissa George, Ed Speleers, Eamonn Walker, Sean Harris and Alec Newman.

Director Julian Gilbey follows up his excellent biopic Rise of the Footsoldier and the semi-comedic Doghouse with a great ransom thriller. A Lonely Place to Die stars Melissa George, Eamonn Walker and Karel Roden in a Scottish set pic' that builds tension through mysteryious identities and motivations. Later, a second story develops in a small town during the Beltane Fire Festival where a hostage exchange goes everywhere but the right way. This is one of the best thrillers this reviewer has seen in 2011 and readers should see the film before reading the rest of this review.

There are really two stories in this picture. The first story involves five mountaineers exploring the west side of "Devil's Drop." While there, Ed (Ed Speleers) hears something strange. A girl is crying from below ground. They dig her up and soon even stranger events begin to occur. A rope is cut leading to one climbers death, rocks fall at inopportune times and a series of misdirections will lead the viewer down the wrong path to what is actually happening. What is actually going on? The details are revealed in the second story, which involves a kidnapping and a hostage swap. The girl is the linchpin in both stories and the finale brings several opposing groups together in explosive fashion.

To discuss the film requires that the film be looked at as two separate stories or as two primary acts. The first act, as stated, involves the climbers bonding in the Scottish Highlands. An early climbing accident sets the exciting tone. As characters in this first half meet tragic deaths and the survivors reach civilization this story wanes. And some of those characters almost facilitate their own demise. If you are being shot at in reality or in film, please use cover.

The second story makes its appearance as a pair of commandos back up a money drop. Their scenes become more prominent as the exchange is ready to take place. The father of the kidnapped girl is an ex-soldier from Croatia and he ensures his daughter's safety through the use of violence. This tactic seems contradictory, but watching the kidnapper's fail in bloody fashion is shocking and believable. The final scene, after a kidnapper has been caught, is the only predictable element of the film. Everything else seems up to chance.

Finally, the final scene and the latter half of the film is notable for its complex writing, but also for its use of violence. There are falls from heights and vicious gunplay that makes this film very mature in nature. All of the murderous actions are for reason including the need for survival or for a greater good (saving a young girl from a tortuous death). As well, the conflict is impactful and this film will not be forgotten once the credits draw near.

Truly remarkable, A Lonely Place to Die is a thriller that must be seen. This film is currently available on video-on-demand and the use of aerial shots, beautiful cinematography and the great acting from George and others makes this film a must see for 2011. End this year with a gift to yourself by watching this film. Besides, no one likes to die alone.

Overall: 8.25 out of 10 (great writing, believable actions, tense, unpredictable and thrilling).

Visit the film's fan page for more info':

A Lonely Place to Die on Facebook

A second review of this film is available at Dread Central (Pestilence):

A Lonely Place to Die Reviewed at Dread Central

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