Getting Lost in All That Gunfire with Battleground: A Movie Review

Director: Neil Mackay.

Writers: Sean McAulay and Neil Mackay.

Cast: Bryan Larkin, Bob Cymbalski, Hugh Lambe, Damon E. White, Lee Sandford, Robert Nolan, Mark Monroe, and Frank Ieraci.

Tagline: "There will be no peace."

Battleground was previously called Skeleton Lake and this title can be considered a Canadian film. Shot in Ontario by Canadian director Neil Mackay, a forest soon becomes a murderous quagmire for six armed robbers. A psychopathic veteran from The Vietnam War is using these woods for live target practice. And soon, Battleground is showing its strengths, action sequences and its weaknesses, a sparse storyline.

That storyline will not make your head spin. As stated, six thieves have robbed a local business in Michigan State. They have killed a cop. An accomplice tells them to wait it out at a nearby cabin until he can arrange an escape for them. Unfortunately for the criminals, a killer with no rhyme or reason, is picking off anyone in a 10 mile radius of his Vietcong-like tunnel. Few characters find a happy ending here.

Actor Hugh Lambe as the Hunter

While the story is a little flat, action fans will find something here that is entertaining. The murders and deaths are truly over-the-top. One of the first victims is shot by arrows, beheaded and then skinned. These events are shown in a grisly fashion with a tight shot. Later, Canadian actor Robert Nolan as Logan finds a tree boobytrap to the stomach. Others meet a shotgun blast, explosion, machete or gunfire from a .357. This is a bloody film few will quickly forget.

Although not easily forgettable, this is still a film that is only partially developed. Certain film elements like the story and the film's length keep Battleground from becoming fully entertaining. For instance, who is the Hunter (Hugh Lambe)? He served in war, but what did he see that changed him into a complete sadist? A few flashbacks are not enough to create an interesting malefactor. As well, all of the characters except for one are villainous on some level. You can root for worse or worst. The one innocent character acts as a scared bunny rabbit lost in the forest. Soon, this film fan was simply hoping for more gunfire and explosions. Just as one's hopes are met, the film ends. Unsurpisingly, evil triumphs and the film's message is lost somewhere back in act II amongst all the gunfire.

Battleground will be a guilty pleasure for action fans. Horror fans will likely find instances of Russian roulette and gore sequences exciting, or disturbing. Those looking for a complex story might want to pass on this film venture. Overall, this is a film that focuses on violent action sequences to keep the pacing moving along. And, this is not such a bad thing as long as you know what you are heading into (murderous backwoods).

Overall: 6.75 out of 10 (brutal deaths, inconclusive conclusion, central antagonist seems unfazed by wounds, lots of bloody action, simply plotted).

*released August 21st on DVD.

Another review of this film at Flicker Magazine:

Flicker Magazine Reviews Battleground (Rebecca Garrett)


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