The
lowdown: 'Shallow Grave' is best described as a black comedy/thriller,
and is the first feature film that was
directed by Danny Boyle.
It stars Christopher Eccleston as chartered accountant David Stephens,
Ewan McGregor
as journalist Alex Law and
Kerry Fox as a doctor, Juliet Miller. The three are good friends and share
a large flat
in Edinburgh. The film opens
with them seeking a new flatmate, and after rejecting a number of candidates,
they
eventually allow Hugo to
rent the fourth bedroom. However, when Hugo suddenly dies the three friends
discover
that he had a suitcase with
a large amount of cash. Rather than reporting the death to the police,
they decide
to keep the money and dispose
of Hugo's body, drawing straws to decide which of them gets to cut up his
corpse.
Life goes on for the three
friends, apart from the ocassional visit from the police and some rather
nasty associates
of Hugo who come looking
for Hugo and the money. The thugs break into their flat and are quickly
disposed of,
but the strain of recent
events begins to affect the relationship between David, Alex and Juliet.
David in particular
undergoes a change in personality;
he was once the quiet, retiring member of the threesome, but post-traumatic
stress disorder takes hold
and he begins to behave strangely, hiding the suitcase in the loft and
taking to living
up there (and drilling holes
in the ceiling so he can watch his friends). The three soon turn on each
other, and
a bloody confrontation ensues
when David tries to leave with the money.
While Ewan McGregor (in his
first major film role) and Kerry Fox are excellent, Christopher Eccleston
steals
the film with his performance
as the seemingly mild-mannered and sensible accountant who becomes rather
unbalanced after being forced
to cut up a body and bury it in the woods (and who wouldn't!). 'Shallow
Grave'
is a great low-budget thriller
that rightly won many awards, including a BAFTA and the International Fantasy
Film Award. It is highly
recommended.
Video Clips: Seeking
a new flatmate 6.0mb
A final confrontation
6.2mb |
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