Exactly what it says on the tin: A Lonely Place To Die
by Daniel Sos
I’d like to preface this by saying that thanks to this movie, I will NEVER go mountain climbing ever now. Not that I was going to – but still. It’s the principle of the thing.
A Lonely Place To Die is an action-thriller directed by Julian Gilbey and written by Will and Julian Gilbey. It stars Melissa George, of Alias and In Treatment fame, as Alison, one of many mountain climbing enthusiasts taking in the scenery of the Scottish Highlands. The group gets along well enough, and the hike is going off with only a few bumps. After one of the troupe hears strange noises coming from the woods, many things, “all hell” among them, break loose.
This movie is a thriller in the most literal sense. The gut-wrenching, skull-numbing vertigo of the mountain cinematography is often enough to up one’s adrenaline beyond what is healthy, and besides that, the movie is filled with action. There’s so much going on in this movie. Sometimes that makes for a crowded, frenetic experience, but the way they balance the times of action and non-action makes it exciting instead. A Lonely Place To Die can cannily cut from a quiet drama scene to a white-hot chase, and keep you arc-welded to your seat for the duration.
The actors really shine in this film as well. They all give dedicated, emotive, and incredibly passionate performances that fit into the niches of this film like a jigsaw piece. The writing is equally skilled, conveying action, suspense, and a surprising amount of humour into the dialogue and actions. A Lonely Place To Die is beautifully put together, and one can see how much effort went into it by its obvious high quality.
Lastly, this movie is beautiful. The shot choices are concise and powerful, and the camera work is skillful beyond belief. What’s even more amazing is the landscape – A Lonely Place To Die made me appreciate Scotland. Huh. Who knew?
In summary, A Lonely Place To Die is a wonderful film of the highest calibre, and I suggest you seek it out immediately. Except if you are interested in mountain climbing, in which case: stay away. Seriously.
