Wilderness (2006)

Director:

Michael J. Bassett

Writer:

Dario Poloni (writer)

Release Date:

11 August 2006 (Ireland)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

It's not about revenge. It's about punishment.

Plot:

Juvenile delinquents gets sent to a small British island after a fellow prisoners death, where they have to fight for survival. |

Plot Keywords:

Survival | Juvenile Delinquent | Island | Death | Dismemberment

Cast

Sean Pertwee	...	Jed
Alex Reid	...	Louise
Toby Kebbell	...	Callum
Stephen Wight	...	Steve
Luke Neal	...	Lewis
Ben McKay	...	Lindsay
Lenora Crichlow	...	Mandy
Karly Greene	...	Jo
Adam Deacon	...	Blue
Richie Campbell	...	Jethro
Stephen Don	...	Dave's Father
John Travers	...	Dave
George Shane	...	Governor
Gordon Fulton	...	Boat's Captain
John Rea	...	Counsellor John

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and gore, language and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:18 | USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Germany:18 | France:-16 | Finland:K-18 | Australia:MA | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Philippines:R-13 | UK:15 | Greece:K-17 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

Momentum Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: When Callum is chasing Davie's Dad with the Crossbow. As he slides down the cliffs while following him the Crossbow goes from being cocked, to de-cocked, and back to cocked again.

Movie Connections:

References "Zorro" (1957)

Fantastic!

"Wilderness" is a fantastic film about several teens struggle for survival as they are hunted down by a at-first mysterious killer on a remote island where they have been taken to lean a different kind of lesson. You see, these teens are a group of young inmates at a prison / detention center for young offenders and after one of their cell-mates is found dead, their warden is forced to take them to this island to learn a thing or too. Instead, they end up fighting for their lives.

On the island though, the boys run into 2 girls and their own warden from another detention center. Neither of the two wardens are very happy about each other's group being there, but when one of the boys is found dead, they band together to fight for survival. Naturally, the two wardens are taken out by the killer first, so the kids, despite many of them disliking each other, constantly backstabbing each other and trying to out-do one another, must find a way to work together to stay alive.

"Wilderness" is a terrific premise, with an amazing sense of realism to it. The acting is fantastic, particularly from Toby Kebbell (Callum), Stephen Wight (Steve), Lenora Crichlow (Mandy) and Alex Reid (Louise). The deaths happen at appropriate times, and yes, they are gruesome and sometimes disturbing. The killer also has a pack of crazed dogs which he terrorises the teens with. It becomes obvious to both the teens and the audience who killer is, what his motif is, a standard fare in horror movies.

"Wilderness" is gripping and fast paced. I was glued to the screen for the entire film following the teens, working out who was trying to deceive who, and delving into the complex relationships with each other. The only disappointing part, which is quite minor, is that although the warden mentions what the kids are in prison for, you don't know who is in for what. The teens that survived are the ones that should have in my opinion.

Overall, a highly recommended horror which is fast paced, full of unusual characters, nasty deaths and a true struggle for survival.