'Shallow Grave' marks now-Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle's directorial début, and also shows Hollywood actors like Ewan McGregor before they found great success. The first thing to note, then, is that those involved in 'Shallow Grave' have been propelled from this humble, independent British film to massive, big-budget blockbusters in just a few years.
The second thing to note is that the plot is simple - almost too simple. However, Boyle easily keeps the excitement up, right up to (and especially) the final shot.
The film is about three friends. From the first scene (a wonderful montage), it is not hard to deduce that these people are unpleasant. They trick and make fun of potential flat-mates just to fulfil their twisted, sadistic pleasures; we watch with surprising glee as they effortlessly humiliate unsuspecting Scots. However, one applicant catches their attention; an intriguing man named Hugo. When they find him dead in his new room, however, things start to get dark.
Hugo came with a suitcase full of money. After deciding to take the said money, things get darker.
Paranoia, suspicion and deception run riot between the three; disposing of the body makes a particularly grisly scene, despite no blood being shown; Boyle teases the viewer and creates an almost over-the-top situation. Like so much of 'Shallow Grave', it teeters on the edge of laugh-out-loud humour perfectly.
The performances are top-notch; McGregor plays the unnervingly flippant Alex perfectly; Kerry Fox is brilliantly cast as the stuck-up, selfish Juliet and Christopher Eccleston is fantastic as the paranoid, sensible(ish) David. They have great chemistry together and they manage to bring sympathy to what are, in essence, horrible people.
The real stars, however, are behind the camera. Boyle creates a quirky, almost surreal world, photographed with just enough satire by Brian Tufano. There are some truly ingeniously shot scenes, perhaps most notably being one involving holes in the ceiling and a frantic David. What Boyle manages to do is tear your feelings - you want them to get horribly mutilated because they are a sick bunch, but at the same time you want them to get away with it because, for reasons unbeknownst to you, you can sympathise with them.
Maybe it's because you feel sorry for them being dragged into it. Maybe it's because you like mean people. Or, maybe it's because you're not sure you'd do any better. Whatever it is, you will enjoy it (and will probably argue with someone about the ending).
The second thing to note is that the plot is simple - almost too simple. However, Boyle easily keeps the excitement up, right up to (and especially) the final shot.
The film is about three friends. From the first scene (a wonderful montage), it is not hard to deduce that these people are unpleasant. They trick and make fun of potential flat-mates just to fulfil their twisted, sadistic pleasures; we watch with surprising glee as they effortlessly humiliate unsuspecting Scots. However, one applicant catches their attention; an intriguing man named Hugo. When they find him dead in his new room, however, things start to get dark.
Hugo came with a suitcase full of money. After deciding to take the said money, things get darker.
Paranoia, suspicion and deception run riot between the three; disposing of the body makes a particularly grisly scene, despite no blood being shown; Boyle teases the viewer and creates an almost over-the-top situation. Like so much of 'Shallow Grave', it teeters on the edge of laugh-out-loud humour perfectly.
The performances are top-notch; McGregor plays the unnervingly flippant Alex perfectly; Kerry Fox is brilliantly cast as the stuck-up, selfish Juliet and Christopher Eccleston is fantastic as the paranoid, sensible(ish) David. They have great chemistry together and they manage to bring sympathy to what are, in essence, horrible people.
The real stars, however, are behind the camera. Boyle creates a quirky, almost surreal world, photographed with just enough satire by Brian Tufano. There are some truly ingeniously shot scenes, perhaps most notably being one involving holes in the ceiling and a frantic David. What Boyle manages to do is tear your feelings - you want them to get horribly mutilated because they are a sick bunch, but at the same time you want them to get away with it because, for reasons unbeknownst to you, you can sympathise with them.
Maybe it's because you feel sorry for them being dragged into it. Maybe it's because you like mean people. Or, maybe it's because you're not sure you'd do any better. Whatever it is, you will enjoy it (and will probably argue with someone about the ending).