This minimalist Spanish thriller is yet another version of the age-old MOST DANGEROUS GAME story, yet filmed in such a way that it feels fresh and energetic despite the slimness of the plot. The Spanish have a way of taking the most simple elements of cinema – characters, a strong setting – and turning them into something often stylised and entertaining. KING OF THE HILL may not be up there in the ranks of REC and THE ORPHANAGE, but that doesn't stop it being a well made and beautifully shot little movie.
The story is simple. After an arresting sexual encounter in a public toilet, a man and a woman find themselves stranded in the wilderness and at the mercy of unknown marksmen who are hunting them with dogs and rifles. There's no more to it than that, and when a couple of disbelieving policemen turn up, you can instantly guess their fate. Even the identity of the killers is rather ho-hum given the recent successes of EDEN LAKE and THEM.
And yet still I found myself gripped by the unfolding events. That may be down to the lean, pared-down nature of the script or the genuine performances from the leading players – both Argentinian-born Leonardo Sbaraglia and his pretty sidekick, Maria Valverde, are fine at expressing stark terror at their impending doom. While I didn't agree with some of the plot twists that rob the movie of a single sympathetic character, I loved the bleak, beautifully-shot setting and the relentless nature of the action. Not a classic maybe, but still a serviceable outing.
