Shallow Grave (1995)

Friends Juliet, David and Alex are looking for a flatmate to share their Edinburgh home; after interviewing several people they give the room to Hugo. Soon there is no sign of him; at first they think he just left but his car is still parked outside and his room is locked from the inside. They force their way in and discover Hugo's dead body along with a suitcase full of money. It doesn't take them long to decide to keep the money and dispose of the body.Things soon start to go wrong; they draw lots to decide who should remove the body's identifying features and David loses… after this deed the shy character starts to become unhinged. In order to stop the others spending the money he hides it in the water tank in the flat's loft then sits up there guarding it. The money is not unmissed; a couple of murderous thugs are looking for it and they are using extreme methods to question anybody who might know where it is; inevitably they finally discover where Hugo was living. At this point Juliet and Alex discover just how dangerous David has become. By now each of them has determined to take the money and leave… that will be far from easy.This is a great little film populated by surprisingly unlikeable characters. From the opening scene, where the trio belittle most of those applying to become their flat mate. Some people may be but off by these characters but I found they made the film more interesting. The story is fairly simple but still gripping; it is also quite disturbing at times; especially towards the end when there are some wince inducing moments. The small cast did a fine job; Kerry Fox and Ewan McGregor impress as Juliet and Alex but it is Christopher Eccleston who really shines as David as he becomes more and more unhinged. While these three dominate the film they are ably supported by Ken Stott, as DI McCall and Keith Allen as Hugo. Overall I'd certainly recommend this but it certainly isn't for younger viewers or those who think a film should feature at least one likable main character.

As far as craft is concerned, Shallow Grave is an impressive film. Danny Boyle is a stylish filmmaker and despite the fact that this is his first directorial effort, that style shines through. This is a very good-looking film with excellent set design and color scheming, as well as great camera-work. There's also an undeniable giddiness and energy to the film. It feels like the product of a talented guy who loves movies and has finally been given the opportunity to make his own; he's having fun, and it's infectious.It really is a shame then that I couldn't get into this. For all of its style and unique energy, this movie ultimately failed to engage on an intellectual or emotional level. There are potentially good themes at work here as we see these three friends devolve into increasingly nefarious behavior: greed, corruption, and the inability to trust even those closest to you. But ultimately these themes aren't so much explored as they are presented. I don't feel as if I've gained any insight into the dark impulses of man as the credits roll, even if I have been shown them.Perhaps the reason for this is my inability to really get on board with these characters. The performances themselves are actually quite good, with Ewan McGregor in particular giving a great portrayal of Alex which (intentional or not) is reminiscent of Malcolm McDowell as another (more memorable) Alex. However, I never felt like I really understood these characters or their motivations. They were introduced to be relatively immature and cruel in the beginning of the film as they torment some prospective roommates, but they essentially go from 0 to 60 from there without much setup. It wasn't so much a descent into criminality as a leap off of a cliff, which felt at odds with the fact that at least two of the three main characters were clearly well- off, intelligent, and successful (doctor and accountant). The film tries to make a grand statement - at the outset it claims that the actions we are about to witness are things that any individual is capable of, even those who we would typically trust or deem honorable. It tries to reveal the primal, selfish nature of humans and the potential corrupting power of greed. But that theme doesn't ring true because of the lack of setup given to these characters. The quickness with which they jump to the heinous crimes they commit gives the impression that they were already morally compromised and sadistic to begin with. It doesn't feel like I'm watching average, decent people who have been seduced to violence by greed. Rather, I feel like I'm watching the story of these three specific opportunists who already lack empathy for others and, not surprisingly, spiral downwards when put in the situation that the film sets up. The universality of the theme just doesn't land.So then, what if you just forget the failed thematic goal and view the film as just that - a stylish thriller about three bad friends doing bad things? I think your mileage will still vary. There just wasn't enough intrigue in the plot for it to really hold the film up on its own accord, and the characters aren't colorful or fleshed-out enough to stand next to similar creations like the aforementioned Alex DeLarge. Beyond the style, great visuals, and giddy energy, the film just doesn't have much else going for it.

Three friends discover their new flatmate dead but loaded with cash.So, Danny Boyle's dad says this is the best Danny Boyle film, even better than "Slumdog Millionaire". With all due respect to Mr. Boyle, I have to disagree. This is a good film, but not the major splash such films as "Slumdog" or "28 Days later" were. For many people, Danny Boyle revolutionized the zombie film.It is great to see Ewan McGregor and Chris Eccleston in such early roles. I do not know enough about British films to be sure, but it seems like these two gentlemen and Boyle were on the rise at the same time, and very much because of each other. ("Trainspotting" had to be the breakout film for Boyle, and was likely for McGregor, too.)

Years prior to winning the Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle directed the dark comedy, Shallow Grave. Ewan McGregor is Alex, a journalist, who along with his friends, David an accountant, and Julia, a doctor, rent a flat in Edinburgh. The fourth person has left and they place an ad for a replacement. After a series of rejections, they rent to a mysterious man named Hugo. He shortly thereafter dies of a drug overdose, and they find a large amount of cash hidden away. Human nature and greed soon take over as the three remaining tenants decide to divide the money up and hide the dearly departed's corpse in a shallow grave. That's when all the fun begins, as they struggle to find Hugo a final resting place. I would compare Boyle's work to the Coen brothers Fargo for it's grave(excuse the pun) view of the nature of man; and woman, in this case. It is both funny and violent, and a real hidden treasure.