Travellers (2011)

I don't usually write reviews but I wanted to comment on this one.A lot of the reviews I've read for "The Travellers" aka "The Hunting" are quite harsh. I don't think it is being judged in the context of it being a low budget film.I would not say that it's fantastic but taking everything into account (the money, the cast and crew) it was entertaining with some gripping scenes.Giving it a very low rating is a little unfair in my opinion, it can't be compared to a slick Hollywood blockbuster. Maybe these reviewers are only used to watching that sort of movie.

I am not really sure what this film sets out to achieve here. Within the genre this story has been told a million times and a million times it has been told better than here. The plot is all over the place and the main protagonists are hard to watch, maybe it's the poor script or the risible way in which it is delivered...or maybe it's just because I am not a 12 year old. The only surprising thing about this movie is that those stalwarts of useless films do not appear in it, neither Danny Dire (sic) nor Vinnie Jones crop up anywhere, but you half expect them to at any moment with some rather large doses of scene chewing that they excel at. The film is neither gritty nor entertaining and offers little, I defy anyone to sit and watch this tripe and honestly say they have not...as I have just done...wasted a chunk of an evening. Utter PAP.

I really wanted this to be great. Loved the idea when I heard about it, setting up the Travellers as the villains (as expected) and then telling a different story. If only it had been told better. There are still some great bits. The Traveller characters presence is powerful with Dean Jagger and Celia Muir both strong in their roles. The fight scene almost feels real and there are some genuine thrills and spills. Disappointing was the production value - sure, not everyone has the big Hollywood bucks but I wish just a little more had been spent on this film. The script wavers and so do some of the performances, a lot of friends doing favours in this as opposed to 'actors' I suspect. I think some of the films messages about who is real bad-guy, and prejudices toward others are at times overstated and at others maybe understated, its a scrappy story. but the message is there. The film plays off its stereotypes for the most part quiet well with the most stereotypical character being the psycho 'hoodie' city-boy, nutcase Andy Baxtor who you just love to hate! The low HMV price tag on this is welcome but also denotes a certain instant lack of money spent on the film. These guys were almost certainly film students and it shows but worth a gander if you like a bit of splat and tw*t action. Please someone make an Irish Traveller Boxing flick with some money behind it!

Sorry, but this film is awful. I really did want to like it. After all, its British, has motorbikes in it and even Charley Boorman - with so much going for it, its a real pity that it was so dire....I gave it one point for Charley, one for the bikes and two for the surprise bit in the story -no, I didn't see it coming, so it does rate a couple of points for that. But overall the plot was non-existent, the acting was dreadful and neither Charley nor the bikes were in it after the first five minutes anyway. (Actually, I wonder why Charley Boorman was in it - what on earth was he thinking about? Maybe they should have hired him as one of the bikers?) The fighting scene was OK but not really my cup of tea.All things considered, I must say I agree with 'Silly Sausage' on this one.