In case you are in the mood to steer away from the blockbuster extravaganza to enjoy something more closer to the ground, Calibre can be a very good choice as a weekend or late night movie. In his debut film writer and director Matt Palmer has allowed his story to take control and make the viewer feel the uneasiness, as the characters are forced into corners to make difficult choices. The plot is kept in a straight line and there are no conventional shocks and thrills to grab the viewer’s attention. But Palmer spins the web of events with mastery by keeping a single tragedy at the center while weaving each thread around it with the right tightness and tension so that once the events start rolling it gets hard to look away from the screen.

The movie does not waste much time or moments in setting up the stage and we see two old friends Vaughn ( Jack Lowden) and Marcus(Martin McCann) heading for a weekend hunting trip in a remote village of the Scottish Highlands. The mild mannered Vaughn is soon to be a father and as he exchanges goodbyes with his wife to join his rather assertive and coke snorting best friend Marcus. We can get a sense of some impending disaster as the breathtaking mountain scenery and the calm little village conveys a sense of foreboding. After a booze fest in a village pub the duo heads to the forest in the morning with their hunting gear. Giving any details of what happens next will be treading into spoiler territory but suffice to say that the friends head for some genuine tough moments.

The village and its inhabitants form a major part of the storytelling and so does the cinematography which focuses on the wilderness with enough intensity to add a perfect background to the unfolding drama. The script follows its own course through the chain of events and the horror that unfolds is not so much from the blood and violence but more from the darkness that spills out from human beings. The highlight of the film is the choices that individuals as well as groups make when faced with certain situations. The director does not pass any judgment but keeps things intense and tight without overdoing any part of the unfolding drama.

The first parts of the movie head into multiple conversations which reveal key notes that play in the later stages quite significantly and the editing is kept very precise without allowing the viewer’s attention to wander away. The moments of shock and awe are not so impactful as in a typical horror film but the  good thing about the movie is that once the ball is set rolling Palmer does not slacken the pace with any wasted moments or frames. The movie ventures into a grim zone especially in its later stages as the friends are placed into increasingly tightening situations even as the village celebrates the spring equinox.

The actors elevate the film by their fantastic performances and every one of them matches the overall rhythm with their own perfect notes. The two lead characters are played with perfection by Lowden and McCann and each of them displays the moral dilemmas and choices that they face with great finesse. Their portrayals of cornered and helpless individuals at the later stages are bound to perturb the viewers.

The shadows of the old classics are there on the movie but it does very well as an individual story and never spirals out of Palmer’s grip. It is not exactly breathless in its pace but it slowly sets up the choking atmosphere as it heads towards the climax. The calmness of the forest and the mountains can be deceptive enough to hide the turmoil that human beings can create with their own tragedies and the film explores that to a conclusion that can leave an impact.  This is one ride that does not shy away from exposing its rough parts and will surely make you uneasy in your seat without doubt.

Calibre is available in Netflix.

 Teleratz rating: Good

 

By Teleratz team

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