Calibre (2018)

Getting a self-written and directed feature into the Edinburgh Film Festival must be a triumph for any film maker. But getting your very first one shown to a packed out screen in Edinburgh’s Odeon cinema? On top of it already being snapped up for release on that little known media provider, Netflix? That feeling I am sure is hard to put into words for Matt Palmer, writer and director of Calibre. A dark, suspenseful thriller set in the wondrous countryside of Scotland, full of known & unknown Scottish talent, Calibre is sure to do well in the Edinburgh Film Festival and far beyond as it reaches the vast audiences of Netflix!

Edinburgh man Vaughn leaves his newly pregnant wife for a weekend of deer hunting in the Scottish countryside, with care free, recreational drug using best friend Marcus. A seeming last hooray for the soon to be Father, the two men party their first night away with not a care in the world in a tiny village where the locals seem friendly, but cautious of the outsiders. The next day, the men, obviously slightly fragile, head out for a day of deer stalking in the tranquil nearby woods. And this is where this so far un-interesting story takes a sudden & dark turn, with one event lasting the blink of an eye but changing everything. It drags the men into a nightmare of murder, suspicion and desperation for escape from their hell in the isolated hills of Scotland.

It’s clear from the above that giving too much away would ruin this film. It should be seen with unsuspecting eyes which are ready for anything. The plot starts quiet and suddenly turns the volume up to the max in an attempt to keep the viewer riding along with the two characters as they struggle through the chaos, not knowing what’s next, and it succeeds. Palmers fast-paced script batters the viewer and forces one to ask the question “What would I do?” as Marcus & Vaughn are faced with life shattering & dangerous choices to make in a matter of seconds. The juxtaposition of setting a story full of violence and macabre in the peaceful environment of the Scottish hills and forests is nothing new. However it is intensely felt in this film where even in a small Scottish town of villagers that thankfully do not conform to the dreary, brute stereotype, no one is safe. This contrast is supported by the powerful performances given by the cast, with a special mention of Tony Curran. Curran delivers a mixture of dangerous and desperate in his portrayal of the village protector just trying to help his remote home town stay afloat, while reminding the two outsiders where they are and who is in charge. Beautiful cinematography of majestic forests and landscapes are met with only danger & violence in this quick nail-biting thriller that everyone should add to their list on Netflix when it arrives!

Director: Matt Palmer

Writer: Matt Palmer

Stars: Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran