DVD Release
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again; U.K. horror is on the rise in major ways. They’re really delivering some stand up films and it just keeps getting better! Joining genre filmmakers like Neil Marshall and Christopher Smith is Deathwatch director, Michael J. Bassett with his second film, Wilderness.
If you haven’t seen Bassett’s surreal war horror flick, Deathwatch, I’d highly recommend you do so. It’s one of the few war horror films out there worth watching. Bassett really delivered the tension and atmosphere on that flick.
When I heard rumors that Bassett would helm The Hills Have Eyes remake, I was overjoyed. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be. Wilderness, however, does make up for a bit of that disappointment. If you’ve been waiting for a bad ass “Most Dangerous Game” style thriller look no further than Wilderness. Just when you think you’re getting a “slasher” flick, the plot thickens (no by much though) and we discover the killer’s revenge is personal. This is no crazed maniac but a man on a deadly mission.
When bully Steve (Stephen Wight) and his meathead sidekick Lewis (Luke Neal) push weaker Youth Institution inmate David (Owen McHugh) into suicide, the whole lot are sent out to an island as “punishment” for not reporting the abuse or aiding the dying boy. The outing is lead by head guard, Jed (Sean Pertwee), with the directive that’s he to “teach them a bloody lesson.”
The group, including newcomer Callum (Toby Kebbell), hit the island and they’re all given tasks to accomplish in order to get the camp set up for the night. As the group explores a bit they come upon a tent and a bunch of girls apparently on the same type of trip from a Penitentiary for young women. Obviously, Jed and the ladies supervisor Louise (Alex Reid) aren’t all that pleased to have their groups mingling so they decide to stake their camps on different sides of the river.
The peace doesn’t last long though when a squatter is murdered and two of the girls witness Callum near the body. Callum is placed under protective custody but the problems don’t end there as the only cellphone in camp goes missing and there’s an ever increasing danger of mutiny amongst the inmates. Could Callum, already incarcerated for murder, really have murdered the squatter?
When one of the males goes missing and his severed arm is discovered the concern is short-lived as the camp is plunged into chaos after Jed is struck by several arrows and a pack of vicious dogs descend on the camp. The men and women are on the run as a sadistic killer and his dogs begin hunting them down one by one and dispatching them with clever traps. What does the killer want? Why are they being hunted like vermin?
As the groups begin turning on each other it soon becomes clear that survival of the fittest rules this island “paradise” and nobody will make it out alive. Callum and the others decide to take their last stand.
Wilderness is the kind of chips & beer flick horror fans love but seldom get. It’s got gore, action, suspense and a killer that truly inspires fear. Throw in ferocious attack dogs and booby traps that would make the Vietcong blush and you have what I like to call a, “HOLY SHIT!!!” movie. You know the kind of movie I’m talking about! You’re sitting there with friends watching the flick, nobody is really paying much attention and there’s some annoying gabbing going on until…ZZZZZZZZOOOOOMMP!! That first fuckin’ arrow lands in somebody’s chest! Suddenly you hear the entire room holler “HOLY SHIT!!!” in unison. Yeah, it’s like that.
Now, this here is nothing groundbreaking so don’t pop this in believing Michael J. Bassett is some kind of horror messiah because that’s just not the case. The premise isn’t anything new, many of the characters are extremely hard to like and the killer’s identity and motive are revealed WAY too early in the film. It’s like that slutty girl you ask out because you know she puts out on the first date. You’re all ready and set to wine and dine her with McDonalds and a movie when she cuts to the chase and rides you like Seabiscuit before you even pull out of her driveway! You should be happy because it was worth the trip but deep down inside you know you were cheated out of participating in the hunt.
Just because the ability to “figure out the bad guy” before the end is snatched from you though doesn’t mean this film isn’t worth your time. It’s an excellent film with tons of action and some rather cool gore. I HIGHLY recommend checking it out because I thought it was fantastic.
Apparently this thrill ride is being released by First Look Pictures in February so keep a close eye out. This particular disc I’m reviewing is the R2 / PAL release from the U.K. and there really isn’t a ton of extras. You get cast & crew interviews, some behind the scenes footage and trailers. Nothing to write home about. Let’s hope First Look gives us a bit more with the Region 1 / NTSC release.
By the way, Pertwee is greatly underused in this film which is a real shame because the guy rocks. In my book he’s right up there with Michael Ironside, Fred Ward and all those other “average guy” actors that never get props.
