Fantastic Fest ’11 Review: ‘A LONELY PLACE TO DIE’

One of the scariest things to me is nature as it can be unpredictable and unrelenting. Prior to seeing the film, I simply thought that A Lonely Place to Die was just a survivalist horror film against nature. It is a survivalist horror film against the force of nature known as man and damn is it frightening.

Alison (Melissa George) and her friends go out to hike and climb in the Scotland Mountains when they discover a Serbian girl buried alive. Taking her with them and accepting responsibility, they end up putting themselves in a very unique situation. One that could get them killed. They are pursued and hunted by two men who have a motive behind the Serbian girl’s entrapment. What unfolds is a deadly cat and mouse game through the wilderness.

Melissa George turns out a great female heroine that takes charge of the situation. The hunters are terrifying in the lack of remorse or emotion they have. They are ruthless and scary and it is one of the many aspects that makes this film so great. A lot of this is due to the Gilbey brothers – Julian Gilbey (director) and Will Gilbey (writer) – as their film is pretty well crafted and grounded in a realistic fashion. The final third of the film takes a left turn as far as the environment is concerned but the tension never eases up. However, it does almost feel like it starts to get a little too busy with the actions that begin happening. In no way will you be less entertained with this change as the story still keeps the screws tight without any intention on loosening them.

Karel Roden (The Abandoned, Running Scared) even shows up in the last third of the film to turn out a memorable role, and an even more memorable scene with one of the hunters played by Sean Harris (The Borgias) that really makes you wonder how the end result of the scene will unfold.

Effectively directed and well written, A Lonely Place to Die is one of the most nail-biting films since Neil Marshall’s The Descent. This film should be on every thriller fan’s list of must see films. Not only is it a great British thriller, but it might be one of the best thrillers I have seen this year. I really hope the brothers Gilbey hang out a little longer in the thriller/horror genre because I believe they will really revel in it.