The idea of a huge amount of cash falling into your lap is not a new thing in the movies. It's an idea ... a fantasy a ton of people identify with, dream about. 'Shallow Grave' another entry into this genre had opinions divided when it came out. The UK setting, the main cast are noteworthy and perhaps the strongest element. Often you like or sympathize with the characters put in this predicament so having the opposite be true ended up being my favorite part as the tale plots the usual trajectories of trust, greed.
David (Christopher Eccleston), Juliet (Kerry Fox) & Alex (Ewan McGregor) share a large flat together in Edinburgh. They are looking for a fourth and in the process belittle applicants until they meet Hugo (Keith Allen). A "writer" who dies of a drug overdose and with a large suitcase full of money. Having to dispose of his body David draws the short straw and from there it's a race against the police, infighting, paranoia and the murderous thugs who want the money back as Hugo obviously wasn't what he seemed.
Before director Danny Boyle & McGregor would go on to do 'Trainspotting' which put the both of them on the map, here they were in raw form but flashes of brillance. Though Fox & Eccleston are no slouches either. Juliet is the female type within bounds of reality and the way David slowly but surely loses himself is brillant. Closest to normal, likable of the lot but even he succumbs to the madness. It goes without saying there's a tint of black humor here but it's not played to the hilt and the tension is sometimes palpable.
I can see why 'Shallow Grave' got some minor acclaim, struck a note with a certain crowd. It's unlikable people end up being it's calling card. I say this because the issues and how everything plays out is rather routine other than one devilish twist at the end. That's really where the fun came watching this for me. This isn't the usual genre tale of a everyday decent people losing themselves, but awful sorts making bad decisions and being awful.
David (Christopher Eccleston), Juliet (Kerry Fox) & Alex (Ewan McGregor) share a large flat together in Edinburgh. They are looking for a fourth and in the process belittle applicants until they meet Hugo (Keith Allen). A "writer" who dies of a drug overdose and with a large suitcase full of money. Having to dispose of his body David draws the short straw and from there it's a race against the police, infighting, paranoia and the murderous thugs who want the money back as Hugo obviously wasn't what he seemed.
Before director Danny Boyle & McGregor would go on to do 'Trainspotting' which put the both of them on the map, here they were in raw form but flashes of brillance. Though Fox & Eccleston are no slouches either. Juliet is the female type within bounds of reality and the way David slowly but surely loses himself is brillant. Closest to normal, likable of the lot but even he succumbs to the madness. It goes without saying there's a tint of black humor here but it's not played to the hilt and the tension is sometimes palpable.
I can see why 'Shallow Grave' got some minor acclaim, struck a note with a certain crowd. It's unlikable people end up being it's calling card. I say this because the issues and how everything plays out is rather routine other than one devilish twist at the end. That's really where the fun came watching this for me. This isn't the usual genre tale of a everyday decent people losing themselves, but awful sorts making bad decisions and being awful.
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