Shallow Grave (DVD)

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room Shallow Grave is the feature film debut of superb director Danny Boyle, who recently won an Oscar for the acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire. This film is not only credited with giving him a foothold in the industry that would allow his recent glory, but also launched the careers of Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston and Kerry Fox. The film opens as we meet the three principal characters - Alex (McGregor), a journalist, David (Eccleston), an accountant, and Juliet (Fox), a doctor, who live together in a flat. However, they can't afford end's meet by themselves so get a fourth housemate, ...  Read the complete review

I own an excellent compilation album called Essential Soundtracks, containing 40 tracks from film soundtracks. As well as having a large number of great tracks (from the likes of James Brown, The Commodores, The Stereophonics and more), i also noticed that the films these tracks were taken from were also great. These included Pulp Fiction, Lock Stock, Reservoir Dogs and many more. Anyway, when i was building up my collection of VHS films, which has now got quite large, i noticed Shallow Grave sitting on the shelf, looking quite lonely. When i realised that the reason i recognised the title was because of my album, i decided to give it a go. The presence of Ewan ...  Read the complete review

As the front cover says, "What's a little murder between friends?" - gives a hint of what this movie is about, as if the title wasn't enough! This movie, is often shown on Film Four, as it is one of those British Movies that Channel 4 like to show. I first seen this movie when it came out on Video, after recommendation by my older brother, and it was well worth the watch. The movie begins, flying through streets, with the banging tune of Leftfield in the background. We come to a house, go up to the top floor to find a lovely flat with 3 flatmates looking for another flatmate to take over the spare room in the house. It is here that ...  Read the complete review

Shallow Grave is a relatively old film now, but I have been having a clear out, and this is another of the old favourites I have come across. It is a thriller with a touch of comedy, and it was the start of successful careers for Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston. The film is based around three friends who share a flat. Juliet (Kerry Fox) is a doctor, who always seems to be avoiding men who are out to impress her. Alex (McGregor) is a journalist who is confident and cocky. Finally, there is the accountant and somewhat withdrawn David (Eccleston). After advertising and interviewing for a fourth flatmate, they decide on Hugo (Keith Allen), ...  Read the complete review

This Danny Boyle film merits watching, if only because its dysfunctional protagonists' comeuppance is so deliciously deserved. And they deserve each other too! Ewan McGregor (Alex) is a self-serving journo on a local paper(wow), Christopher Eccleston (David) is the nerd and Kerry Fox (Juliet) is a foxy doc. After humiliating a number of potential flatmates, they take on a mysterious author with a past - and a drug-fuelled death wish. His unwitting legacy is a suitcase full of cash and here's where the trouble begins. Why? Because the deceased druggie's a marked man and two of the most evil characters in the world are after the cash. How evil? Let's say I ...  Read the complete review