"A spade, we need a spade!" (Shallow Grave (DVD))

Member Name: Belfastgirl

Product:	Shallow Grave (DVD)
Date:	26/05/01 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: humerous, good cast line up

Disadvantages: gorey, scarey

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 we meet Alex (Ewan McGregor) - a journalist for a local paper, David (Christopher Eccleston) - an accountant and Julliet (Kerry Fox) - a doctor. The interviews are over, and still they haven't found the perfect room mate (watch out for Cameron).

Eventually, they find Hugo, and he moves in- and then they don't see him for a few hours- so after much debate, they decide to breakdown the door - and there is Hugo. Dead. In their flat.

Well, obviously the first thing you would do is ring for an ambulance, not Alex. He searches the room, and finds a suitcase under the bed - full of money.

They are now faced with a dilemma, do they turn in the money, or do they dispose of Hugo's body themselves and split the money between them?

They decide to keep the money (obviously or the film would be very short), and this is only the beginning, who will dispose of the body? As with all things, friendships can change when money is involved? how does this affect their friendship? and how will it all turn out when they discover that Hugo has been on the run from a couple of menacing thugs?

This movie has an 18 certificate, suggesting immediately that it is quite a violent movie in places, and it most certainly is not for those who are squeamish - there are p
arts that I had to hide behind a cushion, and other parts that I had to actually leave the room. Apart from such parts, it is a wonderfully brilliant movie. Ewan McGregor is brilliant in this movie, as are the other members of the cast. There are some amazing effects, especially when David is drilling holes in the ceiling and it shows you up into the roof space.

Director, Danny Boyle (Of Trainspotting fame) made this movie just before Trainspotting, and it is another one set in Scotland.

This is definitely a black comedy. There are certain parts when you know you wouldn't be laughing had it been another movie, but the way it is scripted or the way Ewan McGregor looks is so funny. While the ending leaves you saying, "I can't believe that happened", the final clip leaves you laughing, so you can leave the movie without thinking, "That was awful".

It asks such questions like, can you really trust your friends? Are they really your friends? And What would you do if you found a big suitcase full of money?

If the love of money is the root of all evil, this movie certainly backs that statement up.

Summary: