Superterranean

Not bad, not great, but did enjoy it, mainly dues to the fact that I enjoy nothing more than hiking solo from bothy to bothy, including Corrour.

My first thoughts were this is a great idea for a film. Couldn't help feel it wasn't very realistic. The main reason being that no bothy I've ever been in has had more than a thumbs width of a candle sticking out of a buckfast bottle, and I've spent many a lonesome night in a fair few. The mantle piece looked like Blackpool illuminations, whereas in reality I've been lucky to get an Anderson shelter during the blitz.

As it happens I'm off early tomorrow morning, 7am train, to Corrour station (Britain's most remote station btw), eta 15:15. Seven .5 hike over to Loch Charain bothy, absolute middle of nowhere. This film will play back in my head I'm sure, so it's defo done something right.

This is a film that proves the difference between Hollywood million dollar films and the rest is paper thin. Loved this movie. My take on the meaning is that he is just having a conversation with himself and then buries the past. He may have been away from home much longer than a few days. But he wants to go home. There is the odd rather glitchy out of focus shot but for that there are dozens of brilliant wide screen shots. Enjoyed it immensely.

Taking on the whole project was clearly a massive task but it was worth it. 5 years in the making I read. Ian describes himself as a reluctant actor, well if you want to replace yourself in the next film give me a call.

Good story, well made. Nice landscapes. The acting is a little stilted in pacing sometimes and it's a bit of a talk fest but for good reasons in the story.

The story, the history, the landscape and use of the cultural aspects was impressive. There's some blood and special effects but nothing too disturbing.

But what was really impressive was that it was written, shot, directed, produced and starred all just one guy. His brother helped out but this is pretty much a shining example of solo film making, Just like the main character going solo climbing.

I've a sneaking suspicion this was a covid project not that it matters.

Well.....it starts off as a run of the mill drama with brilliant cinematic views n the music is foreboding giving tension to the film. The scenery leaves you breathless.

The middle.....intriguing once the visitor arrives. A little dark n mystifying n the tension escalates. It left me holding my breath at times. It's very gripping.

The ending has a big twist but I'm not sure if I got the message therefore I'm confused or even if there was a hidden message 🤔😳 I was left with a lot of unanswered open-ended questions but I guess the viewer can make his or her mind up about the outcome.

It's left me astonished that this dark movie was totally made by one man! I have admiration for Ian Gordon.

I took 2 stars off for the open-ended finale.

I have a sort of system when it comes to assigning stars to a film. All films, in my view, start with five stars. If I find it vaguely entertaining I might add a star. If it's quite enjoyable it might go to seven stars. Likewise, if a film is not so good the rating may go down to four or three. The truly awful get two or even one. For me, five stars equals "meh".

Superterranean has it's good points. The bleak Scottish landscape is beautiful but unsettling to look at and is well shot and the fact that this is all done by one man is impressive. However it's all kind of dull and not a lot really happens. There's some stuff about Cairns and faeries and cabin fever, I can't really remember. I doubt I'll remember anything at all about it by tomorrow.

Not bad enough to turn off but not good enough to be entertaining. Can I recommend it? Maybe, if you like rocks you'll get a real kick out it.