Superterranean

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.

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.

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.

I believe the movie was captivating although I didn't understand the writers thrust for quit a while. But still i had to keep watching.

I first assumed he was a climber although people don't climb alone in such a desolate environment. There did not seem to be mountains nearby that required all the gear that he had with him. Mainly ricks and shrubs.

I kept feeling that the stranger that came to the bothy was the same actor playing two parts. And spent time wondering about who was under the beard and heaving clothing. The voice was quite different so i gave up trying to figure that out.

At one point towards tge end i thought he was the victim of a plane crash but then remembered his injury.

In the end I realized I was quite right about the few things i was guessing about.

I had a very hard time understanding the accents and just moved ahead by fast forwarding.

The filming was magnificent, the acting was excellent and the landscape perfectly illustrated the protagonist's state of mind. I can't imagine how long it took for one person to write, film, edit and promote this movie. Amazing. I gave it a nine. Not Hollywood stuff but pretty great idea.