The Place of the Dead

1997 film shown on Talking Pictures 2024. Early example of expletives being used in drama. Unusually, not dubbed out by Talking Pictures.

To be honest this all seemed rather pointless and there was no sense of credibility. Those rucksacks obviously had nothing in them and there was no genuine sense of fatigue amongst the men.

Why were they on this expedition at tax payers expense in the first place? There was no rhyme or reason for it.

The resultant enquiry came to no conclusion that was shared as to why it was required or of any outcome.

A group of soldiers on a British Army expedition attempt to navigate an unexplored Malaysian gully. So inaccessible is the area, that they must ascend the highest mountain in Southeast Asia just to reach the entrance. The initial climb proves to be difficult for some of the party. Against strong objections, they are allowed to catch up and rest, rather than being turned back. Things don't improve the next day, however. With rations going more quickly than expected and time running out, a decision must be made. Should the lead group wait even longer and risk the entire mission, or save time by scouting the location ahead of them? Descending over "The Point Of No Return" could split the team permanently.

The Place Of The Dead is based on a true story about a group of British soldiers along with three Hong Kong soldiers who in 1994 go on an expedition to attempt to climb Mt. Kinabalu in S.E. Asia and then go Low's Gully in Malaysia, a place where others have tried and failed.

Everything was planned, rations doubled up, and off they go. Lt. Colonel Robert Neill(played wonderfully by Simon Dutton) wants everyone call each other by their first names, he wants to make it a more "casual" environment and treat each other like buddies.

Things go wrong, food is running out, miscommunication,insubordination, some of the men are beginning to think Neill is crazy and obsessed with the expedition.

Neill and Mayfield(a great portrayal by Dougray Scott)lock horns. They decide to split into two groups and Neill tells Mayfield to wait for him no matter what. Mayfield said he'll wait until morning. That's not what Neill told him.

When the groups split up, Mayfield's men wait for Neill's team for a while. He did not listen to his superior's orders. He leaves a note and continues on with his men. When Neill's team finally climbs down, they find the note and know they are one their own, one of Neill's men is very weak and on the verge of death.

Great acting by Simon Dutton, Dougray Scott, Dane Carson, and Greg Wise.

My observations, even a a casual hiker, would be that this ten man attempt to conquer an unexplored mountain enveloped gully, was ill prepared and destined for trouble. The movie is structured around a military inquiry into the disaster, but to my dismay no conclusion as to guilt is reached. I realize the film is based on fact, so no decision may have been rendered, but from an entertainment standpoint, I expected some sort of resolution. The photography is gorgeous, the acting acceptable, and the sense of exploring the unknown is exciting. I could have lived without the flashbacks, which really seem unnecessary, and only serve to bog down the story. - MERK