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.

I went into this film expecting the usual "3* maximum" rubbish that Amazon & Netflix keep pumping out, but I was very pleasantly surprised!

It's DEFINITELY a slow burn, which can at times feel a bit too drawn out, but ultimately the pacing seems to reflect the protagonist's predicament- he's trapped in a bothy, in reality it wouldn't be overly exciting!

The bulk of the film is carried by one character's storytelling. The narrative comes across to me as a proud celebration of Scottish heritage and social culture (bothy culture in particular) through history. It feels companionable but is tinged with unease, which builds towards the end.

The acting can be a little stilted at times (too long pauses, slightly stumbling over a line, lacking urgency or confusion in scenes where it would be needed...) but overall it feels believable for a stoic character.

The gore effects are pretty bad I'm afraid, it looks like bubble gum was used to stand in for flesh! But it's not a big deal as it only plays a very small part in the film.

There are some distracting details, such as the protagonist's fly being weirdly open in the first few scenes, a knife coming clean out of a bloody wound, occasionally wobbly camerawork and one of the main cameras in particular seemingly having a very dusty lense. However, there are also some really beautiful, atmospheric shots which highlight the wildness of the setting, the vastness of nature and vulnerability of the protagonist.

The ending is on the predictable side but still managed to throw in a twist that took me by surprise (normally I'm pretty good at figuring them out!)

I don't want to spoil anything but will say that one of the final scenes is pretty horrific! Definitely one of the most obviously "horror" aspects of the film.

It's left open to interpretation, which I would normally call lazy storytelling (it's so overused) but in this case it works really well, there are plenty of threads in the plot for you to follow to your own conclusion and it keeps you thinking about the film after it has ended.

One thing I wish had been delved into more was WHY did things happen the way they did - no particular reasoning seemed to be given from what I could tell so I was left feeling a bit confused on that front.

*If you don't enjoy thought provoking films - don't watch*.

The Cairngorm scenery is fantastic, the filming atmospheric and the story very dark. I'd really like to spend the night in a bothy and discuss this film over some drams!! Remarkable to think Ian Gordon produced and starred in this alone (with a wee bit of help I believe) most definitely deserves the awards it received. This kept me guessing until the very end - which is so refreshing nowadays.

Some of the reviewers on here have completely failed to understand this film. I'm so glad I ignored their comments.

I highly recommend. Watch in a dark room with no interruption Enjoy!

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.

So many Hollywood / large budget films leave me checking my watch within half an hour, but I was completely captivated and invested in this film throughout. The cinematography is extraordinary given the resource limitations and despite some criticisms from others, I thought that the dialogue was clever and very tight with no words wasted whatsoever. Ian Gordon is clearly a man of many talents and I will keep an eye out for future works from him. Personally, I like a few more ambiguous things to be tied up at the end of a film, so am not awarding 10 for that reason, but can find few criticisms beyond that.