Allan C
A before-they-were-famous movie that really shows off the talent of the folks in front of the camera (Ewan McGregor in his first major role and Christopher Eccleston longer before DOCTOR WHO) and also the talent behind the camera (director Danny Boyle's film debut before TRAINSPOTTING and SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, writer John Hodge in his debut before A LIFE LESS ORDINARY or THE BEACH, and producer Andrew Macdonald before going on to the likes of EX MACHINA, 28 DAYS LATER, and NEVER LET ME GO). McGregor, Eccleston, and Kerry Fox are flatmates in Edinburgh looking for a fourth, but when their new roomie turns up dead with a suitcase full of cash underneath his bed, the three decide to bury the body and keep the cash for themselves. As with most stories of this sort (think A SIMPLE PLAN, BOUND, or TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE), things do not go as planned and the former friends start to get greedy and turn on one another. While the cold calculating nature of the characters will likely turn off some audience members, it fits completely within the tropes of the genre, from OUT OF THE PAST to DOUBLE INDEMNITY, where characters cooly kill and wreck the lives of others for self-gain. I also love that the film is essentially a chamber piece, taking place almost entirely in one setting, with the flatmates turning on one another within the confines of their apartment. SHALLOW GRAVE even begins to have echos of psychological thrillers such as REPULSION or THE TENANT, with psychosexual undertones of both male flatmates being attracted to Fox in their own way, but especially when Eccleston holds up in the attic space with the money and drills holes in the ceiling to spy down on his former friends. Tonally, the film most resembles the Coen Brothers' BLOOD SIMPLE, which is another film that audiences either love or hate. My only complaint is there are a few plot gaps, such as how the gangsters track the money back to the three, but really, who cares when it's this fun? Highly recommend it for fans of 90s neo-noir!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
06/20/23
Full Review
Gareth v
A slick, and at times violent neo-noir debut from Boyle is this thriller based around one almighty moral dilemma.
Worth checking out.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
06/19/23
Full Review
Wayne K
It's fair to say that Danny Boyle has had a directorial career that's been both compelling and eclectic. Whether he's making critically acclaimed prestige pieces like Slumdog Millionaire, gritty social dramas like Trainspotting, or trippy experimental flicks The Beach, he's definitely made his mark in the world of cinema. But we all have to start somewhere, and for Boyle, his first slice of the feature film pie was Shallow Grave. Made on a budget so small they allegedly had to sell a number of on-set props just to complete it, you can see the seeds of Boyle's later career being planted here, with his dynamic camera work, black humour and eye for the macabre evident throughout. People have complained that the characters are too cold and unlikeable in the film, but I think this was done intentionally, as it makes things more compelling as we witness them suffering the consequences of their actions. McGregor's character, for example, is abrasive and obnoxious, but not so much that you want him to disappear, instead you actively want to see him get punished. I felt David's psychological decline could have been handled better. Instead of going through a slow descent into madness, he acts like a bratty child for a stretch, then vanishes, then starts lashing out. That being said, it's still a very enjoyable and well-told story, and serves as a steppingstone to a career that still rolls on to this day.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
04/06/23
Full Review
Michael M
A beautiful movie about the simplest situation. Its so amazing to watch, how the power of our desires and obsession, change us from what we are, or what we planned to be. I totally recommend this feature
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
11/29/22
Full Review
robert p
What a great movie this is, take 3 obnoxious people who make fun of other during the process of looking for a 4th roommate. They finally pick a very quiet person, who just happens to have stole from 2 other people. The man shoots up with drugs and dies on them, that's when they discover that he had money in a suitcase under his bed. Then throw in streaks of insanity and you have a really great black comedy especially when the 3 turn on each other to keep the money. I love black comedy's and thus I rate this movie *4 & 1/2* stars!!!!
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Every frame is like a Monnet's painting, simply impressive
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
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