15 reviews
Paul Wright's imaginative take on grief, 'For Those In Peril', tells the story of a young man who survives a fishing accident only to be blamed by his community for coming back alive. This could be a really powerful story, not just about loss, but also about how social normality hides the terrible reality that we do not in fact love one another in equal amounts. Yet the construction of the film is part that of a documentary, and in part mystical in affect; and the two aspects prove a slightly awkward fit: it was well acted, but I found it less moving than I felt I should have done. There's also an oddity that, perhaps because of funding, the film is set in Scotland but appears to have been partly filmed in Yorkshire, a minor incongruity, but pointless and thus grating.
- paul2001sw-1
- Apr 11, 2016
- Permalink
Weird and wonderful. It's an experimental film, so don't expect a conventional narrative. Great acting, gorgeous cinematography.
- aaronadoty
- Jul 27, 2013
- Permalink
The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2013 Presents:
Writer, Director Paul Wright creates a beautiful poetic tale, exploring the power of love and loss in his deep, visceral and emotionally charged feature debut.
Aaron, an awkward outsider in his small fishing community, returns home after surviving the boating tragedy that claimed the lives of all else aboard, including his elder brother Michael (Jordan Young). Aaron, who feels increasingly frightened and isolated, can remember no details of what happened. He not only struggles with the guilt felt from being the only survivor, but the guilt imposed on him by a community who will not readily forgive him for being alive, while their loved ones are dead.
In his loneliness and anguish, Aaron reaches out Michael's fiancée (Nichola Burley) which fuels the communities suspicions and anger further, in particular Nicola's father (Michael Smiley).
"Do you think if you believe anything enough, it'll become true?" asks Aaron. With his state of mind worsening by the day, Aaron, propelled by folklore and local superstition clings to the hope that Michael is still alive, and thus sets out to save him from "The devil in the ocean".
Wright's feature debut is a strong character drama that explores psychological trauma through a visceral coloured palette and a rich, compelling and thought provoking narrative. Wright uses almost every aid at his disposal to ensure the audience feels and experiences Aarons increasing fragility, torment and state of mind, and he balances it note perfect. This is achieved through a tapestry of visual formats (Super8 footage), sound, folklore and news articles that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. These methods of storytelling never force an idea, but rather tease the audience with possibilities, allow them to draw their own conclusions.
Wrights prominent direction and vision is felt throughout the narrative, but it must be said, his cast deserve as much recognition. George Mackay gives a powerful, sad and heartbreakingly honest performance as our troubled lead, Aaron.
Kate Dickie provides the emotional centre of the film, and exists as Aarons only buoy in stormy waters, in a town that has outcast one of their own. Cathy performance although understated encapsulates the heartbreak and strength of a mother who wrestles with her own grief, whilst trying remain strong for her now, only remaining son. Both performances are quite simply stunning and career defining.
It could be argued that the film becomes stagnant in its second act, refusing to move on in narrative, busying itself with visual flourishes and techniques that slow the pace. I however enjoyed these moments and found they added intrigue, beauty and mystery to an already compelling film.
In-Short
As someone I know put it, "For those in peril is as deep, scary and as beautiful as the sea itself"
For all my other film reviews and movie ramblings head to www.moviereviewworld.com
Writer, Director Paul Wright creates a beautiful poetic tale, exploring the power of love and loss in his deep, visceral and emotionally charged feature debut.
Aaron, an awkward outsider in his small fishing community, returns home after surviving the boating tragedy that claimed the lives of all else aboard, including his elder brother Michael (Jordan Young). Aaron, who feels increasingly frightened and isolated, can remember no details of what happened. He not only struggles with the guilt felt from being the only survivor, but the guilt imposed on him by a community who will not readily forgive him for being alive, while their loved ones are dead.
In his loneliness and anguish, Aaron reaches out Michael's fiancée (Nichola Burley) which fuels the communities suspicions and anger further, in particular Nicola's father (Michael Smiley).
"Do you think if you believe anything enough, it'll become true?" asks Aaron. With his state of mind worsening by the day, Aaron, propelled by folklore and local superstition clings to the hope that Michael is still alive, and thus sets out to save him from "The devil in the ocean".
Wright's feature debut is a strong character drama that explores psychological trauma through a visceral coloured palette and a rich, compelling and thought provoking narrative. Wright uses almost every aid at his disposal to ensure the audience feels and experiences Aarons increasing fragility, torment and state of mind, and he balances it note perfect. This is achieved through a tapestry of visual formats (Super8 footage), sound, folklore and news articles that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. These methods of storytelling never force an idea, but rather tease the audience with possibilities, allow them to draw their own conclusions.
Wrights prominent direction and vision is felt throughout the narrative, but it must be said, his cast deserve as much recognition. George Mackay gives a powerful, sad and heartbreakingly honest performance as our troubled lead, Aaron.
Kate Dickie provides the emotional centre of the film, and exists as Aarons only buoy in stormy waters, in a town that has outcast one of their own. Cathy performance although understated encapsulates the heartbreak and strength of a mother who wrestles with her own grief, whilst trying remain strong for her now, only remaining son. Both performances are quite simply stunning and career defining.
It could be argued that the film becomes stagnant in its second act, refusing to move on in narrative, busying itself with visual flourishes and techniques that slow the pace. I however enjoyed these moments and found they added intrigue, beauty and mystery to an already compelling film.
In-Short
As someone I know put it, "For those in peril is as deep, scary and as beautiful as the sea itself"
For all my other film reviews and movie ramblings head to www.moviereviewworld.com
- allan-brown81
- Jul 2, 2013
- Permalink
- meredithsarahjane
- Oct 12, 2013
- Permalink
An artistic character study of a young man, Aaron, (George Mackay) who is the sole survivor of a fishing boat accident that claimed his brother's life. His Scottish village mourns for the dead while disrespecting the living, believing that those who survive such accidents are somehow less noble than those who died. Because of this, Aaron is treated like an outcast and given little sympathy. Alone and unraveling, Aaron determines to go back to sea and find his brother, no matter the cost.
But this movie is not at all what it seems, which makes it a divisive movie. Some people will love it, some will hate it. I thought I knew where this movie was going and when it took a drastically different route I was shocked but I could not look away.
I also happen to love George Mackay and he's the real reason I watched this movie. I honestly wasn't expecting much from the film though. It was pretty slow at times and I expected it to stay slow, but there is a dramatic shift at a certain point in the movie, and well, you just have to watch it to see what I mean. If you've followed any of George Mackay's work, this is a true George Mackay film and his performance is wonderful as always. Understated, subtle, then jarring and emotionally powerful. He won a Scottish BAFTA for this and now I know why.
If you're looking for a quiet indie film about personal discovery and healing, this might not be for you. This film is a realistic drama but it also has an element of folklore and horror. It was a bit of a mind trip too. There were times where I wasn't sure if what I was seeing was real or not. And just when you think it won't get stranger, it does. George Mackay really knows how to pick his roles. His filmography is so consistently good it's crazy. I don't know if I've ever seen an actor this young, this good, and in this many powerful films.
I loved this movie and it's earned its place among George Mackay's most memorable performances.
But this movie is not at all what it seems, which makes it a divisive movie. Some people will love it, some will hate it. I thought I knew where this movie was going and when it took a drastically different route I was shocked but I could not look away.
I also happen to love George Mackay and he's the real reason I watched this movie. I honestly wasn't expecting much from the film though. It was pretty slow at times and I expected it to stay slow, but there is a dramatic shift at a certain point in the movie, and well, you just have to watch it to see what I mean. If you've followed any of George Mackay's work, this is a true George Mackay film and his performance is wonderful as always. Understated, subtle, then jarring and emotionally powerful. He won a Scottish BAFTA for this and now I know why.
If you're looking for a quiet indie film about personal discovery and healing, this might not be for you. This film is a realistic drama but it also has an element of folklore and horror. It was a bit of a mind trip too. There were times where I wasn't sure if what I was seeing was real or not. And just when you think it won't get stranger, it does. George Mackay really knows how to pick his roles. His filmography is so consistently good it's crazy. I don't know if I've ever seen an actor this young, this good, and in this many powerful films.
I loved this movie and it's earned its place among George Mackay's most memorable performances.
- xxsarahcaroline
- Feb 17, 2020
- Permalink
Aaron is the sole survivor of a fishing boat accident that still pains the community. Having lost his brother in the accident, Aaron grieves, but his grief gives way to an increasingly fragile grip on reality. For Those In Peril could have been a myth-imbibed exploration of tragedy and sibling rivalry. It could have been an insightful depiction of unhinged grief. It could have been a story of personal redemption achieved in the face of a hostile community. While it hints at exploring all of these potential story lines, what it ends up being is an under-realised mish-mash that fails to cohere around any thematic, emotional or narrative thread. The film ever-so studiously chases art-house credentials, but invokes clunky genre devices that would make Michael Bay blush. For example, there is no need to wonder what the community makes of Aaron's miraculous survival of the tragedy, as this is relayed constantly in off-screen expositional comments by various bystanders. The cliché scene where someone with a lot on their mind dries up in front of a karaoke audience, so often seen on screen but never in real life, makes a jaded outing here. (Who in real life would ever ask a grieving mother to get on stage and sing karaoke?). You do not have to have spent time in fishing communities such as Ullapool and Shetland to feel the lack of authenticity of setting, though it will jar all the more if you have. Similarly, if you have known grief, Kate Dickie's one-note moping around will not invite empathy. In terms of a mind becoming unhinged, the film does better, with George MacKay's performance occasionally evoking both fear and concern. But these moments are far too few, as the script seems unable to handle the task of developing rounded characters, and falls back instead on lazy invocation of myth to bind the story, what there is of it, together. I am all for eschewing linear narrative in favour of an immersive experience, but none of the imagery is particularly memorable. The climax places its bet on one striking image, but instead that is fudged in an extreme wide shot, suggesting the production design of the model was not up to the job of providing the emotional whump this film requires at its end. Ostensibly bold and experimental, this film instead is tame and unimaginative. Perhaps learning how to handle the basics of simple story, well-told, would have been a better move for these clearly uninspired filmmakers.
- magnuslhad
- Apr 23, 2015
- Permalink
Thanks to her role in 'Game of Thrones', the biggest name (okay, pretty much the *only* name) in 'For Those in Peril' is Kate Dickie. But she's not the lead: that responsibility falls to the husky young George MacKay. He plays Aaron, the sole survivor of a trawler tragedy which claimed the lives of five other men (one of whom was his brother). The small, close-knit fishing community regard him with suspicion: why did he survive when everyone else died? Only his mother (Dickie, adding to her extensive repertoire of Working-Class-Women-Who-Nobly-Suffer) and his brother's fiancée have kind words to say to him. Gradually, Aaron becomes more and more withdrawn and disturbed. If you think this is the kind of story that can only end in tears, you'll be right, sort of.
The film makes much use of home-video footage to show the close relationship of Aaron and his brother, and voice-over vox-pop interviews with the villagers to explain their feelings about his survival. I thought these were clever devices, as they added to the realism of the piece: and there is a very strong sense of realism about the film (even leading man MacKay's acne is not covered with make-up). But that makes the ending such a rude shock: what had seemed to be a portrayal of one man's mental breakdown under unbearable grief and guilt instead veers into fantasy and fairytale. That, I felt, spoiled things.
The acting? As I said above, Dickie has played this part several times before, and she does it as well as she ever does. MacKay could perhaps have been a bit less monotone and starey - but hats off to him for the many scenes where he had to swim in what must have been the freezing waters of the North Sea - he should get a medal!
The film makes much use of home-video footage to show the close relationship of Aaron and his brother, and voice-over vox-pop interviews with the villagers to explain their feelings about his survival. I thought these were clever devices, as they added to the realism of the piece: and there is a very strong sense of realism about the film (even leading man MacKay's acne is not covered with make-up). But that makes the ending such a rude shock: what had seemed to be a portrayal of one man's mental breakdown under unbearable grief and guilt instead veers into fantasy and fairytale. That, I felt, spoiled things.
The acting? As I said above, Dickie has played this part several times before, and she does it as well as she ever does. MacKay could perhaps have been a bit less monotone and starey - but hats off to him for the many scenes where he had to swim in what must have been the freezing waters of the North Sea - he should get a medal!
- mooveephantom
- Nov 29, 2021
- Permalink
Some great performances, but the story really drags in places and leads to a typically non-sensical ending that ruined it for me.
- nigelmacdonald-97173
- Aug 26, 2020
- Permalink
- gerald-holt
- Feb 19, 2014
- Permalink
A sensitive, childlike young man (George Mackay) is the sole survivor of a tragedy at sea. Upon his dazed return, the superstious inhabitants of this remote Scottish fishing village become increasingly hostile towards him, convinced he was responsible for the incident. Cruelly ostracized, his unerring belief that his brother didn't perish at sea compulsively pushes him ever deeper into obsession and one final mad desperate act of salvation. This beautifully bleak, folk horror-inflected drama benefits enormously from the sublime cast's natural, unaffected performances, and gifted writer/director Paul Wright strikingly proves himself a more than capable helmsman. Having an undeniably haunting quality, 'For Those in Peril' is steeped in an oblique mysticism that I strongly connected with, and the wyrd, Lovecraftian climax is quite delicious!
- Weirdling_Wolf
- Jun 4, 2024
- Permalink