'X Moor' is about two documentary filmmakers in search of a giant cat - this is the perfect opportunity to save a few $$$ and go the found footage direction, but Luke Hyams decided to take the more expensive, slightly more difficult approach.. You know, he went ''old school.'' Kudos to him.
The first half of the film is solid. Nice build up, tension, character development. But it's not long before we discover the cat isn't the main attraction. Yes, Luke decided to take the 'more is more' approach, and toss in a serial killer. I knew at this point the film was going to go downhill pretty quickly, since most directors cast the most pathetic actor they can find, to play their films villain - and, since we all know Luke Hyams is a 'more is more' kind of guy, I figured he'd manage to throw in the giant cat somewhere along the way, because, that's just what 'more is more' guys do. I was right one both accounts, but it doesn't really matter, since the entire second half of the film ends up being complete nonsense, anyway. Michael Myers couldn't have saved the final 40 minutes.
The acting is passable, until Mark Bonnar (carried the first half) ends up meeting his maker (a pathetic end to a solid character.) Turning all attention to our lead actress - This ends up being a huge mistake, because we quickly discover that, well, she's awful. Every scene that she's in without her supporting men, is borderline amateur. The film is also fairly dark throughout, but never to the point you can't see what's going on.
Random Ramblings of a Madman: Not since 'Treehouse' has a film switched from solid to bad, as quickly as 'X Moor.' 'The Jungle' already did the whole giant cat documentary thing, so I knew the upside of 'X Moor' was going to be pretty low to begin with, but I still would have preferred a killer cat to whatever the hell I just saw throughout the second half of the film. And why do you build up Mark Bonnar's character, just to kill him off in such a pathetic manner?
Luke, check out 'House of the Devil' and 'The Tunnel.' Less is more, my friend.