“Calibre” Theatrical Poster
Director: Matt Palmer
Writer: Matt Palmer
Cast: Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran, Ian Pirie, George Anton, Kate Bracken, Therese Bradley, Joe Cassidy, Cameron Jack, Kitty Lovett, Cal MacAninch
Running Time: 101 min.
By Martin Sandison
There are two films everyone remembers when discussing my homeland, Scotland; Mel Gibson’s historically inaccurate but entertaining Braveheart, and Danny Boyle’s masterful junkie odyssey Trainspotting – two films that could not be more oppositional in their approach. The humble genre of the thriller is not one you would associate; that’s where Calibre comes in. Securing financing for a feature film in Scotland is difficult; most have to look elsewhere for a company big enough to do the job. Matt Palmer’s directorial debut Calibre is one of that kind, with the ubiquitous Netflix producing the film. What’s great, and gives me hope for the future of Scottish film making, is that most of the cast and crew are Scottish. And… the film is great. I mean, like, actually great. I went in to the screening knowing nothing about the film, and not realising I knew the director, who I will always be grateful to for putting on a Japanese cult film season many years ago, introducing me to two of my favourite films House and Sword of Doom. Calibre is nothing new as a thriller, but its execution is near flawless.
Vaughn (Jack Lowden, Dunkirk) and Marcus (Martin McCann, The Frankenstein Chronicles) are two old friends who go on a hunting trip to the Scottish Highlands, a last hurrah for their friendship as Vaughn will soon have a newborn. Everything is going well until they accidentally murder a pair of hill walkers, and Marcus makes the decision to hide the bodies. The two are in deep water, and so begins a deadly game between the two and the locals, led by Logan (Tony Curran, Underworld: Evolution).
The best thrillers (such as Deliverance, to which Calibre owes a massive debt) make the viewer feel as of they are right there with the characters. Calibre succeeds in this unbelievably well; I was gripped from start to finish, and all of the aspects combine to take you on a tense and anguished journey. The unobtrusive filmmaking and minimalist approach frames the narrative beautifully, and not a second is wasted. I’m not usually one to question how realistic a film is, I always suspend my disbelief, but Calibre looks, feels, and is acted like it could really happen.
Which brings me to the performances. Lowden and McCann are both fantastic. The former plays the role of passivity but strong-heartedness, caught in a web of deadly lies brilliantly. McCann as the alpha male, loud braggart whose one decision destroys the mens lives (for his own selfish ends) with an edge and cocaine fuelled paranoia that sets the screen alight. Curran, the veteran actor in a youngish cast, is superb as the world weary Logan whose sleepy village is decimated by the two leads. Peripheral characters such as Logan’s brother, the intimidating Brian McClay (Ian Pirie, Gangs of New York) and Iona (Kate Bracken, Being Human) are well drawn and have real depth.
Pivotal scenes such as the initial incident that leads the men down a dark path and the nail biting climax are handled with real assuredness and belie the fact that it’s Palmer’s first film. There is a consistency of tone that draws the viewer in despite a shaky opening, once this movie gets going it won’t stop for no one, like a freight train off the tracks.
The biggest faults come in when realising that the film is slightly derivative; Deliverance in idea and execution, Straw Dogs in feel and tone. This does not detract from a riveting tale well told with a moralistic ending, and a beacon of hope for Scottish film talent. I look forward to Palmer’s next project, and with the might of Netflix behind him there’s no stopping him.
Martin Sandison’s Rating: 8.5/10
