'The Bad Shepherd' takes a well-trodden path in the thriller genre, presenting a premise most of us have seen before, i.e. A group of friends are thrust into a moral dilemma and their unity crumbles as tensions rise, before deadly results ensue. While this setup doesn't break new ground, the film delivers a decent enough experience for fans of the genre.
It's a simple tale - a group of mates think they've accidentally run over a woman, but, before they can phone an ambulance, they discover she has a bag full of money on her - guess what... they think better of calling 911 straight away!
What sets 'The Bad Shepherd' apart is that it at least makes viewers question their own moral compass. Each dilemma the characters face feels grounded in reality, forcing us to ponder what we'd do in that situation? Even if the cast lacks any big names, the performances are perfect for what they need to be and the actors bring a sense of authenticity to their roles, which helps elevate the average script.
However, the ending may leave some viewers thinking that it belongs to a different movie, deviating from the grounded tone established earlier. I didn't mind it spinning to something - in my opinion - completely different, some may feel a little cheated by the 'reveal.'
In the end, 'The Bad Shepherd' is a solid enough thriller that doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't need to - it's a worthwhile watch.
