We start and stay in the British countryside. This is very British, very macho. A bunch of paramilitary type blokes lead by Brace (Rocci Boy Williams) are holed up in a rural country pile owned by Carlisle (Jason Flemyng). It's clear there's tension in the group from the start. They've just pulled off a job acquiring some drugs, but it wasn't smooth. Carlisle wants them out as soon as possible, he's just doing Brace a favour. They're a dislikable lot, but that's the point. They're going to get what they deserve at the hands of The Stoic (Scott Wright), a chap with a calling. He reports to Mother (Carol Holt), a kind of puritanical cult leader who likes to punish people with medieval torture. The gang have two women, drugs mules (Mia Vore & Anka Evens) that they've taken along with the drugs, locked up in the stables and this is what draws the attention of The Stoic. There's a good dose of folklore. The Stoic's it's explained are, let's simplify this, descendants of ancient Scottish enforcers, who wear bonnets. The modern day incarnation to protect those who need protection. The gang only have to deal with one, but he's a handful and sure enough, before long he's picking them off. I won't lie some of the acting is a bit wooden, the dialogue stunted. Lots of overly thoughtful frowning. It does plod a little too. I had a chuckle as one henchman pleads "Oh Christ have you finished?" before he's dispatched. There's a lot of chatter that frankly doesn't go anywhere, it's just killing time before the next killing. Honestly it could do with a lighter touch in places, a little dark humour perhaps, some kind of ebb and flow. It does keep on track though, it's simple, doesn't get too complicated. As the body count rises and the gang get spooked, their boss Rhodes (Bruce Payne) is called. He knows all about The Stoic's and wants to bag one. It's nicely shot, scored well. The location is perfect with plenty of foley scope for ominous crow calls and shrieking foxes. It knows to keep the most annoying characters around to be killed last. Honestly I couldn't wait for one particular bloke to get a good kicking. Things do come unstuck a bit as it reaches its conclusion though. Brace seems to have a personality switch and there's a somewhat unexplained twist that doesn't really sit with the rest of the film. I'm watching this because someone I know is starring. Otherwise this would completely pass me by. Small independent productions like this really struggle to get eyes on them, but despite there being some good ideas here, it does limp toward the end. Wright and Vore stand out, as does Flemying and it's worth a watch if you like dark, gritty, independently produced moody British cinema.
