DVD Travellers
Run time: 84 min
Rating: 4.4
Genres: Thriller
Director: Kris McManus
Writers: Kris McManus
Stars: Shane Sweeney, Tom Geoffrey, Alex Edwards
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Storyline Four friends set out on a motorcycle adventure weekend, clocking up miles in an attempt to outrun their age and urban lifestyles. After bartering with a local land owner for a place to set up camp, they spend the night reminiscing over their wasted youth. The following morning they spot an ominous looking caravan, and decide to investigate. Within minutes, an idiotic prank leads to a series of brutal events and a deadly race for survival. A modern plunge back into the worlds created by movies such as ‘Deliverance’ and ‘Southern Comfort’ but with a gritty British twang. Kidnap, murder and a hidden past are just some of the reasons these four adventurers should have stayed at home. An action thriller that will make you question who the villains really are. You cant outrun what’s in your blood. Written by Kris McManus and Brian Allen Levine |
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Details: Country: UK Release Date: 13 January 2011 (UK) |
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DVD Travellers
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4 comments
For the first 15 or 20 minutes this looked every inch a no budget, student project. If you were watching it on DVD or TV you might even give up on it. Don't.
The film improves dramatically as it goes on.
It adds tension, better characterisation and a reasonable slice of horror too.
There is a cracking bare knuckle fight scene, something that no film about travellers would seem to be without.
The performances are mixed, but certainly most of the characters are believable, hinting at a depth beyond their on screen actions.
On the balance a film worth watching. Give it a go, but stick with it!
Living in the City with money at your fingertips doesn't necessarily make you a nice person: take the example of Andy Baxtor (played by Tom Geoffrey), who decides, when on a weekend romp with 3 buddies, to deface someone's home, in this case a grimy caravan owned by Irish travellers. The joke's on Andy and his friends when four grim-looking figures slowly appear over the horizon, ready to wreak vengeance. The bleakest of them is a lantern-jawed bruiser with a limp, a bare-knuckle champion (Martin – played very well by Dean S Jagger) who decides that retribution needs to be wreaked in the ring.
The film's main highlights are the set-piece scenes, particularly the bare-knuckle-sequences that also serve the added function of giving us nice music to listen to. The music, for this (low) budget level of film is pretty good.
The message of the film is mixed, but it certainly pushes its point home in the last act where the violence lives up to the film's 18 certificate.
Definitely not one to watch with your mum.
Straight off the bat 'Travellers' is a cheap looking and sounding affair. If that isn't your bag then save your time watching. If you can't see this was shot on digital video from the off then you probably need glasses. Should that ruin your enjoyment? No… But the weaker parts of the script, inconsistent acting from some of the players and occasional plot hole may.
However, stick with it. If these guys made this with nothing they certainly end it with something, something good.
The second half of this movie had me glued to the seat. I'd got used to the shaky cam style and low quality audio and by the time the fight sequence kicks off (one of the best fight sequences I've seen in UK film for a long time) this film makes some impact.
The fight itself is expertly handled, no silly Guy Ritchie over stylisation or edits so tight that lose the geography of the scene. This was straight, smacks to the face. The authenticity of the fight seemed spot on, and very real, to a point where I questioned if moments weren't?
The Travellers are handled stereotypically at first but to good effect, as horror villains then their characters slowly pulled back, showing a much more complex sense of honour and brotherhood within their group. You will route for them before the end. This is guaranteed by the behaviour of city- boy nut case Andy Baxtor, played well by Tom Geoffrey.
The lead, former gypsy turned city-boy Chris (Shane Sweeney) is a likable character despite his buried desire to hit people, and is also performed well and subtly despite the scripts sledge-hammer approach to story telling.
It's the the brother and sister act of Traveller Martin (Dean Jagger) and his sister Lucy (Celia Muir) who steal the show. Considering the mixed bag of talent on screen its a small blessing they had these actors holding it together. The screen presence of Jagger is captivating.
Director Kris McManus holds it all together and really gains control of his movie during act 3.
I expect this lot are new to film-making, and it shows at times, but I hope they continue to do what there doing. just maybe spend a little more time and a lot more money!
I'd give this a better rating if the production value had been just a little higher. Worth a watch.
*****
I don't understand the bad reviews on this film maybe the wrong crowd are watching this, if your looking for a Hollywood style "fighter" big budget & big stars this is not for you, This film is a great movie for any British Indie film fan. Myself rate this film high along with Rise of the foot soldier, Dead Mans Shoes, This is England, Eden Lake, Bronson. If you like those films you will love this. The characters are great, The fight scenes and effects are pretty immense and realistic compared to the usual Hollywood style scenes (yawn). Yes its a low budget film welcome to "indie". I hope more people will watch this film and see how original and very British this film is. If you love British cinema go and see this it never gets boring, and your always wondering what is going to happen next. The climax doesn't let you down either. I say more like this & less of Hollywood trash please!