Movie Review Shepherd (2021)
Shepherd , 2021.
Directed by Russell Wayne.
With Tom Hughes, Kate Dickey, Gaia Weiss, Greta Scacchi and Jamie Marie Leary.
Summary:
After his adulterous wife suddenly disappears, a troubled young man takes a job as a shepherd on a remote, weather-beaten island that harbors disturbing secrets.
Written and directed by Russell Owen, this atmospheric thriller returns to familiar tropes of horror film isolation, but still manages to be an interesting watch. Shepherd follows the story of Eric Black (Tom Hughes), a neurotic man haunted by recurring nightmares of his recently deceased wife Rebecca (Gaia Weiss). To make matters worse, Eric was also estranged from his own family because of his unpleasant relationship with Rebecca.
Desperate and wanting to get away from it all, Eric answers a newspaper ad for a job as a shepherd on a remote island somewhere in the Scottish Highlands. Fisher (Kate Dickey), a blind boatswain, transports Eric and gives him some strange ground rules to follow in order to perform the mundane tasks assigned to him. But herding a flock of sheep on a deserted island turns out to be the least of his problems as Eric struggles to maintain his sanity amid the madness that surrounds him.
Shepherd is a genre film enjoyed for its eerie atmosphere. From the film's setting, from windswept beaches to mist-shrouded mountains, there's a pervasive sense of doom that constantly washes over your surroundings. You can almost feel the sting of the freezing air and the alkaline sea air. Every hole in the muddy ground, every creek in the battered hut; Thanks to the excellent sound design used in this dark film. And paired perfectly with this is a completely haunting and out-of-place score composed by Calum Donaldson. What's interesting here is that Donaldson was also the film's sound designer, which explains why the score and sound design come together so perfectly. Cinematographer Richard Stoddard compliments the poignant tone of the narrative with some beautiful funeral imagery that will haunt you long after the credits roll. Russell Owen's direction is confident and assured, a gift to behold, and the stories he creates certainly push all the right buttons.
BIFA nominee Tom Hughes ( Cemetery Junction ) gives a solid performance as the emotionally troubled, guilt-ridden Eric. He is a man who walks on a knife edge and you never know when he will fall off the edge. Hughes captured this emotion quite well, but one has to wonder what could be achieved in the hands of a good actor. Scottish actress Kate Dickie ( Game of Thrones ), on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish. As expected, Dickey steals the show whenever he's on screen, giving his character just the right amount of mystery, foreboding and paranoia. I mean, the woman is downright terrifying at times, especially in the second half of the movie when things really go haywire. Gaia Weiss ( Viking ) doesn't get enough time to show off her acting skills, but she certainly contributes to the film in the form of an ugly portrayal.
The "finished" feeling is strong with this film yes, but there's a lot to like even in this slightly creepy isolation. let me see
Burning Myth Rating – Movie: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Hasitha Fernando is a part-time doctor and full-time cinematographer. Follow him on Twitter via @DoctorCinephile for regular entertainment updates.
