The Last Great Wilderness

2002
The Last Great Wilderness
5.6| 1h35m| en| More Info
Released: 09 May 2002 Released
Producted By: TLA Releasing
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Charlie's wife has left him for a successful pop star, and he wants revenge. He sets out for Scotland's Isle of Skye, where he will burn down the star's mansion. In a cafe, he meets Vincente, a Spaniard who asks him for a ride. With his new friend in tow, Charlie soldiers on, only to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. They walk to the nearest residence--where they are greeted by a suspicious and motley group of people who may or may not be part of a bizarre cult that lives in the area. Charlie and Vincente will be staying longer then they expected, and it is going to be a strange visit!

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Callum Berry Watched it knowing very little about it, ended up extremely pleased! Merging many genre's in the process, this film isn't for everyone, butshows the mainstream how its done! Shows the beauty of the low budget films focus on mood, aesthetics and acting to ensure full engagement. The charm of the Scottish landscapes also adds a delicious, raw edge. On top of superb performances all round, very likable characters and the mystique element of the narrative that builds up, creates a fairly original vibe. Very interesting film for those interested in the more rewarding realms of British cinema. Also features The Pastels which just adds that extra sweetness
Joseph Sylvers No matter how many strange twists and turns this film and it's highly improbably story threw at me, it never felt excessive. Which is something that should be understood before reading any of the plot details which only sound weirder and weirder as the film goes on. Two men, Charlie and Vincente, met at a restaurant in Scotland and decide to ride together for a while. Charlie is on his way to burn down the house of his ex-wives new lover (a pop star who wrote a hit song about her, which is constantly on the radio, and is filling Charlie with vengeance), and Vicente a gigolo(allegedly) who slept with a powerful man's wife, and is now in jeopardy of having his testicles forcibly removed. Bad luck leads them to a remote boarding house where they are forced to spend the night. At first glance the place has all the eerie awkward unpredictability of any of the strange inn's populating David Lynch and Takashi Miike films, yet as the film goes on it opens in very humanistic directions. The boarding house is actually a Retreat/Commune for a group of people with psychological problems, there's a Priest with a taste for boys, an nymphomaniac, an agoraphobic, a paranoid etc, where everyone is encouraged to be as open and forthcoming with their ailments as possible in an atmosphere of trust and security. Meanwhile Charlie's car is being slowly taken apart to keep him from leaving and Vicente begins having visions of a blonde teenage girl who may be connected to a tragedy that occurred on the grounds many years ago, and he might not have lost track of those chasing him either. This could all play out like a freak show, but it doesn't, there are some genuinely funny and uncomfortable moments, but the film's ensemble nature gives every character a real voice, and the commune/retreat setting an unpredictable air of both therapy and healing and as well as something darker just around the bend. "The Wicker Man" seems the films most obvious reference point, with their shared examination of alternative and Scottish cultures, psychology, and ritual. The ending is brutal as well as hopeful, and ties together all of the films there-before scatter brain ideas into a neat and emotionally compelling package. The film plays with tones extremely well, leading you down a horror film hallway and giving you a comedic punch line, or a moment of startling poignancy. It's because of these shifts that the film is enjoyable to watch and difficult to predict. The music is a mixed bag, on the one hand it's got a great pop song driven soundtrack by The Pastels(who perform in the films climatic gender-bender funeral party), and on the other, there is a really trite 80's synth score which fills in other moments. Nevertheless a funny, fascinating, creepy, well-written, and emotionally fulfilling independent film from Scotland. Not one I would have picked myself at first, but was pleasantly surprised.
Scott Beveridge I've given this 9 out of 10 because I was quite transfixed by the story and the characters. It is essentially a road movie with a hint of The Wicker Man, though this is not a midsummer tale; bleak winter highland shots are well used. At times it is almost whimsical and it's not the most consistent of movies. However the atmosphere never lets up and the denouement may surprise you. If I was asked to award marks for technical proficiency it would get about six but, hey, that didn't stop The Blair Witch Project from being successful! The cast were great,especially the chap playing Vicente who was intense and explosive. I constantly had the wrong idea about the characters in this movie and that was refreshing.
Donald_Darko I don't want to say this is a bad film because I think I was expecting too much from it. A couple of reviews had lead me to believe it was similar to 28 Days Later and Dog Soldiers (Both of which I really enjoyed).The film began well enough and I think it is an interesting idea. However, by the closing credits I was left underwhelmed, disapointed and most importantly confused.Maybe there was some signifigance to the ending but if there was, I sure didn't get it.Despite this, I would say it is definatley a film worth watching.