Read more about Edinburgh International Film Festival at .STARRING:Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran, Ian Pirie, Kate Bracken, Kitty Lovett, Cal MacAninch, Cameron Jack, Olivia Morgan and Donald McLeary A walk in the woods turns tragic for its characters, but it’s no picnic for us either, just as it should be.Ĭalibre had its world premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival, with its final screening on Sat 30 Jun – more info and tickets here – and streams on Netflix from 29 Jun What gives Calibre its power in the end, however, is its relentless momentum and a moral heft that should leave you uneasy as the credits roll. A few wrinkles in the shopworn plot or even a bit of sadistic exploitation wouldn’t have gone amiss. The thriller’s grip does loosen late in the game when it becomes abundantly clear where it’s all heading. Romanian cinematographer Márk Györi, meanwhile, clearly relishes the dark greens and browns of Scotland’s great outdoors, creating crisp wide shots and menacing dissolves, but he’s not afraid to go handheld and in close on the characters in their more panicked moments.

Man-versus-nature classic Deliverance is his obvious touchstone, but Palmer’s stripped back style shoots for naturalism over John Boorman’s romanticism.

Writer-director Palmer has a great ear for dialogue: he’s nailed how pals with complicated pasts talk to each other and has a great sense for the menacing chatter across a boozy night in a less than friendly pub. McCann's Marcus is more angular and feral-looking, his overly pally patter and shark-like grin doing nothing to disguise his superciliousness if Hollywood are ever looking for someone to play Michael Fassbender’s more sinister kid brother, look no further than this charismatic Irish actor. With his open face and wide, dewy eyes, Vaughn could be one of the deer they’re stalking.

Review calibre 2018