Surely, I’d seen Shallow Grave in 1994, and greeted it with a very negative reaction, but it wasn’t until 2003 where I was truly introduced to Danny Boyle. I fondly recall going to the movies and being subjected to a teaser trailer to Boyle’s 28 Days Later. The trailer, like the film, was frantic and …
This week’s UK release of the critically roasted Blood – a new thriller starring Paul Bettany and Stephen Graham (filmed, incidentally, in my home town) and the significantly more well-received Stone Roses documentary Made of Stone directed by Shane Meadows – who is usually known for his rough and realistic portrayals of working-class misery – …
Working from a brilliantly honed script by doctor-turned-screenwriter John Hodge (who cameos as a police inspector), Shallow Grave is very dark British satire with a simple setup. This tight little thriller is a parable about the effects of greed on friendship. What would you do if you found a huge amount of money? It’s a plot worthy of Hitchcock, and Boyle’s relentless homage comes complete with dutch angles and shots lifted wholesale from the Master’s greatest hits.
Ever since his introduction onto the world stage with Shallow Grave, Danny Boyle managed to carve a unique path without having to give in to studio pressures. He is always reinventing himself, always dabbling in new genres and working with new technology – and despite a string of less-noteworthy Hollywood films, Boyle returned in 2008 …