Calibre — trying to act normal
A hunting trip goes terribly wrong, and ordinary interactions become a source of dread. Effective tension, though the story felt familiar.
Text size
Spoiler-free review.
The most effective moments in Calibre are the ones where someone has to answer a simple question. Two friends take a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands, a terrible accident happens, and suddenly keeping a conversation ordinary becomes very difficult.
Matt Palmer uses the setting well. The landscape is beautiful, but it doesn't feel safe once the tension builds. The village feels like a place where people watch each other, making it harder to avoid notice when you're trying to stay hidden.
Jack Lowden is convincing at showing fear without always verbalising it. Martin McCann brings a different, more forceful energy to the friendship, and the difference between them gives the quieter scenes some friction. I found the effort of keeping their composure more absorbing than the broader thriller machinery.
The issue for me is how familiar it feels. Once the situation is set, a lot of what happens next feels like the next expected step. The tension is well handled, but I wanted more from the characters beyond how they react to the crisis. Some choices also feel forced to keep the tension going.
6/10. A tense, well-acted thriller with a strong setting. It kept me watching, but the filmmaking had more impact than the story itself.
Directed by Matt Palmer · 2018 · English. Film details · Poster source. Artwork © its respective rights holders.
6/10
My verdictA hunting trip goes terribly wrong, and ordinary interactions become a source of dread. Effective tension, though the story felt familiar.
— Desly