Review of Salvage (2009) by Richard H — 16 Jul 2010

Salvage is a very interesting take on the creature feature flick mixed with elements of [REC] as a father brings his daughter (Linzey Cocker) to her estranged mother's home for the holidays in a small cul-de-sac neighborhood.

Looking to give her mom (Neve McIntosh) a chance, it's quickly ruined when she walks in on her having sex with a one night stand, causing Cocker to flee the house to a neighbors. As McIntosh frantically tries to get her back and fails, she makes her way back to the house and in a split second, the movie takes a 180 degree turn when a group of soldiers come reigning down on the neighborhood, shooting neighbors and shoving others back into homes.

Appropriately confused and jarred, McIntosh and her one night stand (Shaun Dooley) hole up in the house and as their paranoia rises, it becomes clear that these soldiers are hunting what may be terrorists which may have had something to do with a mysterious container that washes ashore near the neighborhood.

As tensions rise between the couple, McIntosh makes a desperate plight to move through the houses and reach her daughter to hold and protect her from the forces outside, which turn out to not be terrorists at all but something far worse.

Salvage, though kinda unoriginal titled, manages to be quite original and unique in its rather simplistic presentation. There's loads of violence, blood, and terror but the real story is a mom desperately trying to redeem herself by frantically becoming responsible and loving as she makes every effort to get to her daughter while terror strikes from all corners.

Kudos to McIntosh for carrying this film and for giving such a jarring, intense performance. This is a brilliantly fun little film from the UK that I seriously hope gains a great following here in the states.