Review of Shallow Grave (1994) by Jonathan B — 02 Jul 2012

Shallow Grave is most notable as the film debuts of Danny Boyle and Ewan McGregor, and for that it goes down as a stepping stone accomplishment. It hinted both were going to be forces to be reckoned with, as Trainspotting would confirm two years later, although Boyle would then drop off dramatically until his creative reemergence in 2003 with 28 Days Later.

Shallow Grave certainly isn't horribly original, and if it wasn't a low budget rookie film, I think would be much less regarded. However, the three leads are all convincing, even when things go into the dark dramatics of the concluding act, and even in his first outing Boyle still makes some interesting style decisions.

I always like exploring the psychological repercussions of covering up a crime, although this one is interesting because it's a crime they didn't commit, and that's probably one of the better things it pulls off.

Boyle and McGregor certainly have gone on to bigger and better things, but despite its faults, Shallow Grave will always be an interesting footnote in their respected careers.