Review of Shallow Grave (1994) by Kermudgin — 26 Jul 2009

What if Hitchcock made a movie where the main characters were all obnoxious, vapid, self-obsessed twits? I suppose you'd get something resembling Shallow Grave, Danny Boyle's directorial debut from all the way back in 1994. And while the movie is very well-directed, suspenseful, and filled with the trademark off-the-wall energy that Boyle would use to full potential in movies like Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, the movie falls flat on its face when it gets to the human element. It concerns three roommates (Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston, and Ewan McGregor) and the discovery of their brand new roommate's body (he accidentally OD'd literally moments after moving in) and a briefcase full of cash next to said body. If you've ever seen a movie before, you probably have an idea of where this is going--they dispose of the body and keep the cash, but wouldn't you know it, it doesn't work out according to plan. Two thugs who are acquainted with Dead Roommate are out for the money, and the police seem to be hovering uncomfortably close--or are they?

The movie's biggest flaw is, as mentioned before, the characters. The three roommates are shown from the opening scene to be greedy, juvenile, self-obsessed, cruel, and overall unlikable, in the most boring way possible. As a result, it is nearly impossible to care about what happens to them beyond simply delighting in the massive dishes of schadenfreude being handed out. Given their personalities (or lack thereof), the trio eventually turning on each other is roughly as predictable as the sun rising. But whatever. This is a pretty well-made movie considering it was Danny Boyle's first, and despite the loathsomeness of the characters the movie is adequately entertaining throughout. But I'd really only suggest seeing it if you're in love with Boyle and absolutely have to see everything he's ever done (except Millions. Don't ever see Millions).