Review of The Scouting Book for Boys (2010) by Stuart K — 30 Dec 2012

The feature directorial debut of TV director Tom Harper (off This is England '86 and Misfits, now doing The Woman in Black: Angels of Death), and written by Jack Thorne (Skins) and produced by Christian Colson (Slumdog Millionaire), this is a dark teen drama with an odd yet original location which proves to be haunting and beautiful.

It has good intentions, but it's ending lets it down. David (Thomas Turgoose) and Emily (Holliday Grainger) are best friends who both live on a caravan park on the Norfolk coast, and they are inseparable.

They're not lovers, but they're like brother and sister getting into mischief. However, when Emily's mother Sharon (Susan Lynch) says Emily is to move away to live with her Dad. Emily is distraught, and she and David come up with a plan to have her hide away in a small remote cave down on the beach.

Emily is reported as missing, and the police, led by D.I. Kertzer (Steven Mackintosh) search everywhere. The plan seems to work, but Emily reveals a secret to David, that brings his world and feelings crashing down around him.

It's a bittersweet story of teen love, only the teens aren't in love, but they have feelings. It's goes from sunny adventure into psychological thriller very quickly. It's got some lovely touches though, but as stated, the end lets it down badly.