Retreat

But, I am glad I did with this one. However, I got peeved when I read disinformation spreading in the other reviews. I don't read reviews from other watchers until I have watched and written my own either. I am glad this time that I did because I found out quickly that politicizing goes so deep and at the same time shallow in reviews.I mean really? I have found politics in reviews for sandwich shops, neonatal care centers, and others very distant from politics review forums and now Amazon?Anyway, this is the way I review and anyone with a problem NOT being sunk into a rant about politics and how it affects our viewing pleasure, OR spoiling the movie in a review instead of hoping someone watches it and gets something...anything from the viewing.Location 5 of 5 I found it a frightfully lovely place that I have often wanted to spend a few months at in the summer. If for nothing else, the adrenalin that pumps up when you are alone and hear a bump in the night.Casting 5 of 5 I found the casting department did a really good job hiring people capable of keeping your interest with such a small cast.Story 4 of 5 Although the characters were fleshed out early in the movie, I still wanted more of who they were before their need for a trip like this one. It would have gone a long way in explaining the way they behaved at times.Acting 4.5 It is hard to pull off small casts so they did a good job with that aspect. I think we should have seen more bravado in the husband and the other male could have been beefier in his strongarming.Special effects, set, makeup, and sound 4 of 5 There was very little involved in these things but they mattered for the storyline so I was pleased except for the lack of the sounds of an ocean. No seagulls, very little wave action, and I think the time of the year should have been easier to figure out due to the need for heat. It is small but when a movie relies so much on the small stuff adding up to the big stuff, the more evident things are, the more the movie feels real.The only reason I went for a 4 rating is that this isn't a blockbuster movie. Not that it needed to be to gain a 5 rating but it puts the movie into a proper category. This won't be one of those movies that watchers just have to tell everyone about.Better than a B by far, not quite blockbuster but it held my attention and I hope they make good bank.

The film held me from start to end. Sure there were a small few moments that gave a "huh?!" but they were so small you can shake them off as 'it's a movie'.I loved the tension between all 3 charas and the ending was more than an ending. Every part of the ending was shocking and 100% not ever predictable. In any way, shape or form.The reason for the 2nd part of my review title is simple. So many say the couple acted wimpy or "not like how normal people would act in this situation". I beg to differ. Not one of the 2 stars and Under crowd can say with 100% certainty that they'd be the one who was the hero and would definitely do xyz in any aspect of any situation in this film if it was real life.Sure, we are Humans and we absolutely want to feel infallible and heroic and able to make the right decision and response to something going on - but 8/10 times that's not going to happen. We most all would react as the couple did. And it's okay. Being in any horrific situation that's life (or spouse, etc) threatening makes a person freeze up, do the wrong thing, do nothing, get scared, maybe try to react but not go as it would in their imagination. Fight, freeze or flight are the only options when danger is around. And only highly trained people would be the ones who would instantly go to Fight Mode. They've trained in self defence or via martial arts or the Police Academy, body guard services, or Military. The normal human will freeze or flee. Sure, some will attempt fighting but sadly for most it would fail. Just because Kevin in Home Alone managed to thwart two dangerous burglars doesn't mean the majority of Tom, Dick, Harry, Jane and Sally will do the same in a real life situation.

Sadly this was kind of a disappointment. The actors were good, I wanted to like it but the characters just lacked common sense/any self preservation instincts.********** spoilers**********1) Your alone on the island with your husband, suddenly a man you do not know staggers toward your home and your first instinct is to run towards him, really? Were they expecting him to be a girl scout selling thin mint cookies?2) Lets say they were kind and didn't want to see someone die when they could have done something, fine. But cheese on a cracker shouldn't you at least check to see if the guy is carrying before you bring him into your home/ leave your wife alone with the guy? Sure he's passed out but funny thing about that is people wake up. He is a complete stranger and help is at least a couple of hours away and I'm not sure how much help a elderly man will be of, perhaps to up the body count, brilliant!3) Ok, lets give them some points they found and took his gun before he woke up.Oh wait,scratch that Martin gave it back after hearing some story of how there's people on the island, people he didn't actually see. Why on earth would you give someone that power specially after that incident were Jake practically chocked him.4) There's a possible mad man in your home (the house your vacationing in), who wants to board up the house trapping you inside and although he gives you the chance to leave you chose to stay. If that's your choice you have to play along not switch between playing nice and antagonizing the guy. The last thing you want to do is anger someone who might be dangerous.5) Jake wasn't lying. Well kind of, there really was a virus just not in the air but in him. After seeing this for yourself and getting a confession (which of course could have been all lies) you choose to shoot Jake and call in for the 'antidote'. If there actually were an antidote wouldn't they have used it on Jake their human lab rat after seeing the viruses effect? Then again a shot to the head seems much nicer than spewing up blood while convulsing for who knows how long.6) This isn't an end of the world kind of scenario where if one gets the disease they must be put down in order to keep the few others safe. Wouldn't it have been best to quarantine the infected and wait to see if anyone makes it out alive? Though they could just be carriers, like Jake who have no symptoms yet are still highly contagious. Also, just because you are exposed doesn't mean you are infected perhaps there is something in that persons blood that makes them immune to it. Point being isn't it best to find a cure when who knows how many people have been exposed and are not coming forward?

If you look at the film as a relationship drama, it actually works very well. Kate (Thandie Newton) and Martin (Cillian Murphy) are a young couple whose marriage is on the rocks. They rent an isolated cottage on a remote island off the Scottish coast where they've spent happier days in the past, in the hope a holiday may help them reconnect. One day they find an unresponsive soldier, Jack (Jamie Bell), near the beach. They bring him into the house, and when he recovers they learn about the outbreak of a highly contagious deadly virus on the mainland. They fail to establish a radio connection with the outside world. Jack insists that they barricade themselves inside the house and seal all doors and windows to prevent contamination with the virus. From now on it's an intense drama playing out between the three of them. With the looming threat of infection and in the presence of the forceful and virile character of Jack, Martin finds new strenghts and there seems hope for his relationship with Kate.With a film that plays out among only three people a strong cast is essential, and Retreat has got that in spades. Cillian Murphy is one those few actors who always have an amazing screen presence, no matter how weak their character may be. And there is no denying that Martin, at least initially, is the weakest character here. Murphy manages to make us root for him, right from the beginning all the way through to the end. Thandie Newton seems to be getting a lot of criticism from reviewers, which seems rather unfair. I must admit that I did not like her character very much, but that's part of the story. Newton's performance is spot on. Also very good is Jamie Bell as the domineering military man. Definitely worth watching for the acting of all three leads.The DVD is fine, both picture and sound are good. The extra features include a trailer, a photo gallery and a making of featurette.

Retreat utilises solidarity and paranoia to create a nice little thriller, if somewhat forgettable. Residing on a remote island for peace and quiet, a couple are interrupted by a stranger who claims that a virus has been unleashed. He attempts to convince the couple to barricade themselves in, but with this comes a struggle for power and control. Is the stranger telling the truth? Obviously that question is the purpose of the film, and it is explored thoroughly. Paranoia is an easy trait to use in psychological thrillers, we've seen it multiple times. Retreat is no different, but the scale feels far more personal and thus results in a more affecting story. You feel emotionally invested with the couple who clearly have no choice but to believe the stranger to prevent themselves getting harmed. But aside from that, they are also going through their own personal troubles which assists in making them more relatable. The first act sets this up excellently, watching a couple struggle to find what they once had together. Acting was solid from Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton, however I do not believe there was much chemistry between them. They didn't really suit each other. Jamie Bell playing the elusive stranger was excellent. Both menacing and mysterious. What are his true motives? The drama and suspense was well crafted and it certainly is enjoyable to watch. The ending...well, it happens. I personally did not like it, but it's an ending atleast. The production occasionally feels like a British TV show. By that, I mean the direction feels rather simple and clinical. Nothing outstanding or memorable. It's like watching Broadchurch or Happy Valley (literally the first two shows that come to mind). The location of a remote island was a clever choice for enhancing the feeling of being trapped and lonely. So whilst Retreat is absolutely fine to watch and does contain some thrilling performances, it's just underwhelming and feels all too familiar. But Cillian Murphy...the guy is underrated!

This is a film worth watching. There are only three main characters in it and its centres on a couple who go on holiday to a remote island to get away from their problems, only to find things getting much worse when a stranger turns up at their door. The film is a bit slow to begin with but the storyline builds quite nicely and the film is quite suspenseful particularly towards the end where you are kept guessing and there are several twists.

Ok zombie film could be better

I bought this with two others for a weekend DVD marathon and it was the best by far.Some reviews were negative but I gave the film the benefit of the doubt and am glad I did.It's not quite the edge of the seat stuff, but it's fast paced with a good story and I wanted to keep watching it - and if you pay attention the ending is obvious but still well executed.