Shallow Grave

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The first feature from director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew MacDonald, and screenwriter John Hodge (who went on to make the enormously popular Trainspotting, the not-so-well-received A Life Less Ordinary, and The Beach), Shallow Grave begins with three obnoxious roommates mockingly interrogating applicants who want to share their spacious flat. The guy they finally choose doesn't last long--they find him dead from a drug overdose along with a suitcase full of money that he no longer needs. They decide to keep the money; this of course requires that they discreetly dispose of the body, which proves to be a gruesome, traumatic business. They begin to suspect each other of betrayal and become increasingly deranged. The movie wants to be a satirical comment on the greed of British yuppies but is more an exercise in stylish paranoia, where the color of the walls matters more than why the characters behave the way they do. The clever cinematography and macabre humor make Shallow Grave worth watching, just don't expect to like anyone in it. Starring the very hip trio of Kerry Fox (An Angel at My Table, The Last Days of Chez Nous), Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting, Velvet Goldmine, Star Wars: Episode I--The Phantom Menace), and Christopher Eccleston (Jude, Elizabeth). --Bret Fetzer

Description

Three friends push the boundaries of trust in this hermetically sealed shocker (Los Angeles Times) from the creators of Trainspotting. Starring Kerry Fox (The Hanging Garden), Christopher Eccleston (Elizabeth) and Ewan McGregor (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace), Shallow Grave is a masterpiece of terror (Movieline), riddled with hairpin turns (Boxoffice) that takes you on a fantastic ride to the lowest depths of human nature. Juliet (Fox), David (Eccleston) and Alex (McGregor) find that their new reclusive roommate has not left the bedroom for days. After kicking in the door they discover his drug over-dosed corpse and a suitcase full of money! Fatefully choosing to keep the money, they know they have to get rid of the remains. But the body won't stay buried and a careless trail from the shallow grave leads the policeand two money-hungry thugsback to the trio. And as the stakes get higher, so does the body count, not to mention their paranoia which is quickly putting their friendships in jeopardy forever!

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, but false advertising.......2007-08-16

I found this film to be good but not great. I admire Danny Boyle, but this piece wasn't his finest.

What I found surprising as I perused the newly expanded archive of Siskel and Ebert reviews is that they gave this film two thumbs down, while the case it's sold in clearly shows "Two Thumbs Up" and then attributes that quote to Siskel and Ebert. I felt compelled to remark on this in some way. Not that anyone should be wholly swayed by the opinions of any such reviewer, I just think that the potential viewer should be well-informed and that the film's marketing shouldn't be allowed such a blatant lie.

David G.

Get Your Good Clean Fresh Nasty Shallow Fun Here.......2006-10-19

"Shallow Grave," a 1994 black comedy-farce, was the film debut of young British director Danny Boyle, who had previously worked in British television. You can catch his work in the "Inspector Morse," and "Hamish MacBeth" series, and it's well-worth catching, if you can.

The movie starred several then-unknown actors. Kerry Fox as "Juliet Miller," Christopher Eccleston as "David Stephens," and Ewan McGregor as "Alex Law." In smaller parts it featured; as "Detective Inspector McCall," Ken Stott, who's since made a career playing tv cops, most recently "Inspector Rebus;" and Colin McCredie, whom some may remember from the last series of "Taggart." Robert Carlyle, an actor with whom Boyle had previously worked on "Hamish," was offered the starring part of "David," but turned it down.

Boyle was born on October 20,1956(same date as Viggo Mortenson), in Manchester, England, son of first generation Irish Catholic immigrants. He began working in theater: he was Artistic Director of the Royal Court from 1982-85, and then Deputy Director from 1985-87. He's since gone on to make the hits "Trainspotting," a fairly outrageous druggie film, with Ewan McGregor again, in 1996; and "28 Days Later," a zombie movie like no other, in 2002. His work tends to have a light--some might say shallow-- touch, and a taste for the fantastic.

"Shallow" is a fresh take on a hoary idea: that pots of money, no matter how acquired, will break any friendship/companionship/marriage. It's set in Edinburgh, and opens on a sweeping panorama of that city's elegant, historic New Town district. (Only exteriors were filmed in Edinburgh, however, the rest was filmed in Glasgow to take advantage of a 150,000 pound grant from that city's film board.) Three roommates, needing a fourth for financial reasons, are interviewing candidates; they're kind of snarky, but funny if you don't happen to be the interviewee. Their flat is drop dead gorgeous, big and light, full of unexpected color: you'd sure like to be the lucky one chosen. Mysterious Hugo, the man chosen, dies immediately after moving in. They never exactly know why, neither do we; all parties just assume drug overdose, especially after Hugo's found to have a suitcase full of nice crisp 100 pound notes. This sets the plot, in all its gruesome, unpredictable glory, in motion; six people will be dead by movie's end.

Boyle's first movie is pure "tartan noir," tough, funny, macabre, and couldn't be further removed from what Hollywood has recently conditioned us to. We never learn the back stories of the three main characters, nor any of the others, nor why they are acting as they do. And none of the characters are shown to be nice people, worth rooting for. In fact, in my off-the cuff memory, we haven't been presented with three such easy to dislike characters since the late John Huston's masterpiece "Treasure of the Sierra Madre," starring Humphrey Bogart as Fred C. Dobbs, John's father Walter as another of the miners, and ending with a body count about the same as "Shallow Grave's."

In sum, "Shallow Grave" is a tight, entertaining, shallow little thriller, with Boyle's trademark touch of the fantastic. It's like nothing you've ever seen before. Your feelings about it will be influenced by your fondness for the unexpected, and your willingness to sit there and let a movie take you where it will.

TERRIFIC THRILLER ABOUT PARANOIA.......2006-10-02

This is a terrific thriller about three roommates sharing the same flat in England who are looking for a fourth person to rent to. The film starts off a little comical with the three roommates, Juliet (Kerry Fox), David (Christopher Eccleston) and Alex (Ewan McGregor) sizing up the various denizens looking for a place to stay. They go through silly dialogues, and ask outrageous questions of those who wish to rent. Finally, one person shows up whom they all agree to rent to. There is a problem however: This man is more than they bargained for.

After only one night in the flat, the trio find the man dead of a drug overdose. Moreover, he has a briefcase filled with money. Instead of reporting this to the police they decide to keep the money and get rid of the body. Thinking no one will be the wiser, they dump the car and dismember the body in the woods. However, the police discover the body, and the short-lived roommate's fellow thugs discover the car. And these are not the type of men you want to cross. They deal very harshly with everyone in their quest to find their missing friend, and more importantly, the missing money.

David (Christopher Eccleston) is one hell of a case of paranoia. Although he has reason to be. However, it becomes a morbid case of paranoia when the thugs arrive on the scene. Not content with dealing with the thugs, he becomes dementedly paranoid of his fellow roommates. What I liked about the film is how it shows greed, even amongst friends, changes these three people. With Alex (Ewan McGregor) seeming to be the only normal one among them. This is an excellent thriller, and highly enjoyable. The ending is superb and highly unexpected. Highly recommended. [Stars: 4.5]

A SUPERIOR THRILLER!!.......2006-07-19

From the director that brought us the trashy movie called "The Beach," comes this fantastic thriller that has to be seen to be believed!!
If you like movies like Fargo, Blood Simple and A Simple Plan, you'll love this!! It's that type of thriller!!

Hollywood studio would have never produced `Shallow Grave'.......2006-01-17

Why is it that I watch and enjoy so many films in which Ewan McGregor appears? After finishing the substantive part of my day one evening last week, I flipped over to IFC and found `Shallow Grave' (1994) just starting. I stuck with it, and was not disappointed.

A movie fan has to love the risks that the independent filmmakers take. Danny Boyle, the same director of `Trainspotting,' did a very nice job with three rather unknown actors at the time - at least in the U.S., Kerry Fox (Juliet), Christopher Eccleston (David), and McGregor (Alex), a quirky and unusual script, a little contemporary film noir, and created an enjoyable little story. Nice work, Danny Boyle.

In synopsis, Juliet, David, and Alex live in a nice four bedroom flat and are conducting a roommate search to pay a fourth of the rent. During a dinner/interview with a prospective tenant, Hugo, played by Keith Allen, the three are impressed, perhaps excessively so, when the potential flat mate brandishes nice wad of pound notes. Very shortly after Hugo moves in, he is not to be seen. Inquisitive Alex (he's a newspaper reporter) leads the charge to break into his room only to find Hugo naked and dead. Then, Alex continues to snoop and finds a substantial cache of money in a suitcase under the bed.

In short, after some very shallow soul-searching, the trio decided to keep the money rather than to report Hugo's death to the authorities. As such, Juliet, David, and Alex David must dispose of the body, Hugo's car, and anything else that could possibly associate the deceased flat mate with the three friends. The disposal proves to be quite a grisly affair, but that is not the least of the trio's problems. Paralleling their own struggles in disposing of Hugo, Boyle introduces us to two very bad men who are also looking for the money. The audience does not know and does not necessarily need to know who these very bad men are, just that they are very bad men and are getting closer and closer to Juliet, David, and Alex.

Ironies abound in `Shallow Grave,' but one of the most fun of those ironies occurs at the point when bodies, - yes, bodies - are found in a shallow grave, and Alex is assigned by his editor at the newspaper to cover the story. Alex's front-page headline is then succeeded by an intense climax as the three "friends," each apparently on the verge or over the precipice of insanity caused by greed, face each other early one morning and then a surprise ending that includes Alex gruesomely fastened to the floor of the flat.

In a moderate budget, independent film, actors, directors, and producers tend to take more creative risks. As such, I do not believe a Hollywood studio would have ever produced `Shallow Grave'. And, if it had, Hollywood would have turned it into a watered down version of its original intention, comparable to the difference between the independent `Requiem for a Dream' and the Hollywood `Traffic.' Good for lovers of good film.

Average customer rating:

Whispers from a Shallow Grave
Starring: Whispers from a Shallow Grave
Manufacturer: Fat Cat DVD (Tempe Video)
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ASIN: B000L22UTG
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Product Description

She was beautiful and blonde…one day, she vanished. A real-life mystery with the ingredients of a Hollywood thriller: a shapely photo-model, hot cars, a mysterious disappearance, a frantic search, a desperate suicide attempt…and a suspect with a hidden, depraved past. Millions watched the daily twists and turns of the murder investigation of former L.A. Raiderette Linda Sobek and the trial of her accused killer, Charles Rathbun. Based on court records, diaries and factual accounts, WHISPERS FROM A SHALLOW GRAVE takes you to the actual locations to present the story from the lips of a beautiful corpse!

Average customer rating:

Interesting, but false advertising
Get Your Good Clean Fresh Nasty Shallow Fun Here
TERRIFIC THRILLER ABOUT PARANOIA
A SUPERIOR THRILLER!!
Hollywood studio would have never produced `Shallow Grave'

Shallow Grave
Starring: Kerry Fox , Christopher Eccleston , Ewan McGregor , Ken Stott , and Keith Allen
Director: Danny Boyle
Manufacturer: Polygram Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305181284
Release Date: 1998-12-08

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Customer Reviews:

Interesting, but false advertising.......2007-08-16

Get Your Good Clean Fresh Nasty Shallow Fun Here.......2006-10-19

TERRIFIC THRILLER ABOUT PARANOIA.......2006-10-02

A SUPERIOR THRILLER!!.......2006-07-19

Hollywood studio would have never produced `Shallow Grave'.......2006-01-17

Average customer rating:

Shallow Grave
Starring: Kerry Fox , Christopher Eccleston , Ewan McGregor , Ken Stott , and Keith Allen
Director: Danny Boyle
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000065K89

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Shallow Grave [Region 2]
Starring: Kerry Fox , Christopher Eccleston , Ewan McGregor , Ken Stott , and Keith Allen
Director: Danny Boyle
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005KITA

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Shallow Grave [Region 2]
Starring: Kerry Fox , Christopher Eccleston , Ewan McGregor , Ken Stott , and Keith Allen
Director: Danny Boyle
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00004T8E8

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