This drama about a father looking for his missing child was absolutely nail-biting. The fact that lead actor James McAvoy was acting without a script makes his performance all the more impressive. It doesn’t show at all that he didn’t know what was going on. However, I’m certain that he would have delivered reactions just as natural if he had had a script. In fact, I thought this particular quirk of the film was more a distraction than an element that benefited the project. It seems to be more about showcasing an actor than for any artistic purpose.
Be that as it may, this is a solid crime drama! Not just James McAvoy, but also his supporting colleagues – most prominently Claire Foy – did a fantastic job, but it wasn’t just the acting that made this a touching, visceral film to watch. A large part of it is also the atmospheric, breathtaking cinematography of the Scottish landscape. A perfectly chosen colour palette shows this incredible part of the world at the turning of the seasons, an enticing show of stunning beauty not necessarily muted by the curtain of constant damp, but given a different angle to appreciate.
I also enjoyed the tight pacing of this, moving the story forward at just the right speed to masterfully create tension. The quality of the production was admirable, overall, especially considering the wet conditions. The only element to criticise is the overbearing score (but beautifully atmospheric) score by Laurent Perez Del Mar. It occupied too big a space in the film.
All in all, a very watchable, edge-of-your-seat drama that definitely didn’t need the added hype of the main actor not having a script. 4/5
Heidi Bird's Film Reviews 