Simply A Masterpiece

Just perfect...

Fresh and Exciting

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

I must admit the comments about this "Straw dogs meets Wickerman" had me intrigued enough to want to watch this. Alas, I had never gotten an opportunity to see it on the cinema owing to the big cinemas' attitude of this being an 'indie' movie and not worth the trouble. Moreover I was pleasantly surprised.The Last Great Wilderness is a very low budget flick shot in the style of Dog Soldiers (lots of hand-held camera, bleak Scottish locations and swearing). Alistair McKenzie is Charlie, a lonely soul who is on a mission to Skye to burn down the house of the pop star who stole his wife (although we never get to meet either in the film). He bumps into Vincente, a half Spanish(?), half English fugitive on the run from some gangland thug who believes Vincente was banging his wife and wants to kill him for it. Vincente and Charlie, reluctantly, team up together and end up at a petrol station somewhere in Scotland with no petrol and a ghost. They chance upon a Lodge in the middle of Scottish nowhere, in search of help and petrol. Instead, they find a group of 'damaged' individuals sharing a retreat headed by David Hayman, a non judgemental fellow assisting with their treatment. Hayman's character takes the two men in and they are befriended of sorts by the community consisting of a sex addict, young mother and child, priest in conflict and a gamekeeper who is not part of the community. Vincente takes advantage of the 'sex addict' whilst Charlie strikes up conversation with Claire, the young mother. After it is revealed that the gamekeeper's daughter is the ghost that Vincente keeps seeing, things continue to get less clear. The head of the community, Ellie is dying and the two men take part in her wake, which involves them both dressing up as women. Whilst being made up by Claire, Charlie takes a leap of faith and makes love to her, an act which is quite touching, giving Charlie's troubled situation. Vincente, however, is pursued over the rough land by the gangland hired killers he has been running from and falls foul of both, his life being mercifully shortened by the gamekeeper whilst Charlie kills the two hired killers. There are no happy endings in this film, though as Charlie tries to return to life and leaves the community.For me, this film was enjoyable and had an edge to it which keeps the viewer guessing. Little questions crop up for example, why does the community take pictures of Charlie and Vincente when they are asleep? Why does Claire feel she has ruined three lives? Is there something more painful to Charlie's withdrawal? These questions are not answered but perhaps that's for the best.

"The Last Great Wilderness" was touted as both a horror movie and a thriller, especially with its poster and DVD cover featuring Alistair Mackenzie toting a shotgun. Suffice to say, Mackenzie's character is wearing a dress at the same time as carrying the shotgun, which is as good an indication as any of the film's rather insane trajectory.It has an obviously improvisatory feel - when one character makes a confession about the nature of his fantasies, it's hard not to imagine that this really is the first time that the other actors have heard about it (which makes the scene work very well). Other reviewers have already nailed the wayward charm of this cracking movie - though it meanders through any number of genres, with signposts for a dozen other movies, what holds it together is its vicious sense of humour. Worth seeing for the overwhelmingly sinister atmosphere, some superb performances, and an entirely unexpected and shockingly tender love scene which instantly makes the usual Hollywood soft-focus look irredeemably artificial. It's not without flaws, but "The Last Great Wilderness" is nevertheless rivetting, and hopefully not the last great independent British movie.

I don't want to say this is a bad film because I think I was expecting too much from it. A couple of reviews had lead me to believe it was similar to 28 Days Later and Dog Soldiers (Both of which I really enjoyed).The film began well enough and I think it is an interesting idea. However, by the closing credits I was left underwhelmed, disapointed and most importantly confused.Maybe there was some signifigance to the ending but if there was, I sure didn't get it.Despite this, I would say it is definatley a film worth watching.

This starts out looking like a run of the mill road trip film then suddenly you realise it's tripped into Wicker man territory. Well worth seeing, especially if you're familiar with the atmosphere in the highlands of scotland as its full of subtle references to the attitudes of the location, which really ring true.In a way it's a one actor movie but Alastair Mackenzie does well as Charlie, although for anyone who's seen Monarch of the Glen it's difficult to stop seeing him as Archie. That being said the supporting cast, the usual suspects from the scottish luvies, do well too.Overall a delightful, well observed comedy on the nature of escapisim.