大象传媒

There's plenty of blood and guts on offer in low budget horror pic Wild Country. The blood's visible on screen when a four-legged beast runs amok in the Scottish countryside; the guts come from the artistic team behind this long-gestating film, which successfully combines the artery-spouting gore of Hammer Horror with the social realism of Ken Loach. Writer/director Craig Strachan's debut feature is also aided by plausible dialogue and fine performances from the young cast, most notably newcomer Samantha Shields.

Appropriately enough for a movie that was clearly a labour of love for all involved, Wild Country starts with young teenager Kelly Ann (Shields) giving birth to a wee bairn. At the instigation of the local priest (the wonderful Peter Capaldi), the child is given up for adoption. Six weeks later and Father Steve is still controlling Kelly Ann's life, this time taking her and three fellow teens on a hike to the middle of nowhere. Her ex-boyfriend, Lee (Sweet Sixteen's Martin Compston), shows up unexpectedly, but it's another mystery arrival who gets the blood flowing and the teens running for their lives.

"THE PACE NEVER FLAGS"

Scares-wise, Wild Country isn't the most sophisticated horror movie you'll see - the killer beast looks a bit too much like a hippie anteater to inspire much dread - but that's really not the point. All of the actors deliver believable performances, the pace never flags, and it's refreshing to have a modern-day horror flick that doesn't rely on sudden bursts of VERY LOUD MUSIC to make audiences jump. Bloody good show.

Wild Country is released in select Scottish cinemas on Friday 24th February 2006.