I am pleased to bring you this review of a film in which one of our fellow bloggers, Jon Risdon, has a significant role. It is a recent independently-made film, and is currently available on Amazon, free to watch for Prime members.
Martin is a serving soldier with a dark past in the military. He has returned to England to investigate the disappearance of his younger sister Megan, one year earlier. Obviously troubled, and set on revenge, he goes to the town of Penrith in the Lake District, determined to find out what happened to her. It is the time of the annual festival, The Droving. What had once been a large market for drovers to sell and trade sheep and cattle has now become a local celebration, with parades, fancy dress, fireworks, and the recreation of old legends.
He meets up with one of his sister’s friends, and she tells him about a group of men who have arrived to try to cause trouble at The Droving. Believing they might have some information, he goes to find them at some old ruins. After a violent encounter, one tells him about a hermit, a man living in a shelter hut in the hills. Martin goes to see that hermit, and after a tense interrogation of the man, is told a very ancient secret that might solve the mystery of what happened to Megan.
Wasting no time, he follows the lead given to him by the hermit, and events take an exciting turn as the film builds to its climax on the night of the festival.
This film belies its low budget, and offers excellent high-definition filming in amazingly scenic locations of the famous Lake District. I watched it on a PC monitor, and it was lovely to look at even on that. Sound is not something that usually concerns me, but it was remarkable for its quality this time. With a fast pace, and a lot packed into an 80- minute running time, there is no part that feels dull, or padded. Daniel Oldroyd gives a convincing peformance as Martin, and Jonathon Risdon stands out as a very credible hermit. The rest of the cast do their best with smaller roles too.
A British revenge thriller with a nod to films like ‘The Wicker man’, and ‘Kill List’, it mixes myths and legends from ancient times, and brings them up to date in a film that delivers some twists and turns along the way.
Highly recommended, and a sign of good things to come from the team involved.
(If you decide to watch this film, please leave a fair review on Amazon, to help Jon and the others to promote the film.)
Here’s a trailer.
I would have loved to watch and review this film. I’m in India and couldn’t find it on Amazon here. Do you know where else it is accessible?
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At the moment, it is only on Amazon Prime. But after it finishes there, I believe it will be released on DVD/other streaming services.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sounds and looks like a great plot, Pete!Thank you, will watch asap. Indeed, the trailier is mouthwatering. Michael
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It also has some very good English location scenery, Michael. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Great for my dream of a future visit on the aisles. A post corona one.
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Ok, now this is my type of movie. I was thinking of getting the prime subscription, one or two more movies like this and I will definitely take the subscription. I hope you enjoyed pete. Keep the reviews coming, I really need some good movies. ❤✌😊
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I watched three in one week, which is unusual for me. Prime is pretty good value, as you even get access to some free books every month, (but not Kindle Unlimited) and if you buy lots of other things, as I do, you save on postage too.
Best wishes, Pete. xx
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Quarantine makes you do some pretty weird stuff, Pete. I just paid for prime and I am really excited to start watching something good and awesome. How do I know that I have got access to some free books?? I am dying to get my hand on something that will make me read again. I did buy a lot before covid-19 but now I am not even allowed to surf Amazon because my parents think I might end up buying more books🙈🙈🙈😜.
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This tells you about free stuff.
https://www.amazon.com/primeinsider/reading/prime-reading-perks.html
There is ‘Read For Free’, and ‘Amazon First Reads’. Each offer one book a month, free to read for Prime members. And you can choose from a selection.
Best wishes, Pete. xx
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So, fictionalized, fiction! warmest regards, Theo
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It’s a tight little revenge thriller,Theo. Easy to watch, and most enjoyable. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Always on the look out for a good film to watch, especially at the moment with the cinemas shut.. thanks for the review and will check it out.
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I think you will enjoy this one, Sally. Very ‘British’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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You just made me curious. Now I have to watch this one. 😁
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You will enjoy the scenery too, Shaily.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I hope you enjoy it, Shaily! Cheers, Jon.
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I don’t subscribe to anything, so I won’t have an opportunity to watch this film. But it does look good.
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It may show up for free somewhere. Give it time. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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It should be available on DVD & BluRay some time in the not-too-distant future, once it has had a good run on Amazon Prime. Cheers, Jon.
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Thanks for bringing this to my attention Pete – I will check it out indeed! supporting independent cinema is crucial, especially now!
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And I am sure you would love the setting and scenery too, John.
Plus being free on Amazon Prime has to be good! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you for that, John: I have to agree, of course! 😀 Cheers, Jon.
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Wonderful photography. Just gorgeous. The acting looks very good as well. I’m going to watch this one. I’m looking forward to it.
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Glad to hear that, Pam. A nice slice of English countryside into the bargain. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I hope you enjoy it, Pamela 😀 Cheers, Jon.
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Always ready to support Indie films as our son is an actor. Will tweet this one and suggest he watches it.Best Wishes.
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Thanks, Julie. I believe that most of the cast did this for their love of acting and film, so any support and fair reviews would be greatly welcomed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you, Julie! I hope you both enjoy it 😀 Cheers, Jon.
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This definitely sounds like my cup of tea!
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It is very watchable, Kim. The short running time keeps it well-paced, and the mystical element lifts it above the usual ‘revenge flick’ feel.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I just added it to my queue!
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Great! 🙂
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I hope you can watch it, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! 😀 Cheers, Jon.
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Reblogged this on theshammuramat.
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Many thanks, Felicity. x
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Thank you for the reblog! Cheers, Jon.
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Thanks for flagging this one up Pete, sounds like a good choice for ChezTidalscribe, anything set in the Lake district is a must. We have Amazon Prime – which is not to say I know how to find films on it, have to call on Cyberspouseskills.
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Just type The Droving into the search box. It’s the only one, and came up straight away. Free for Prime Members to watch, and a small charge if not.
Thanks, Janet.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, if for no other reason than the stunning scenery! [although I would like to suggest that the film also has other attributes to recommend it 😉 ] Cheers, Jon.
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I will tell Sue…this sounds like a film she would appreciate…..thanx for the review. chuq
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I think she would enjoy this, and it has very short running-time too. Sue might enjoy the wonderful English scenery as well.
Best wishes, Pete.
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She will….she watches a lot of BritBox because of the beautiful scenery and how it is p
protected from the encroachment chuq
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I hope Sue [or even both of you? 😉 ] enjoys the film: it was a joy working in such awesome scenery. Cheers, Jon.
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Thanx….chuq
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Well ya know that’s not my sort of thing, but I might fast forward through it for the scenery!
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It’s not ‘horror’ at all. Just a drama/thriller about a guy seeking revenge. Nothing scary at all, promise! The scenery is worth watching it for too. You would recognise a lot of the places from my photos of that area. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Got a few of my own 🙂 I’ll have a look at it.
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I know, I was teasing about my photos. 🙂
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I remember yours from when you went away there with your pal and Ollie.
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Thank you! I hope you enjoy it. Cheers, Jon.
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Reblogged this on Wilfred Books and commented:
Personal interest declared, but please check out this very astute review of a new independent film in which I have a part.
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Looks interesting Pete. A little like Shane Meadows’ Dead Man’s Shoes?
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Yes, it certainly has the feel of Meadows and Wheatley. (Also Mike Leigh in parts) You might recognise a lot of the locations if you have been up there. I did.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes I know the Lakes. And a little of Withnail in the Penrith tea rooms!
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Penrith is one of the locations for the film! Cheers, Jon.
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I’ll take a look….👍
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Thank you! I hope you enjoy it. Cheers, Jon.
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Thank you so much Pete, this is greatly appreciated, and I know everyone else involved with the film will also be very grateful. Cheers, Jon.
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My pleasure, Jon, I really enjoyed it. Would be a great fit for Film 4!
Best wishes, Pete.
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I would like to think that the producer, also a Jonathan like I am, will be looking into avenues like that. Cheers, Jon.
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