Film Review: The Droving (2020)

~ beetleypete

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.

60 thoughts on “Film Review: The Droving (2020)”

  3. 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. ❤✌😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. 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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      1. 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🙈🙈🙈😜.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  13. 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.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. 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.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

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