In 1847, Capt. John Boyd (Guy Pearce) is a reluctant hero in the Mexican-American War. His commander is forced to give him an award, but banishes him to remote outpost Fort Spencer in California. One night, Colqhoun (Robert Carlyle) stumbles into the fort and tells a tale of cannibalistic survival. The native guide in the fort calls it Weendigo.
It's a disturbing gritty muddy tale. It's a horror story like an old fashion Poe tale. It's not heart thumping scary. It's the subject that is disturbing. The biggest selling point is the great acting from Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, and Neal McDonough. They bring some terrific tension in this smaller film.
Antonia Bird isn't a natural horror director. She misses a few opportunities to ramp up the fear factor. This is most noticeable with the lack of an on-screen kill for Jeremy Davies. He is probably the first big kill, and she leaves it off-screen. This and other things show Bird's lack of horror skills.
It's a disturbing gritty muddy tale. It's a horror story like an old fashion Poe tale. It's not heart thumping scary. It's the subject that is disturbing. The biggest selling point is the great acting from Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, and Neal McDonough. They bring some terrific tension in this smaller film.
Antonia Bird isn't a natural horror director. She misses a few opportunities to ramp up the fear factor. This is most noticeable with the lack of an on-screen kill for Jeremy Davies. He is probably the first big kill, and she leaves it off-screen. This and other things show Bird's lack of horror skills.