Superterranean (2020) User Reviews

A chat with yourself

[keithclarke-59456 · 7/10 · 21 December 2023]

This is a film that proves the difference between Hollywood million dollar films and the rest is paper thin. Loved this movie. My take on the meaning is that he is just having a conversation with himself and then buries the past. He may have been away from home much longer than a few days. But he wants to go home. There is the odd rather glitchy out of focus shot but for that there are dozens of brilliant wide screen shots. Enjoyed it immensely.

Taking on the whole project was clearly a massive task but it was worth it. 5 years in the making I read. Ian describes himself as a reluctant actor, well if you want to replace yourself in the next film give me a call.

Impressive folksy horror with closed room elements

[amydelaney-56969 · 7/10 · 20 January 2024]

I went into this film expecting the usual "3* maximum" rubbish that Amazon & Netflix keep pumping out, but I was very pleasantly surprised!

It's DEFINITELY a slow burn, which can at times feel a bit too drawn out, but ultimately the pacing seems to reflect the protagonist's predicament- he's trapped in a bothy, in reality it wouldn't be overly exciting!

The bulk of the film is carried by one character's storytelling. The narrative comes across to me as a proud celebration of Scottish heritage and social culture (bothy culture in particular) through history. It feels companionable but is tinged with unease, which builds towards the end.

The acting can be a little stilted at times (too long pauses, slightly stumbling over a line, lacking urgency or confusion in scenes where it would be needed...) but overall it feels believable for a stoic character.

The gore effects are pretty bad I'm afraid, it looks like bubble gum was used to stand in for flesh! But it's not a big deal as it only plays a very small part in the film.

There are some distracting details, such as the protagonist's fly being weirdly open in the first few scenes, a knife coming clean out of a bloody wound, occasionally wobbly camerawork and one of the main cameras in particular seemingly having a very dusty lense. However, there are also some really beautiful, atmospheric shots which highlight the wildness of the setting, the vastness of nature and vulnerability of the protagonist.

The ending is on the predictable side but still managed to throw in a twist that took me by surprise (normally I'm pretty good at figuring them out!)

I don't want to spoil anything but will say that one of the final scenes is pretty horrific! Definitely one of the most obviously "horror" aspects of the film.

It's left open to interpretation, which I would normally call lazy storytelling (it's so overused) but in this case it works really well, there are plenty of threads in the plot for you to follow to your own conclusion and it keeps you thinking about the film after it has ended.

One thing I wish had been delved into more was WHY did things happen the way they did - no particular reasoning seemed to be given from what I could tell so I was left feeling a bit confused on that front.

Not bad

[thcyjcbpg · 6/10 · 21 March 2024]

Not bad, not great, but did enjoy it, mainly dues to the fact that I enjoy nothing more than hiking solo from bothy to bothy, including Corrour.

My first thoughts were this is a great idea for a film. Couldn't help feel it wasn't very realistic. The main reason being that no bothy I've ever been in has had more than a thumbs width of a candle sticking out of a buckfast bottle, and I've spent many a lonesome night in a fair few. The mantle piece looked like Blackpool illuminations, whereas in reality I've been lucky to get an Anderson shelter during the blitz.

As it happens I'm off early tomorrow morning, 7am train, to Corrour station (Britain's most remote station btw), eta 15:15. Seven .5 hike over to Loch Charain bothy, absolute middle of nowhere. This film will play back in my head I'm sure, so it's defo done something right.

A bore

[antide-42376 · 4/10 · 26 November 2023]

This is a movie that is boring. A man finds himself in a hut among the Scottish Cairngorms. He is injured, has no idea how in the hell he got there and equally has no idea how he will escape. So far, not too bad. Then a hairy fellow walker turns up and it goes downhill from there. Full of idle chit chat with a fair bit of mumbling, so much so that I had to put on subtitles.

We are then led to some tripe where one person can replace the other and take over their identity. Complete and utter nonsense that makes you realise that you the viewer have been sucked into this mumbo jumbo and although the landscape is stunning yet brutal there is very little to recommend this.

Waste of time

[kirachloe · 2/10 · 5 October 2023]

One man show, written directing, and yes starring the same person .... this has NEVER been a prescription for anything good, as proven here again. If you are looking for entertainment, keeping moving. Not sure there was even a script, just one guy winging it, and nothing makes sense. There is no context given for the events. I am giving 2 stars for the effort and some relatively acceptable camera/scene work.

Oh I am quite sure the writer would discus something about the character development, the insights to some obscure phycological concept, etc., but from a viewers perspective this was an absolute waste of time.

Crap

[jj-fergs11 · 1/10 · 28 December 2023]

One of the worst films i've ever seen. There isn't one positive thing I can say about it. I had to pause it and check how long was left as absolutely nothing happened during the whole film, it's a conversation between two scottish guys for over an hour.

As the film went on it became more obvious that this was a personal project from the director which should have stayed in his high school movie images portfolio.

It ends with the most pretentious nonsense twist. The hiker who is injured is reborn as the other guy he met in the cabin.

I'm convinced the director (also the only actor) made this to annoy people.

One man show.

[midnightmosesuk · 5/10 · 22 October 2023]

I have a sort of system when it comes to assigning stars to a film. All films, in my view, start with five stars. If I find it vaguely entertaining I might add a star. If it's quite enjoyable it might go to seven stars. Likewise, if a film is not so good the rating may go down to four or three. The truly awful get two or even one. For me, five stars equals "meh".

Superterranean has it's good points. The bleak Scottish landscape is beautiful but unsettling to look at and is well shot and the fact that this is all done by one man is impressive. However it's all kind of dull and not a lot really happens. There's some stuff about Cairns and faeries and cabin fever, I can't really remember. I doubt I'll remember anything at all about it by tomorrow.

Not bad enough to turn off but not good enough to be entertaining. Can I recommend it? Maybe, if you like rocks you'll get a real kick out it.

A fine dark and chilling story

[paul_anson · 9/10 · 19 November 2023]

Perfect for a dark winters night. Put the fire on but lock the door...

I have to confess I have spent many a night in a bothy, sipping a whisky and if I am lucky sitting next to a warm fire. Occasionally a dark unknown figure will arrive, thankfully not as dark or sinister as the one in this fim. This film captured that sense of location wonderfully. The oppression of the wind and grey sky against the back drop of the mountains.

This is masterpiece in virtually solo film making. Ian Gordon plays both the main parts and wrote the haunting score. Given the resource limitations, he has skillfully used everything at his disposal to produce this tense dark tale, with a gripping unexpected ending.

Surperb

[czwjgh · 10/10 · 11 January 2024]

If you enjoy dark films which carry you on the journey of Mental Health then this film is for you.

Superbly acted and written the score chosen could not of been more perfect.

At times I was wishing this was filmed in black and white but then contemplating ending your own life is never black and white.

Extremely thought provoking. The location really added to the darkness of this film I could almost feel the coldness of the rugged landscape, when the stranger enters it feels even colder but then you are listening and watching his every move, could this be some sort of ritual killing that befalls every missing climber... To conclude I hope my Co walker is as interesting and ultimately helps me make the right decision if I ever find my self in the same predicament.

Thank you Ian Gordon.

Confusion set in near the end!

[jhmoondance · 8/10 · 26 November 2023]

Well.....it starts off as a run of the mill drama with brilliant cinematic views n the music is foreboding giving tension to the film. The scenery leaves you breathless.

The middle.....intriguing once the visitor arrives. A little dark n mystifying n the tension escalates. It left me holding my breath at times. It's very gripping.

The ending has a big twist but I'm not sure if I got the message therefore I'm confused or even if there was a hidden message 🤔😳 I was left with a lot of unanswered open-ended questions but I guess the viewer can make his or her mind up about the outcome.

It's left me astonished that this dark movie was totally made by one man! I have admiration for Ian Gordon.

I took 2 stars off for the open-ended finale.

Good story, well made.Nice landscapes.

[lector-64686 · 8/10 · 20 August 2023]

Good story, well made. Nice landscapes. The acting is a little stilted in pacing sometimes and it's a bit of a talk fest but for good reasons in the story.

The story, the history, the landscape and use of the cultural aspects was impressive. There's some blood and special effects but nothing too disturbing.

But what was really impressive was that it was written, shot, directed, produced and starred all just one guy. His brother helped out but this is pretty much a shining example of solo film making, Just like the main character going solo climbing.

I've a sneaking suspicion this was a covid project not that it matters.

Off the beaten path

[ham-71760 · 9/10 · 24 January 2024]

I believe the movie was captivating although I didn't understand the writers thrust for quit a while. But still i had to keep watching.

I first assumed he was a climber although people don't climb alone in such a desolate environment. There did not seem to be mountains nearby that required all the gear that he had with him. Mainly ricks and shrubs.

I kept feeling that the stranger that came to the bothy was the same actor playing two parts. And spent time wondering about who was under the beard and heaving clothing. The voice was quite different so i gave up trying to figure that out.

At one point towards tge end i thought he was the victim of a plane crash but then remembered his injury.

In the end I realized I was quite right about the few things i was guessing about.

I had a very hard time understanding the accents and just moved ahead by fast forwarding.

The filming was magnificent, the acting was excellent and the landscape perfectly illustrated the protagonist's state of mind. I can't imagine how long it took for one person to write, film, edit and promote this movie. Amazing. I gave it a nine. Not Hollywood stuff but pretty great idea.

An extraordinary achievement

[odogjenkins-64993 · 9/10 · 28 November 2023]

So many Hollywood / large budget films leave me checking my watch within half an hour, but I was completely captivated and invested in this film throughout. The cinematography is extraordinary given the resource limitations and despite some criticisms from others, I thought that the dialogue was clever and very tight with no words wasted whatsoever. Ian Gordon is clearly a man of many talents and I will keep an eye out for future works from him. Personally, I like a few more ambiguous things to be tied up at the end of a film, so am not awarding 10 for that reason, but can find few criticisms beyond that.

Absorbing

[lilliemays-88494 · 9/10 · 18 February 2024]

*If you don't enjoy thought provoking films - don't watch*.

The Cairngorm scenery is fantastic, the filming atmospheric and the story very dark. I'd really like to spend the night in a bothy and discuss this film over some drams!! Remarkable to think Ian Gordon produced and starred in this alone (with a wee bit of help I believe) most definitely deserves the awards it received. This kept me guessing until the very end - which is so refreshing nowadays.

Some of the reviewers on here have completely failed to understand this film. I'm so glad I ignored their comments.

I highly recommend. Watch in a dark room with no interruption Enjoy!