It irritates me that some truly excellent independent horror films never get the acclaim they deserve. So, from time to time I will be reviewing these films when I encounter them in the hope that said movie’s fanbase may increase, if only by a little bit. Case in point is this little gem:
Ravenous (1999, directed by Antonia Byrd and written by Ted Griffin) is a moody, quirky little horror film set in 1847 in the western Sierra Nevada Mountains. Recently promoted for heroism, Capt. Boyd (Guy Pierce) is transferred to Fort Spencer after his commanding officer realises that his heroism was only possible due to a previous act of cowardice. The Mexican forces had dragged Boyd’s “corpse” behind their wall to bury it.
Everyone at the fort seems to have their own bent reasons for being there. I like the word bent, don’t you? It’s almost as much fun as ground into a sticky paste but, you know… not. Anyway, The first in Command is Col. Hart (Jeffrey Jones), a weary, shell shocked bookworm who’s heart isn’t really in his job. Then there’s drunken major Knox (Stephen Spinella) who also has the dubious position of company medic. Whatever you do, don’t get sick. Under Boyd is a loco-weed crazed cook (David Arquette), the chaplain (Jeremy Davies), and Neal McDonough as private Reich (Rrrrraaaaagh!) stay away from him. Also attached to the fort are two Native Americans who came with the fort and act as guides.
Things get ugly when a starved, half frozen man in rags named Colqhoun (Robert Carlyle) staggers into camp with a terrifying story of murder and Cannibalism initiated by the evil major Ives, the guide attached to Colqhoun’s party. The unit mounts a rescue attempt to the cave where Colqhoun’s party had sheltered when the snows made the mountain impassable. Over the course of the trip it becomes apparent that things are far worse than Colqhoun let on.
The movie is genuinely creepy and the pervasive sense of dread increases steadily throughout the movie. Sprinkled throughout is a liberal dose of some truly sadistic humor that blends seamlessly to the tension of the film. Carlyle and Pierce turn in masterful performances as Colqhoun and Boyd, and Jeffrey Jones puts in an entertaining performance as the hapless Col. Hart.
Pay special attention to the performances of Arquette, Spinella, McDonough and Sheila Tousey (Martha, the indian guide). The creators of the film put a lot of effort into the development of the minor characters.
Rating: Four and one half shrunken heads way, way up!
