The Holding (2011)

The Holding (2011)
Directed by: Susan Jacobson
Written by: James Dormer
Starring: David Bradley, Georgia Groome, Vincent Regan

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R8_KtppA_Q[/youtube]

The Holding (2011)

(15) Running time: 89 minutes

Director: Susan Jacobson

Writer: James Dormer

Starring: Vincent Regan, Georgia Groome, David Bradley, Kierston Wareing, Terry Stone

Reviewed by: Matt Wavish, official HCF critic

The Holding was one of those films I knew very little about going in to it, and that made this tight little British thriller much more enjoyable than I ever imagined. The film is best described a a cross between The Field and Cape Fear, both far superior, however Susan Jacobson does a fantastic job with the story she has. Much of the tension and atmosphere is also brought on by the rural setting and beautiful scenery of the Peak District, and it makes a refreshing change to have a film like this set in the country rather than the usual built up place. A genuine feeling of helplessness hovers over the entire film, making the situation the characters have to deal with feel much more real, much more desperate. So let’s explain a little about the story, but I daren’t say too much as it will spoil the film for you!

Cassie (Wareing) is raising her teenage daughter Gemma (Groome) and younger daughter Hannah (Skye Lourie) on her husbands farm in the Peak District. Times are hard, they are not making much money, and her husband was recently killed in an ‘accident’ Her neighbouring farm, run by the bullying Karsten Rabe (Stone) and his psychotic son, are desperate to buy out some of Cassie’s land, part of her Holding. They threaten her, offer to marry her to get the land, and eventually block off their field so she cannot pass through to take her daughters to school. The local policeman does his best to help both sides, but something needs to be done before things get out of hand. Cassie is a strong woman, with her only help really coming from Cooper (Bradley) who has worked on the farm for as long as he can remember. One day, when a calf is about to be born and there is serious risk that the Mother may die, a mysterious stranger appears out of the blue and helps Cassie so that the calf is born, the Mother cow survives and Cassie won’t be facing financial crisis. The mysterious man introduces himself as Aden (a superb Vincent Regan) and he explains how he worked with Cassie’ s late husband on an oil rig, they were close friends. Cassie allows Aden to stay and offers him food and shelter in exchange for his expertise help around the farm. Aden also comes in quite handy when Rabe shows up…

Psycho thrillers of this calibre do not exist enough these days, and I must admit that I miss them. The Holding serves up a brilliant, tension filled ride into the deepest, darkest depths of fear and violence and the film moves along at a easy to watch pace, and now and again packs an almighty wallop with its sudden bursts of violence. All the actors do rather impressive work, but it is Wareing as Cassie and Regan as Aden who steal the show, at times they are also captivating to watch. As I said before, the setting in the countryside is absolutely spot on and add’s some real atmosphere to the film and judging by how the film looks and how Cassie functions on her farm, a lot of attention to detail and a clear knowledge of farm life has been brought to the screen. The music is at you’d expect for a films like this, but at times can be quite haunting. Also, in amongst all the violence and menace there is also t=some touching moments of a broken family and of grown men with issues. The Holding delivers everything you have come to expect of these sorts of films, and delivers it with intent and at times, real ferociousness. The film will not win any awards, and certainly won’t convert people who would not normally watch these types of films into liking them, but for us simple folk who enjoy a good old fashioned nutter on the lose thriller, The Holding offers everything you could need, and then some. Well worth a watch.

Rating:

[pt-filmtitle]The Holding[/pt-filmtitle]