Today we bring you a review of Mercy Falls the new survival horror film starring acclaimed actor Lauren Lyle (Outlander, Karen Pirie) and directed by award-winning, BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Ryan Hendrick (Lost at Christmas, Sundown).
The film opens up with a horrific flashback of a young girl and her father at a moment that will haunt her for many years, we then jump forward as Rhona (Lauren Lyle), Heather (Layla Kirk – Two Doors Down), Scott (James Watterson – Kirk) are driving along and pass a hitchhiker (Nicolette McKeown – Convergence).
As they arrive to meet up with Donnie (Joe Rising – Casualty) and Andy (Eoin Sweeney), the hitchhiker also arrives.
On the group’s trip to Mercy Falls to search for a long-lost family cabin the mysterious hitchhiker joins them as she seems to be the only one with the experience needed to attempt to find the cabin, but who is she and what is she up to?
Soon the trip becomes a nightmare after a fatal accident and Carla’s true colours start to show and the group is shocked and terrified by her actions. This is where the film starts to take on the genre of thriller.
There are some fairly tense moments in the film and Ryan Hendrick has certainly managed to keep the tension moving along nicely, the Scottish locations also add to the look of the film and they look great and he has certainly made the most of where the shots take place with some nice looking cinematography of the locations including several ariel shots.
Mercy Falls does have a bit of a slow start before the first murder takes place but there are a couple of gory moments in the various death scenes that do look good and work well. The several flashbacks in the film work for the content and we do finally get to find out about the opening scene with a young Rhona (Isabella Hendrick) and her father (Gilly Gilchrist).
For me, the film is more thriller than horror and this isn’t really a bad thing, although I would have hoped for a more terrifying movie for the idea of a “Survival Horror”. As a thriller Mercy Falls works, but it does have its flaws along the way, Mercy Falls is a chance from Hendrick‘s previous movies such as the delightful Sundown and the charming Lost at Christmas.
Mercy Falls is in cinemas now and on digital from 6 November.
An unnerving trip into the Highlands of Scotland
Movie title: Mercy Falls (2023)
Movie description: A group of friends set off into the Scottish Highlands in search of a long lost cabin. Once far from civilization, an unforeseen tragedy befalls the group and one bad decision leads to suspicion, betrayal and murder.
Date published: September 1, 2023
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 43m
Director(s): Ryan Hendrick
Actor(s): Lauren Lyle, Nicolette McKeown, James Watterson
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Summary
Mercy Falls is an interesting step from Ryan Hendrick from his previous work, it’s certainly more thriller than horror.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
