Director: Simeon Halligan
Cast: Pollyanna McIntosh, Lee Williams, Joanne Mitchell, James McCreadie
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 79 minutes
Synopsis: After a busy life in London, a couple decide to buy a dilapidated farmhouse in rural Scotland. However their first night in the new house turns into hell as they discover something or someone doesn’t want them there.
Written by Ian Fenton, WHITE SETTLERS is your classic home invasion movie and although you won’t see something that hasn’t been done before, it’s not say you won’t enjoy it.
Pollyanna McIntosh and Lee Williams are the husband and wife team who decide to leave the hustle and bustle of London, to relocate in peaceful and rural Scotland. They find the perfect sanctuary in a rundown farmhouse and decide Scotland will be the perfect place to settle.
The film begins with the usual uneasiness as the local estate agent looks at them with contempt as she very casually shows them round the house and tells of its history as being the site of a bloody battle between the English and Scottish. It’s already clear from the off that living in Scotland isn’t going to be the dream move the couple had hoped for.
After a slightly out of place woodland romp, the couple head back to spend a first night in their new home and this is when the film really starts to pick up and strange noises begin to keep them awake. We all know that feeling of the first night in a new home, you hear every creak and are wondering if it is something else. Unfortunately for the couple it is something and in turns leads them to want to get out. WHITE SETTLERS then turns towards a cat and mouse thrill ride, and it’s intensely thrilling to watch. The positive thing is that our lead characters don’t do anything stupid or annoying like most horrors and you start to ask yourself what would you do in that situation?
The location is stunning with the old farmhouse and woodland. Director Simeon Halligan really makes use of the dark shadowy woods and the creepy outbuildings. We learn early on that there is no mobile phone signal so you really do feel the poor couple are alone during their night of terror. Pollyanna McIntosh is great as she transforms from this little woman who is creeped out by the dark, into some kind of badass Sarah Connor-style character. Lee Williams plays the husband as slightly cocky and obnoxious and I must admit I feel he is pretty weak compared to McIntosh, as she really steals the show as she battles these crazy locals.
I was quite surprised by the ending and I have mixed feelings about, as I loved the surprise and felt it’s different to what you expect. However, there might be a need for kind of an explanation, as there are a lot of questions unanswered. Overall though, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the film and we highly recommend this indie project.
[usr=3] WHITE SETTLERS opens today in UK cinemas.
