Hush: Blimey … Not Bad … !

19th March, 2013.

Ummm … 

You see the poster I’ve added to this post … ?

Just to the right, there … ?   ➔

Well, it describes the film I’ve just seen — the 2008, Mark Tonderai directorial debut, Hush — as the ‘Best British Horror In Years’, in the enthusiastic way that only a movie poster can.

I’m not sure I’d completely agree, here.

On the other hand … ?

On the other hand I think I’ve just seen something that — while it’s not going to win a ‘Biggest Budget’ gong — is a rather a good little debut.

Let me sleep on this … and fill you in in the morning … 

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20th March, 2013.

OK, OK, I’ve started to add more to this post in — AHEM! — in the evening: after what’s been a busy-ish day.

Sorting out a form for the council, as well as chasing down some of the ramifications of the upcoming changes to Housing Benefit*.   Oh, and briefly babysitting Graham’s daughterº, while he picked a few things up.

At ANY rate … ?   That’s not what I’m planning on talking about.

No, I’m going to tell you about the film I rented from the library, with the little money I had left.

The 2008, Mark Tonderai directed film, Hush.

And, while I opened this post disagreeing with the poster, I also think it’s not as bad as you might believe I think it is.

Hush sees Zakes — William Ash — driving along the M1, as part of his job: changing posters in service Stations.   In the company of his girlfriend, Beth, played by Christina Bottomley.

As you’d expect, our heroes are a troubled couple: one that consistently argues, even after Zakes sees the rear door of the truck they’re driving behind, briefly fly open, to reveal the caged naked woman in the back.

It’s only when Zakes and Beth get to the next service station — steadily arguing all the while — that things take a turn for the worse.

And Beth disappears: seemingly kidnapped by the driver of the truck … 

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Now … I told you I disagreed with the poster, when it enthusiastically described Hush as ‘Best British Horror In Years’.

I think that’s possibly Eden Lake: or maybe Salvage.

Actually, I think that ‘Best British Horror’ title should really go to the original Outpost.

Hush doesn’t set out top promise huge, effects-laden set pieces, and a sky-high body count.

What it does offer is close-in, intense scares: and beautifully crafted sense of edge-of-the-seat fear, that had me glued to my seat, until its conclusion.

Big-budget it’s not: but Hush does spend its cash well, on minimal, but effective acting, and menacing  camera angles.

Personally … ?

I’m going to leave it with 2.5 stars: and make the gentle point that — whilst Hush is cheap† — it’s also money well spent.

Hush   ★★½☆☆

*        This is possibly a topic for a whole other post: but, put simply, it looks like the Housing Benefit part of the soon to be started Universal Credit will come directly to me: I’d rather it went straight to my landlord, as it’s been doing for the past few years.

º        Much to Graham’s annoyanceª, I think Shannon was rather impressed with being able to watch a couple of cartoons I had on the iPod: and JUST as impressed by the fact she watched at least one of them on my TV.

ª        Graham’s not an Apple fan, I should add, here.

†        iTunes only had it to buy, at £6·99: whilst Film4 on-demand service are, at the time of writing, charging £2·49 to rent the piece.   Like I say, Hush is cheap: but uses its budget well.