Location: Home > DVD > All Comedy > The Cottage [2008]

The Cottage [2008]

Director: Paul Andrew Williams
Actors: Jennifer Ellison, Andy Serkis, Reece Shearsmith, Steve O'donnell
Studio: Pathe
Category: DVD

List Price: ~~Ł19.99~~
Buy New: Ł11.50
You Save: Ł8.49 (42%)

New (14) Used (8) from Ł9.60

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

7 reviews
Sales Rank: 448

Format: Pal
Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 88
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6

EAN: 5060002836071
ASIN: B0017LGF00

Release Date: July 14, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

Similar Items:

•	The Bank Job [2008]
•	The Orphanage [2007]
•	Cloverfield [2007]
•	No Country For Old Men [2008]
•	Diary Of The Dead - Limited Edition 2 Disc Steelbook Metal Packaging [2007]

Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Good ol' fashioned horror July 21, 2008

So, this is what the guy who directed From London To Brighton did next. From compelling indie drama, he's turned his attention to straight-forward horror-comedy... and surprisingly, it's actually OK.

The Cottage tells the story of two brothers who kidnap the daughter of some rich guy who owns a stripper club, in order to blackmail him out of 100,000 quid. Taking their hostage out to a cottage in 'the middle of nowhere', things soon take a turn for the worst... cue lots of gore, lots of gags and lots of 'gazongas'.

Borrowing heavily from the old 'in-the-middle-of-nowhere' classics, i.e. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Cottage has a distinctly 'old' feel- thanks to some great music and the way in which it's shot. The characters are all well acted by some descent British stars, even though Jennifer Ellison's razor-sharp mouth begins to get a bit annoying after a while.

The Cottage immediately reminded me of Severance. It's bold, it's barmy, it's bloody... and most of all, it's British. Fans of the director's previous work will probably be left scratching their heads, however, as a one-off, this is pretty good.

4 out of 5 stars

Cracking film, but ultimately forgettable July 14, 2008
I watched this last night and although I wasn't expecting much, it actually was one of the better films that I've seen recently.

Best described as a "dark comedy" it can almost be split into 2 parts; the first half follows 2 inept crooks who kidnap the boss's daughter Tracy (played by lad mag's favourite Jennifer Ellison). This part of the film is very funny due to the ineptitude of our 2 anti-heroes who are constantly outwitted by their feisty abductee.

The second half then moves over into more "teen slasher/horror" flick and without spoiling or giving anything away, has some genuinely surprisingly shocking & funny moments.

Jennifer Ellison herself does a reasonable job and whilst she won't win an Emmy she doesn't disgrace herself too much (although being asked to play a gobby foul-mouthed Liverpool lass who swears every other word is hardly a stretch for her I'm sure)

I found myself thoroughly enjoying this film, but ultimately it is throwaway rubbish and ultimately forgettable, (one to rent maybe?) but I would still recommend this film - it reminded me of the recent film "Severance" (with Danny Dyer) and also "Dog Soldiers" so if you enjoyed those I would expect you to enjoy this too!

2 out of 5 stars

Excellent film!!!! (NOT) June 17, 2008
2 out of 10 found this review helpful

I wouldn't say that this is a decent film at all!! In fact the only good bit about it was when Jennifer Ellison gets her loud gobby head chopped in half, (pity not for real :)) other than that what a terrible film!!!!!!

4 out of 5 stars

Mottephobic screams in the night with Reece Shearsmith at his best June 11, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful

'The Cottage' is an intriguing, genre mixing film, full of twists and turns. Its gory and funny but one that anchors the splatter comedy to deftly drawn characters enduring a heightened reality one hell of a night.

The nightmarish black comic horror is skillfully delivered, with the gorefest conventions given a darkly comic twist. The film's tongue-in-cheek exuberance humorously balances the grisly nature of the horrific injuries that are inflicted on screen.

What makes 'The Cottage' so distinctive is the unusual approach it takes for a film where a gore infested climax is the pay off. At the heart of the film, and what makes the film stand out for me, is the emotional investment in the two main characters. You really do end up caring what happens to its key protagonists, the brothers David and Peter.

There is an emotional depth about them that made me wish even more time could have been spent with the pair, their arguments and interplay, exploring their relationship and its bickering background.

The relationship between the brothers, brilliantly played by Andy Serkis and Reece Shearsmith, is a highlight of the film. Their fraught fraternal relationship has a believability about it which grabs you from the moment they appear on screen & the scenes between them crackle with tension, humour and emotion.

Serkis's character is one used to being in control, but his tough, hard streetwise nature is under pressure almost immediately as the kidnapping plan begins to unravel, giving way to repressed anger and growing frustration.

Although Andy Serkis's David is forced out of his comfort zone as the plot unfolds, Reece Shearsmith's Peter is out of his depth from the start, reluctantly brought into a world he knows nothing about and ill equipped to deal with it at any level. His timidity is accompanied by a moralising disapproval of his brother.

Into this mix are thrown two more characters, the kidnapped Tracey and her black sheep stepbrother Andrew (nicely played by Jennifer Ellison and Steven O'Donnell) They are the natural comic grotesques of the movie, hindering and exasperating by extreme measures, a contrasting comic counterpoint to the carefully delineated characters of David and Peter. Much of the comedy comes from the dynamics of their enforced relationship and how they react to the ever worsening situation they find themselves thrust into.

Both the quarrelsome brothers are superbly played, with Reece Shearsmith outstanding as the browbeaten sibling enduring "the worst night of his life". His performance is beautifully nuanced with great comic timing and skillful characterisation. Peter is by turns wimpish, pernickety, argumentative, pathetic, vulnerable. He's hilariously yet tragically out his depth. Shearsmith's portrayal holds the film together - it's brilliantly subtle and multi-layered. He brings so much to the role, not only comedically but emotionally too. He gives the film its heart, its pathos.

The bloody battlefield climax at the farmhouse sees the gory finale delivered with aplomb - the comedy and horror unfold with beautiful pace and precision.

Even here, amid the bloodletting, there is a moment of the unexpected and unusual which makes 'The Cottage' stand out. Its a low key, almost poetic scene which seals a growing understanding between the brothers. The badly injured pair contemplate their demise as they look up at a star filled night sky. Its a moment of humanity amid the carnage, sad and touching because its a hoped for reconciliation that will never happen.

'The Cottage' is a very entertaining blending of comedy and horror with a depth not usually associated with the genre and its directed with real confidence and verve.

There is a sense of sadness in the midst of the horrific fun of 'The Cottage' which lingers in the memory afterwards because its central characters matter and you care what happens to them - a rarity for the horror genre which marks the film out.

Its original approach, well evoked atmosphere - at times comically and bloodily surreal , the blackly ironic pitch and top notch performances by the two leads (especially a brilliant Reece Shearsmith) make 'The Cottage' a comedy horror whose genre blending works a memorable treat!

Watch out for those moths!

4 out of 5 stars

Funny and scary June 11, 2008
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

We thought this was surprisingly good. Made us laugh and on edge, never got boring. Very good watch