Well you know it's going to be slow as it is based on one man alone on an island so don't go in looking for a high octane thriller. The film itself is well enough made with a lower budget than many get but I have to say that having immersed myself into the solitude of the subject I didn't get any real satisfaction from the ending. I guess many will have their own interpretation on the meaning of it all. Me, I wanted a little more clarity.
29 Reviews
slow but quite good
jamielewis-226 March 2022
Lighthouse Loony
jeroduptown27 May 2022
Dull As Dirt
vengeance2028 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
So, I seen this a few nights ago as it was a Horror & thought it might be good.
The film follows a young man named Eric Black, who after the death of his unfaithful wife tries to move on & gets a job as a Shepherd on an island in a cottage. But his past starts to haunt him & a supernatural occurrence starts to boils as he spends time in the cottage in complete isolation.
I found the film to be pretty dull, while I know it's mostly centered on a man who is isolated & fighting off demons, real & mentally, but still the film for the first 20 minutes or so was bland & even when it did start to get going the impact was pretty flat & annoying. The pacing & runtime were off also, at 1 hour & 40 minutes, the film could've been 20 minutes shorter & got to the point.
The visuals were creepy/sinister & the atmosphere also was pretty creepy/sinister, so that was good at least. Sadly, those were the only 2 redeeming features.
The ending was weird & not well explained, I mean, the twist was interesting, but it wasn't explained what happened at the end, was it another hallucination or was Eric really cursed in the films universe? It's not really clear. The film itself felt pretty empty & isolated, yes I know the film was centered on a young man fighting away physical & mental demons but still, it makes for pretty dull viewing if there's not a lot to go on.
Overall, it's not a great film. Aside from some creepy/sinister visuals & atmosphere, it was pretty dire for the most part unfortunately.
2/10.
The film follows a young man named Eric Black, who after the death of his unfaithful wife tries to move on & gets a job as a Shepherd on an island in a cottage. But his past starts to haunt him & a supernatural occurrence starts to boils as he spends time in the cottage in complete isolation.
I found the film to be pretty dull, while I know it's mostly centered on a man who is isolated & fighting off demons, real & mentally, but still the film for the first 20 minutes or so was bland & even when it did start to get going the impact was pretty flat & annoying. The pacing & runtime were off also, at 1 hour & 40 minutes, the film could've been 20 minutes shorter & got to the point.
The visuals were creepy/sinister & the atmosphere also was pretty creepy/sinister, so that was good at least. Sadly, those were the only 2 redeeming features.
The ending was weird & not well explained, I mean, the twist was interesting, but it wasn't explained what happened at the end, was it another hallucination or was Eric really cursed in the films universe? It's not really clear. The film itself felt pretty empty & isolated, yes I know the film was centered on a young man fighting away physical & mental demons but still, it makes for pretty dull viewing if there's not a lot to go on.
Overall, it's not a great film. Aside from some creepy/sinister visuals & atmosphere, it was pretty dire for the most part unfortunately.
2/10.
Loud sound do not scary move make
idonotexist27 February 2022
Boosting the volume from silent to 10000 back and forth is not how you make a scary movie. It is however how you get me to mute your production because i need my ear drums for a few more years at least!
This movie is a mangled mess of flashbacks, dreams and completely obliterated reality. I would try to figure it out but between the jarring ear destroying volume shifts and random flashback scenes for no reason, i really lost any and all interest to even attempt to make sense of this.
It gets some points for the creepy locale. Imagine, how much they could have achieved there, but they squandered the location with this..... Make it about zombie sheep if you want, it would have been better than flashback loud sound repeat for 1h38m.
This movie is a mangled mess of flashbacks, dreams and completely obliterated reality. I would try to figure it out but between the jarring ear destroying volume shifts and random flashback scenes for no reason, i really lost any and all interest to even attempt to make sense of this.
It gets some points for the creepy locale. Imagine, how much they could have achieved there, but they squandered the location with this..... Make it about zombie sheep if you want, it would have been better than flashback loud sound repeat for 1h38m.
I wasted 1hr 45mins of my life on this awful film
jade-205112 November 2021
I love a good horror with suspense and twists and so on but this was not one of those. The scariest thing was not knowing when it would be over. Really wish I had of got up and walked out after the first 10 minutes and saved myself the confusion of what I was actually watching. Awful, was actually speechless when asked how to describe it for almost a day.
Good, solid horror. Not a thriller.
Opinate27 February 2022
I was pleasantly surprised by this film since I did not go in expecting much due to the low ratings and negative reviews.
If you like old-style, cerebral, slow-building horror I urge you to give this film a look. The cinematography is luscious, the location is stark and beautiful (Scottish Hebrides) and the acting is great. The imagery is profound.
No, it isn't a thrill-a-minute scare-fest but it is a worthy well-crafted film.
Give it a shot.
If you like old-style, cerebral, slow-building horror I urge you to give this film a look. The cinematography is luscious, the location is stark and beautiful (Scottish Hebrides) and the acting is great. The imagery is profound.
No, it isn't a thrill-a-minute scare-fest but it is a worthy well-crafted film.
Give it a shot.
Sheep s@!te
arthurdaleystrilby30 November 2021
Indescribably bad. No plot, pacing or drama. Kate Dickie phoned in her part, sounding for all the world like a cross between the bored tour guide in The League of Gentlemen tv series and Pat Mustard in the Father Ted episode Speed 3. The lead actor was more wooden than the new forest and was acted off screen by his canine companion who was the only positive in this shambolic mess. If this counts as horror in 2021 count me out. Now, where's my copy of Don't Look Now?.......??
A generally solid and enjoyable psychological genre effort
kannibalcorpsegrinder23 February 2022
After his adulterous wife dies in an accident, a grieving husband decides to take a job shepherding sheep on a remote island nearby to process the situation only to be tormented by a seemingly malicious spirit intent on unearthing a hidden truth about the incident.
Overall, there's not much to this one. The fact that it manages to evoke a mysterious and generally eerie atmosphere here is about all that works as this one generates some impressive atmosphere due to the situation. The sense of isolation here with his physically being stranded on the remote island as well as mentally with the ghosts of his past rendering him incapable of anything other than taking a job on this island offers a fantastic building block to work The supernatural sequences off of. From strange behaviors by his dog forcing him to look around the house, eerie bowling in the distance that no one else can respond to or the strange discoveries around the island he keeps making, this one manages an effectively chilling scenario that may or may not be in his mind. However, while this creates a fantastic starting point the film never does much else with it. That's due to the dreary and depressing tone that carries on throughout here as the quiet, slow-burn setup keeps the overt scares away in favor of a more unnerving series of psychological mind games involving a person not ready to accept their fate. This offers up a highly puzzling setup that might not work for most out there which gets this one off to a rather underwhelming beginning point. Less troublesome but also detrimental is the somewhat overlong running time for this kind of genre effort which does make this one somewhat of a challenge to get through. Otherwise, these are the only flaws here.
Rated R: Violence and Language.
Overall, there's not much to this one. The fact that it manages to evoke a mysterious and generally eerie atmosphere here is about all that works as this one generates some impressive atmosphere due to the situation. The sense of isolation here with his physically being stranded on the remote island as well as mentally with the ghosts of his past rendering him incapable of anything other than taking a job on this island offers a fantastic building block to work The supernatural sequences off of. From strange behaviors by his dog forcing him to look around the house, eerie bowling in the distance that no one else can respond to or the strange discoveries around the island he keeps making, this one manages an effectively chilling scenario that may or may not be in his mind. However, while this creates a fantastic starting point the film never does much else with it. That's due to the dreary and depressing tone that carries on throughout here as the quiet, slow-burn setup keeps the overt scares away in favor of a more unnerving series of psychological mind games involving a person not ready to accept their fate. This offers up a highly puzzling setup that might not work for most out there which gets this one off to a rather underwhelming beginning point. Less troublesome but also detrimental is the somewhat overlong running time for this kind of genre effort which does make this one somewhat of a challenge to get through. Otherwise, these are the only flaws here.
Rated R: Violence and Language.
boring
koto-9678825 February 2022
This one is a gem, terrific ghost story
geoffp-1521324 April 2022
Every now and again you come across a film that you don't expect to be different to the norm, but this one kept me guessing throughout and was genuinely frightening at times. If you liked the Woman in Black or any of those Lighthouse keeper films then you are going to appreciate the haunted nature of landscape in this. Filmed on Mull, it probably did not cost a lot but stands up to most of the US-CGI type stuff you see these days. Loved Greta Scaachi and Kate Dickie's performances. Won't spoil it but well worth your time and thank you to the team that created it, will keep an eye out for more from this director.
Atmospheric horror as an art form
manuelasaez22 February 2022
From the very first frame, this movie oozes atmosphere. It seems effortless, but the people responsible for this movie want you to believe it is. But everything is so meticulously crafted, you start to wonder if any of it was really deliberate or if these people just got lucky. I mean, horror isn't exactly the first genre you think of when you think of movies being an art form, is it?
As a huge stickler for cinematography, I truly believe that even the lamest, most boring film is made infinitely better if it is pretty to look at. This movie movie not only delivered, but exceeded all of my (albeit, low) expectations. Every single frame of this movie could stand alone as a framed photograph in an art exhibition, and it's not just the expansive shots of the various parts of Scotland and Wales that made it a joy to watch, it was also the way the camera itself was used to frame what transpired on screen. In ugly movies, the camera just sits there with no semblance of coordination or even a passing understanding of visual aesthetic (B-movies are the prime example of that). This movie felt like the whole visual team worked as a cohesive whole that understood that camera placement, framing and positioning are just as important at conveying what is going on in a given scene as the action itself. There aren't many horror films that do this effectively, and the ones that do are few and far between (The Witch, Hereditary,& Midsommar to name a few). This was just a breathtaking movie to watch for me, personally, and the visual team should be commended and given raises for the work they did on this film.
That being said, the movie itself, while incredibly atmospheric and creepy as all get out, could have done more to push the boundaries of the story it was trying to tell. I felt that things could have gone further with the reasoning behind the actions taking place, but so much of it was left to ambiguity that it made for a less than satisfying ending. I wanted more of a definitive end to the story instead of one that was left to the imagination.
The acting was stupendous, the score was effective and nerve wracking, and the length of the film was just right, telling an interesting story with a good pace for the duration of the film. Overall, I am thoroughly impressed by this film and while 2022 just started, it's one of the better films I've seen so far. I eagerly await this directors next film, and if this one is any indication, it can only get better from here.
As a huge stickler for cinematography, I truly believe that even the lamest, most boring film is made infinitely better if it is pretty to look at. This movie movie not only delivered, but exceeded all of my (albeit, low) expectations. Every single frame of this movie could stand alone as a framed photograph in an art exhibition, and it's not just the expansive shots of the various parts of Scotland and Wales that made it a joy to watch, it was also the way the camera itself was used to frame what transpired on screen. In ugly movies, the camera just sits there with no semblance of coordination or even a passing understanding of visual aesthetic (B-movies are the prime example of that). This movie felt like the whole visual team worked as a cohesive whole that understood that camera placement, framing and positioning are just as important at conveying what is going on in a given scene as the action itself. There aren't many horror films that do this effectively, and the ones that do are few and far between (The Witch, Hereditary,& Midsommar to name a few). This was just a breathtaking movie to watch for me, personally, and the visual team should be commended and given raises for the work they did on this film.
That being said, the movie itself, while incredibly atmospheric and creepy as all get out, could have done more to push the boundaries of the story it was trying to tell. I felt that things could have gone further with the reasoning behind the actions taking place, but so much of it was left to ambiguity that it made for a less than satisfying ending. I wanted more of a definitive end to the story instead of one that was left to the imagination.
The acting was stupendous, the score was effective and nerve wracking, and the length of the film was just right, telling an interesting story with a good pace for the duration of the film. Overall, I am thoroughly impressed by this film and while 2022 just started, it's one of the better films I've seen so far. I eagerly await this directors next film, and if this one is any indication, it can only get better from here.
Oh... it's what of those kinds of movies
FeastMode16 May 2022
I can't stand movies like this. Some people might like them, but they do nothing for me. So much abstract and metaphorical with no story or substance. Ridiculously boring with 95% of the movie having no dialogue and one character on screen. A couple of jump scares got me, otherwise none of the horror elements add any value.
My only positives are the musical score and cinematography. But it didn't help much. This movie was difficult to get through and I'm so glad I didn't go watch it in the one theater that was playing it. (1 viewing, 5/15/2022)
My only positives are the musical score and cinematography. But it didn't help much. This movie was difficult to get through and I'm so glad I didn't go watch it in the one theater that was playing it. (1 viewing, 5/15/2022)
This only scary thing about this movie
steve-200024 December 2022
Is that presumably some large number of people were involved in the making of it, and, at no point did any of them stop it. Everyone whose name is attached to this thing should be forced to write an individual personalized apology letter to everyone that t watched it.
It's about nothing. There's one character and a dog. My review of this garbage will have more words in it than the movie did by the time I'm done.
My wife summed it up with "this is the stupiest effing movie". And we'be watched Birdman!
The captions are wonky - they often say "lighthouse bell tolls" when no such thing has happened. Not that it matters - captions aren't super relevant when there is no dialogue.
It's about nothing. There's one character and a dog. My review of this garbage will have more words in it than the movie did by the time I'm done.
My wife summed it up with "this is the stupiest effing movie". And we'be watched Birdman!
The captions are wonky - they often say "lighthouse bell tolls" when no such thing has happened. Not that it matters - captions aren't super relevant when there is no dialogue.
Depressing
edlc197023 February 2022
Its depressing, boring, dull, lame, bland, confusing and overall just very very bad. There is no real plot. Its a complete waste of time. Its in fact so confusing and depressing to watch, that it takes out the very horror of the movie. If you want to waste your time, then watch this crap about a man on an island of the scottish coast, going insane. Utter crap.
Yawn
orkneyislander20 July 2022
Afraid I gave up on this one after 30 minutes or so. Gave it 3 points for the location shots and the sense of isolation it achieved. Apart from that nothing encouraged me to keep watching. Might be wrong because of that but I got the feeling nothing much was going to happen that would make it worthwhile hanging in.
Personal Hell
jmbovan-47-16017313 March 2023
Shepherd is a quiet focused film on the tragedy and grief of a man (and his dog) who leaves his home taking residence on an isolated island to tend to sheep. He's mourning the death of his wife, but given the reticence of this character, all we know is that she died. The woman who instructs him on his duties, and who will bring supplies, takes on a meancing nature as the lead starts his descent into isolation reacrion. Is it psychosis or supernatural? The film continues with elements increasing in their bizarre nature and displays some surreal visions. At the end, we find one piece of the puzzle from the lead character, helping to have some satisfaction at the end without full clarity given.
Tom Hughes does well in carrying this film as he is largely alone on screen. He portrays the numbness of grief expertly, and he manages a realistic depiction of that descent into Hell or madness without falling into stereotypical behaviors or characterizations. His performance makes the resolution and uncertainty credible for the film's end.
Tom Hughes does well in carrying this film as he is largely alone on screen. He portrays the numbness of grief expertly, and he manages a realistic depiction of that descent into Hell or madness without falling into stereotypical behaviors or characterizations. His performance makes the resolution and uncertainty credible for the film's end.
Mostly just boring
continuumx24 May 2023
I am pretty sure this is trying to be a slow burn, psychological horror movie. It succeeds in spots but it mostly fails. Even in a slow burn movie, you still need to have things happening and some sense of progression. A string of creepy scenes is not enough to hold a movie together. There needs to be a sense that all of this means something and is going somewhere. I did not get that from this movie. A lot of it just seemed there to be creepy and not much more. I will say that I didn't finish the movie so maybe this all comes together later. They pulled about the cheapest shock tactic there is and I was done. I don't care what happened in the rest.
This movies isn't all bad. The landscape and cinematography are good. Kate Dickie is good for what little of the movie she is in. There's just not much to this movie. It's mostly just boring.
This movies isn't all bad. The landscape and cinematography are good. Kate Dickie is good for what little of the movie she is in. There's just not much to this movie. It's mostly just boring.
Meticulous and Seamless
tdwillis-262733 March 2023
Every frame was intentional. Although some may find the film too slow, I enjoyed and appreciated every minute. Beautifully done in EVERY area!!
From the gorgeous open stark and rugged landscapes, to the reflections on water puddles and window.....this movie was done with intent behind every millisecond!!
The camera shots were smooth and varied and came from unexpected angles and views.
The score or music added significantly to the atmosphere seamlessly without over riding the other expressions.
The acting was superbly understated and there were some wonderful symbolism within this story.
The actual screenplay was just a little less tight than everything else for me. Perhaps (I'm guessing here) that it was a cultural/national subtlety that didn't translate as clearly.... But, again, It was SUBTLE and everything else was so generously and perfectly executed that it didn't effect my enjoyment or appreciation for this film.
From the gorgeous open stark and rugged landscapes, to the reflections on water puddles and window.....this movie was done with intent behind every millisecond!!
The camera shots were smooth and varied and came from unexpected angles and views.
The score or music added significantly to the atmosphere seamlessly without over riding the other expressions.
The acting was superbly understated and there were some wonderful symbolism within this story.
The actual screenplay was just a little less tight than everything else for me. Perhaps (I'm guessing here) that it was a cultural/national subtlety that didn't translate as clearly.... But, again, It was SUBTLE and everything else was so generously and perfectly executed that it didn't effect my enjoyment or appreciation for this film.
Shepherd?
ethanarmstrongfilm20 July 2022
Ok I've got mixed emotions about this film because not at all was this film scary however it was visually scary of what it was showing, but at the same time I didn't have a clue what was going on from time to time.
It definitely gave me loki vibes with the scenery of where some of the footage was shot and how it was shot. I wouldn't really recommend it.
It definitely gave me loki vibes with the scenery of where some of the footage was shot and how it was shot. I wouldn't really recommend it.
Moody
bilingavais8 June 2022
First of all, I'm a horror film fan. The scarier, bloodier and crazier the better. That's not to say I have unsophisticated taste, though. I absolutely loved this movie. It's not "scary" scary, or bloody. It's not particularly crazy either. This isn't a cheap looking home movie, like some low budget flicks out there. It had a Hitchcock style vibe to it (think Vertigo) that drew me in from the beginning. I usually hate dream sequences as a cheap plot device, but here it's really hard to tell what's a dream, a fantasy, or reality. The atmosphere of a foggy, cold island with the creepy sheep and bell from the lighthouse take you on a journey of psychological horror. This is a very well done, well acted movie. I highly recommend this for a more mature audience. It's not a popcorn horror movie, which is actually nice for a change.
"Sheperd" is a film with good technical aspects but it has a terrible script.
jp_918 February 2024
"Sheperd" is a film that starts promisingly thanks to its filming locations, it maintains a gloomy and solid atmosphere until the end, but its story is very simple and becomes long and boring, leaving a bad taste in the mouth at the end. The big problem here is the script, which as I already mentioned is simple and crudely developed, the director's work is good in terms of directing actors, the protagonist, being practically all the time on screen, achieves a wonderful performance, giving a character full of dramatics. The cinematography is extraordinary taking advantage of the beautiful filming locations and achieving a gloomy atmosphere. The digital special effects, for their part, are thankfully few but look terribly done. "Sheperd" is a film with good technical aspects but it has a terrible script.
Beautiful, eerie, homage to classics
cherlouisekeane12 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Subtle nods to Shining and Hitchcock without over doing it. The sound and colouring is insanely good, so beautiful and eerie, the noise is uncomforting in the best way. Story is great, some twists and leaves questions which all good ones should. It's a ghost story, not a slasher, which makes it stand out.
Atmospheric and nicely shot
peterhughes-5839622 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Psychological thriller maybe more than horror? I've never submitted a review ever on a review site and probably won't bother again! I liked the cinematography and the landscapes being shot are simply gorgeous. Regarding the story and the fact that it is kind of abstract/nightmarish, I think that Mr Black might not have survived the accident. The reference to Dante at the beginning and the boat (wo)man reminded me of the crossing of the river Styx: Dante references Greek mythology of passing souls over the river Styx to Hades/Underworld! Maybe his experience on the Island/Underworld is his repentance for his actions?
"As Dante and Virgil approach the tower, they notice two flames shining from the top of it. These two lights are a signal for Phlegyas, the boatman of the river Styx, to cross over and pick them up"
The tower could be the lighthouse? Just my tuppence!
"As Dante and Virgil approach the tower, they notice two flames shining from the top of it. These two lights are a signal for Phlegyas, the boatman of the river Styx, to cross over and pick them up"
The tower could be the lighthouse? Just my tuppence!
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