Shallow Grave

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Shallow Grave - 1994 | 93 mins | Thriller, Black-Comedy | Colour

The Production Team

Director: Danny Boyle.
Asst Director: Ian Madden.
Producer: Andrew Macdonald.
Executive Producer: Allan Scott.
Script: John Hodge.
Cinematography: Brian Tufano.
Art Direction: Zoe MacLeod.
Costume Design: Kate Carin.
Editing: Mashahiro Hirakubo.
Production Designer: Kave Quinn.
Sound: Nigel Galt and Colin Nicolson.
Music: Simon Boswell.

The Cast

Ewan Mcgregor - Alex Law
Christopher Eccleston - David Stevens
Kerry Fox - Juliet Miller
Keith Allen - Hugo
Ken Stott - Detective Inspector

Plot Synopsis

After three odd young people finally find a new roommate after various unorthodox interviews, they must decide what to do with him after finding him dead in his room. This event provides the impetus for this pitch black British comedy. The story is set in modern Scotland. Juliet, an outwardly pragmatic doctor, David, a dull accountant, and Alex, a hip journalist are roommates living in a large top floor apartment. They seem normal enough at first, but as they begin interviewing applicants for a fourth roomie, it becomes obvious that none is playing with a full deck. Juliet decides that Hugo, a mysterious, rough edged fellow, is the lucky one. Unfortunately he soon turns up dead. In his room is drug-stuffed drawer and a suitcase overflowing with cash. The three roomies decide that the best option is to chop up Hugo's corpse, bury the individual pieces, and save the money for themselves. When two crazed henchmen show up, David bonks them with a hammer, and they too suffer Hugo's fate. Tension runs high between the trio and the story takes many serpentine turns before its resolution.