Calibre (2018) Review – A Masterclass in Palpable and Unflinching Tension
Calibre: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A masterfully crafted and viscerally intense thriller that serves as a high-water mark for contemporary British genre cinema. Calibre (2018) succeeds by grounding its high-stakes narrative in a terrifyingly plausible reality, making the central tragedy feel both inevitable and agonizingly personal. Matt Palmer’s directorial debut is a technical triumph of suspense, utilizing the isolation of the Scottish Highlands to create a suffocating sense of entrapment. Jack Lowden delivers a powerhouse performance, capturing the soul-crushing weight of guilt and panic with remarkable nuance. While it eschews traditional horror tropes, the psychological toll on the characters, and the audience, is far more effective than any jump-scare. This 4 star effort is a mandatory watch for fans of intelligent, high-tension thrillers.
Details: Director: Matt Palmer | Cast: Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran | Runtime: 1h 41m | Release Date: 2018
Best for: Fans of high-tension psychological thrillers, realistic “man-on-the-run” scenarios, and those who appreciate top-tier British acting.
Worth noting: The film won the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, highlighting its technical and narrative excellence.
Where to Watch: Netflix, VOD
Rating: 4/5 Stars
(A masterfully directed and viscerally affecting thriller that successfully weaponises a simple, tragic mistake into a suffocating and undeniably chilling psychological nightmare.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror and to our review of Matt Palmer’s Netflix Thriller movie Calibre from 2018.
Highlights
Dark and unsettling British thriller
If you have arrived at this review after searching for Calibre Ending Explained, click the link. Obviously that article will have spoilers so please keep that in mind.
Calibre follows the story of friends Vaughn (Jack Lowden) and Marcus (Martin McCann). They are taking a short retreat in Northern Scotland to go stalking (hunting). Vaughn has recently found out that his partner is pregnant. He will soon be a father so this trip is something of a final hurrah. The free-spirited Marcus is unlikely to settle down. This is one last trip before Vaughn has to focus on his responsibilities.
“Calibre is a thriller with some of the most effective palpable tension I have seen in years. What makes it work is that the events and the responses are so realistic.”
Marcus picks Vaughn up in his Jeep and takes him to a village he used to frequent, with his dad, when he was a kid. They check into their hotel and head off to the pub for a night of drinking.
The next morning, Marcus bounces into Vaughn’s room. Vaughn is hungover and somewhat out of sorts. It turns out that Marcus is taking cocaine, hence his energy levels and enthusiasm. The pair drive to their hunting location. Vaughn realises that, in his hungover stupor, he has forgotten to bring his gun.
Rather than drive back, Marcus hands his other gun to Vaughn to use. The two head into the forest and spot a deer. After lining up his shot, Vaughn pulls the trigger and from here on out everything goes wrong.
Shit goes south fast
Calibre is a thriller with some of the most effective palpable tension I have seen the genre for years. The plot is fairly simple but it plays host to an absolutely intense thrill ride of character interactions, ducking and dodging, and harrowing scenarios. What makes it work is that the events that take place are so realistic and so are the responses to it. The movie is presented from an interesting perspective. You and the characters know what happened in the woods but nobody else does.
The escalation of the events surrounding Marcus and Vaughn is fascinating to watch. They attempt to act normal and see out the rest of their trip. Their interactions with the locals become increasingly strained. Everything spirals in such a chaotic way that you are genuinely waiting with baited breath for the next scene. Matt Palmer’s writing and direction keeps you constantly wondering what will happen. Can it be a bit predictable? Sure, but never in a manner that gets in the way of the suspense.
“Everything spirals in such a chaotic way that you are genuinely waiting with bated breath. This is one of those movies that you notice your jaw aching at the end of.”
Everything here is believable; from the scenario itself to the reactions of the characters. It’s absolutely jam packed full of tension and that’s exactly what a decent thriller needs. This is one of those movies that you notice your jaw aching at the end of and realise you have been gritting your teeth for the past forty minutes. It’s fascinating stuff.
Loads of positives
There’s lots to praise here. First and foremost, acting is brilliant throughout. Jack Lowden, as Vaughn, and Martin McCann, as Marcus, are both fantastic. This is important as you will be spending a lot of time with them. They are both extremely convincing. Jack Lowden’s range of emotion throughout the film is exceptional; it’s a real stand out performance. He had me convinced from the beginning to the end. There isn’t a particularly bad performance in Calibre, everyone is on top form. The mostly Scottish cast does a great job of creating a believable village community.
That leads me onto another point. If you are expecting a backwards Scottish village ala The Wicker Man, you will be surprised. This is a mostly welcoming community that is suffering from the same issues as the rest of the UK. They are reeling from hits to business and tourism.
Like many of us, they are just trying to build themselves back up. Sure they have their typical village inward tendencies. Despite this, the community is genuinely representative of many communities in this country.
“Jack Lowden’s range of emotion is exceptional; it’s a real stand out performance. He had me convinced from the beginning to the end. There isn’t a bad performance here.”
I should probably make a note of some of the disturbing subject matter, here. There’s at least one troubling story beat that might upset people and it involves a minor so go in with your expectations aligned.
Cinematography is excellent
Cinematography in Calibre is brilliant. There are some incredible locations, interesting shots, and amazing lighting. The forest is imposing, especially at night, and very atmospheric while the village is quaint and welcoming. This all sets the mood perfectly but it’s the abundance of shots used purely to up the tension and keep you gritting your teeth that really stand out.
So much is framed in a manner which puts the focus on the character’s faces. This affords you an opportunity to share in their fear and examine every poignant micro-expression.
So let’s talk about the horror element. Don’t expect any jump scares here; Calibre is not that type of movie. It aims to kill you with suspense and does a very good job of that. Again, it’s far more of a thriller than anything, it’s really just the finale and some of the scenes in the woods that feel like it tips its hat to genre films. It will keep you on edge throughout, though which is something most horror directors would be envious of. Sound mixing is really good. You never feel shocked by any unexpected loud noise which is a nice change.
There is something of a message buried in here; it’s not a full-blown metaphor but it is there. Calibre aims to point out the economic impact of modern society on small village communities and small economies. The message never gets in the way and the film isn’t at all centred around this. The movie really just aims to point out that life can be tough for rural communities. They get little help from the local authorities and have to deal with problems within their own groups.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Palpable Tension: The film is a masterclass in suspense, keeping the audience in a state of physical discomfort from the moment the first shot is fired.
- Jack Lowden: Delivers an exceptional lead performance, conveying an entire spectrum of fear, guilt, and exhaustion through subtle micro-expressions.
- Grounded Realism: By avoiding “backwoods” caricatures, the film creates a much more terrifying and believable community-driven threat.
The Bad
- Predictable Beats: While the execution is flawless, the broader strokes of the plot follow a somewhat familiar “everything that can go wrong, will” formula.
- Upsetting Subject Matter: The central tragedy involving a minor is handled realistically but is undeniably harrowing and potentially triggering for some.
- Pacing Concerns: Those looking for a fast-paced action-thriller may find the deliberate, slow-burn build-up a little too patient for their tastes.
The Ugly: The Shot. A single, split-second decision that transforms a relaxing holiday into a lifetime of inescapable, soul-crushing trauma.
Should You Watch Calibre?
Yes, without question. It is a 4 star film that represents some of the best British filmmaking in recent years. If you value atmosphere, top-tier acting, and a story that isn’t afraid to squeeze every drop of tension from its premise, Calibre is essential viewing. While it may not be a traditional horror movie, the psychological weight and the sense of impending doom are more effective than most genre films. Prepare to grit your teeth and stay on the edge of your seat. It is a brilliant achievement.
Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight
Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.
A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.
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