Last Great Wilderness

Set in the scenic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, Last Great Wilderness from 2002 is a disconcertingly intriguing blend of comedy, drama, and thriller. Channeling the artistic conception of David Mackenzie, the film weaves together a myriad of themes and tones into an engaging narrative that keeps the audience guessing till the very end. Brimming with unanticipated turns and shrouded in mystery, the movie is a thrilling jaunt through the realms of love, oddities, secrets, and the haunting ghosts of the past, starring Alastair Mackenzie, Jonny Phillips, and Ewan Stewart.

The story opens with our two protagonists, Charlie (Alastair Mackenzie) and Vincente (Jonny Phillips), who meet under unexpected circumstances. Charlie is a man nursing a broken heart after his wife leaves him for a British pop star. In response, he decides to burn down the pop star's house. Vincente, on the other hand, is an Italian misfit and self-proclaimed expert in “sexual advice” who serves as the unlikely companion to Charlie.

The unconventional pair embark on an impromptu journey that soon becomes a twist-laden venture into the fantastic and the surreal. The script engrossingly blends elements of dark humour and surprising emotional depth making this film utterly unpredictable. The roadside journey sees their paths cross an oddball collection of characters, including a distraught husband searching for his wife who believes she’s a werewolf, among others.

Their adventure takes a dark turn when they're forced by adverse weather conditions to seek refuge at a secluded health retreat known as The Moor Lodge. Run by the enigmatic, charismatic, and slightly sinister Magnus (Ewan Stewart), the lodge turns out to be more than just a shelter from the storm. It serves a clandestine purpose, extending beyond the normative codes of a ‘health retreat’. Unraveling the eerie secrets of the lodge forms a significant chunk of the film's plot.

Last Great Wilderness staggers the audience with stark shifts from comical relief to spine-chilling suspense. It repeatedly crosses back and forth over the line between everyday reality and supernatural occurrences, keeping the audience on their toes. Director David Mackenzie uses the remote, starkly beautiful Scottish Highlands to reflect the isolation, intrigue, and unease of the film's storyline. This lends a haunting quality to the narrative that amplifies the suspense, whilst depicting Scotland's untamed landscapes in a stunning light.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Last Great Wilderness is its tonal curveballs. The movie fluctuates amongst diverse tones, seamlessly transitioning from moments of tactile comedy to surreal fear, nuanced drama to surrealistic thriller. It provides momentary glimpses into the profound issues of human relationships, trust and the extent one goes to mend a broken heart, before veering off into the realm of comedy or suspense - an element that keeps the audience guessing the trajectory throughout.

The performances by Alastair Mackenzie and Jonny Phillips are commendable. The duo portray an odd yet compelling on-screen camaraderie, adding another layer of intrigue to the narrative. Ewan Stewart, who plays Magnus, the enigmatic lodge owner, contributes to the movie's atmospheric tension and suspense with exceptional acumen. Meanwhile, the film's supporting cast each apply their diverse range of eccentricities and peculiarities, adding a subtle yet effective layer to the plot's intriguing twist and turns.

With its eccentric plot twists, evocative performances and breathtaking cinematography, Last Great Wilderness captivates with its unpredictable narrative flow. It uses a paradoxical amalgam of thrilling suspense, dark comedy, intense drama and subtle romantic undertones to create a story landscape that is intense yet entertaining. Marrying a hauntingly beautiful location with an intensely intriguing storyline, it is a film that lures the audience into its world of mystery and strangeness, leaving them contemplating long after the credits roll.

Last Great Wilderness takes the viewers on an idiosyncratic journey through the stunning yet brooding landscapes of Scotland, delving into the extraordinary amidst the ordinary. The movie peers fearlessly into the human psyche, pausing to explore our deepest fears, our desperate longing for connection and belonging, our elusive quest for healing, and the idiosyncrasies that make us human, while offering an intriguing cinematic experience that beautifully oscillates between the realms of the real and the unreal.