Dark River film review: A well made film that suffers in its misery
YOU may admire the artistry of Dark River but there is no escaping the sheer misery of it.
The doom-laden skies, muddy fields and bitter memories all underline the overbearing sense of bleakness at the heart of the story.
Returning to the family farm after the death of her father, Alice (Ruth Wilson) is determined to make a fresh start.
She intends to assume the tenancy and make the farm a viable business once again.
But every corner of the rundown farmhouse and rat-infested barns triggers a memory of the past and of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father (Sean Bean).
As if that was not grim enough her brother Joe (Mark Stanley) resents her return and there are unresolved issues that neither is able to articulate or resolve.
You suspect this is not going to end well.
The two actors give committed performances but the photography is the real star of the film as Adriano Goldman captures images of countryside and seashore that could have been painted by Turner.
Dark River is beautiful but glum and uncomfortably melodramatic.