When his estranged wife deposits his teenage son Julian at the doorstep of his remote caravan home, solitary (though charming) poacher Francis must amend his ways, take on new responsibilities and engage with the world. But just as the two begin to bond, Julian takes a friend into the woods where an accident occurs that puts them under the authorities’ spotlight. They must make a decision that will forever change their lives.
Acting
Francis Magee's weathered silence speaks volumes.
Cinematography
Misty woods that swallow hope whole.
Direction
Jackson lets dread simmer without boiling over.
Director
David Jackson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Director David Jackson cast his own son Harper as Julian, lending their on-screen tension unsettling authenticity.
The film belongs to a wave of British 'rural noir' examining masculinity in economic collapse, alongside 'God's Own Country' and 'Beast'.