This won't be everyone's cup of tea. I however have watched plenty of absolute rubbish and this film is well acted, filmed and written. I'm a big Walking Dead fan and this reminded me quite a bit on it, although more a slower stronger tequila without zombies than the beery dead. The atmosphere is palpable and a lot is left to the imagination as to the whys and whats however the interplay in a low number of characters is pretty intense. You do need to be able to enjoy this kind of thing and there's a lot of subtext social commentary in here, not much is in your face explicit generic movie script that spells everything out. Shot beautifully in Ireland, intense stuff with no laughs, but I thought pretty fresh.
103 Reviews
A gloomy but fascinating illustration of the instinctive brutality of humanity's will to survive.
colinlomasox17 March 2016
As a species, us humans have a curious fondness for grim and gloomy art. From skull tattoos to death metal bands, there is an unrelenting fascination with the macabre and morbid, and films are no exception. It's surprisingly difficult to recall a genuinely gloomy film which didn't get inexorable approval. From the true life horrors of Hotel Rwanda and The Elephant Man through to the fictional bleakness of The Road, Nil by Mouth and Tyrannosaur, there is something peculiarly fascinating about watching unrelenting despair and observing the malevolence of humanity on the big screen.
Intentionally set in an undefined year of the near future in an indeterminate part of the world, the human population has grown exponentially to the point of saturation; food is at a premium and from the movies sporadic intimations, society has regressed back to packs of hunter/gatherers. The survivalist (as we never learn his true name) has managed to create a small farmstead in the middle of a dense wood just large enough to keep himself self-sufficient. When mother and daughter couple Kathryn (Fouere) and Milja (Goth) appear at his door asking for food and shelter, the survivalist's controlled unaccompanied existence is threatened as his morals become confused; to keep himself safe or to assist his visitor's needs.
A sound method to keep costs low when producing a movie is to isolate the action to a restricted area, keep the number of actors limited and construct a simple and focused story line. The risk with this technique is that the movie becomes more of a theatrical production where each moment becomes intensified and less freedom is given to procrastination. It is unsurprising therefore that the lead character is given to an actor with an education in walking the boards. The film devotes a significant amount of time to building McCann's character, devoid of dialogue and with extensive intense close ups.
Due to the utter desperation of The Survivalist's plot, it requires total commitment to its audience and at times starts to meander yet manages to pull itself back every time just before the bleakness becomes tiresome.
There are enough plot and character surprises to keep the movie interesting, the acting is excellent and the limited scope of environment constantly feels claustrophobic but never artistically restrictive. The Survivalist demonstrates the way, once the whiteboard of social acceptability has been wiped clean, intimacy and sex become acceptable tradeable commodities.
The Survivalist is grim, depressing and about the least life- affirming film you're likely to see this year. Yet it is tense, wonderfully acted and a fascinating illustration of the instinctive brutality of humanity's will to survive.
Intentionally set in an undefined year of the near future in an indeterminate part of the world, the human population has grown exponentially to the point of saturation; food is at a premium and from the movies sporadic intimations, society has regressed back to packs of hunter/gatherers. The survivalist (as we never learn his true name) has managed to create a small farmstead in the middle of a dense wood just large enough to keep himself self-sufficient. When mother and daughter couple Kathryn (Fouere) and Milja (Goth) appear at his door asking for food and shelter, the survivalist's controlled unaccompanied existence is threatened as his morals become confused; to keep himself safe or to assist his visitor's needs.
A sound method to keep costs low when producing a movie is to isolate the action to a restricted area, keep the number of actors limited and construct a simple and focused story line. The risk with this technique is that the movie becomes more of a theatrical production where each moment becomes intensified and less freedom is given to procrastination. It is unsurprising therefore that the lead character is given to an actor with an education in walking the boards. The film devotes a significant amount of time to building McCann's character, devoid of dialogue and with extensive intense close ups.
Due to the utter desperation of The Survivalist's plot, it requires total commitment to its audience and at times starts to meander yet manages to pull itself back every time just before the bleakness becomes tiresome.
There are enough plot and character surprises to keep the movie interesting, the acting is excellent and the limited scope of environment constantly feels claustrophobic but never artistically restrictive. The Survivalist demonstrates the way, once the whiteboard of social acceptability has been wiped clean, intimacy and sex become acceptable tradeable commodities.
The Survivalist is grim, depressing and about the least life- affirming film you're likely to see this year. Yet it is tense, wonderfully acted and a fascinating illustration of the instinctive brutality of humanity's will to survive.
Survivor - Ireland
stanrogersmith6 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Stumbled across this title and it looked interesting and promising, so I gave it a watch. I made it to the end without getting angry nor finding anything fundamentally wrong with it, so that's a positive for me. I like the way it was filmed, liked the minimal dialogue, liked the pacing and overall felt it was worthy of 7/10.
However I couldn't help think that what I witnessed was essentially this:
1. Man is doing his best on his own. Obviously watched and took detailed notes from Bear Grylls and Les Stroud (Survivorman) and has a one man farm in the woods up and running smoothly and efficiently.
2. Women arrive and it all goes downhill for him from there.
The moral of the story - Women. Can't live with them, can't kill them.
But in this case he could have and should have.
However I couldn't help think that what I witnessed was essentially this:
1. Man is doing his best on his own. Obviously watched and took detailed notes from Bear Grylls and Les Stroud (Survivorman) and has a one man farm in the woods up and running smoothly and efficiently.
2. Women arrive and it all goes downhill for him from there.
The moral of the story - Women. Can't live with them, can't kill them.
But in this case he could have and should have.
Grim at times but still interesting.
valleyjohn24 May 2016
The Survivalist is BAFTA nominated film about a man who is trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world where food is scarce and where people will kill to take it from you . He comes across a mother and daughter and isn't sure he can trust their intentions. This is Grim to say the least. Not grim in a bad way because the story dictates it should be that way but it is hard watch at times. It's graphic as well. Sexually and violently and the characters on display don't say match. Possibly because they are continuously suspicious of each other or maybe because of what they have witnessed in the past , words are as scarce as the food they crave. Good performances from Martin McCann ( we never get to know his name) and Mia Goth add up to an interesting film that might not be to everyone's taste.
Dark & Gloomy
carletonclements24 April 2019
Terrible starting, ended O.K.. Not my type of movie. Some scenes at the start were too gross for me to look past. Why add that? Seems to me that the writer of this movie is a little bit insecure, so he adds this crude direction so that people will say, "Look how bold this movie is!" Got to tell you, I hate it when movies do that.
Compelling Commentary on Human Nature & Survival
jaysanchu0729 July 2022
The Survivalist is a post-apocalyptic thriller avid movie lovers should not miss. It offers a vivid and grounded image on the extent man will take in order to survive, as we follow the Survivalist, a lone forest-dweller whose efficient way of life is drastically interrupted by unwelcome guests that come sprawling. With its premise, expect a back and forth of suspenseful, brutal imagery, and a detailing of solitary existence in a post-civilized world. The film expertly delivers these through a solid cast, capable of conveying despair & desperation (with a limited script, mind you) and brilliant screenwriting. The latter, is further highlighted through the absence of a score, creating a raw & truly immersive experience. In the intense moments then, we are transported right smack in the middle of the agonizing & untrusting world crafted by the film. Brilliant!
As for the film's flaws, the excessive use of its positives is one to highlight. The film straddled along the lines of unnecessarily obscene with its unfiltered images of masturbation and abortion. The absence of a musical score, combined with routine, less eventful shots, unfortunately dragged.
Despite the minimal awkward & creeping paced scenes however, The Survivalist remains a solid watch. It is for us, admirers of bleak, grounded storylines but not for the faint hearted.
As for the film's flaws, the excessive use of its positives is one to highlight. The film straddled along the lines of unnecessarily obscene with its unfiltered images of masturbation and abortion. The absence of a musical score, combined with routine, less eventful shots, unfortunately dragged.
Despite the minimal awkward & creeping paced scenes however, The Survivalist remains a solid watch. It is for us, admirers of bleak, grounded storylines but not for the faint hearted.
If You Don't Like Post Apocalyptic Fiction You Won't Like This
Theo Robertson30 December 2016
This gritty low budget thriller came and went with very little fanfare . It was only through a favoured genre film website that I knew of its existence and made a point of tracking it down because the premise intrigued me . With hindsight I can understand the reason for its obscurity since it is something of a bugger to market . Social Darwinism in action where only the most ruthless have any chance of survival . Add to this a slow , low key pace with little dialogue with no musical soundtrack and you realise it's not something that's going to sell out the multiplex . That said the Brits probably do this type of sub-genre better than anyone else and it's a type of premise that makes this audience member appreciate what a wonderful and fragile thing civilisation is . Any story that makes the audience think can only be a good thing can't it ?
That said I wasn't entirely convinced by the cause of the apocalypse . Oil production ceases meaning the end of the world ? Not entirely sure if that's credible . In the real world the oil price has collapsed in the last few years and countries whose economies are dependent on it has slumped . Also some of these countries such as Iraq and Syria have been ravaged by ongoing civil wars yet these nation states will survive the present hellish conditions and prosper - hopefully with truly pluralist democratic governments - in the future . There's also the aspect common in the medium that despite having the opening scene set several years after the disaster it's only when the story starts that pivotal incident seems to magically happen
Writer/director Stephen Fingleton isn't too bothered about the cause and concentrates more on the effects of this disaster . More specifically he concentrates on character dynamics of a mother and daughter trying to find sanctuary in the refuge of a man who knows what it takes to survive and survival comes at a heavy and harsh price . One noticeable thing Fingleton acknowledges in this post apocalyptic world is that concepts like menstruation and unwanted pregnancy still exist , which is not something that's usually touched upon in these type of stories . Fingleton doesn't have to do much to create a bleak , desolate and if you've seen the director's short film SLR from a few years ago you'll notice has a talent for creating a gloomy atmosphere out of everyday landscapes
It's not a perfect film and I constantly found myself wondering why it only seems to be the three lead protagonists/antagonists who are seemingly capable of speech . If I remember correctly there are only five speaking parts in the entire movie . Some people will also find the dark subject matter just a little bit too disturbing and depressing to make it to the end of the movie . Despite this divisive tone if you appreaciate the end of the world type movies that doesn't involve armies of CGI zombies you'll find a lot to respect here
That said I wasn't entirely convinced by the cause of the apocalypse . Oil production ceases meaning the end of the world ? Not entirely sure if that's credible . In the real world the oil price has collapsed in the last few years and countries whose economies are dependent on it has slumped . Also some of these countries such as Iraq and Syria have been ravaged by ongoing civil wars yet these nation states will survive the present hellish conditions and prosper - hopefully with truly pluralist democratic governments - in the future . There's also the aspect common in the medium that despite having the opening scene set several years after the disaster it's only when the story starts that pivotal incident seems to magically happen
Writer/director Stephen Fingleton isn't too bothered about the cause and concentrates more on the effects of this disaster . More specifically he concentrates on character dynamics of a mother and daughter trying to find sanctuary in the refuge of a man who knows what it takes to survive and survival comes at a heavy and harsh price . One noticeable thing Fingleton acknowledges in this post apocalyptic world is that concepts like menstruation and unwanted pregnancy still exist , which is not something that's usually touched upon in these type of stories . Fingleton doesn't have to do much to create a bleak , desolate and if you've seen the director's short film SLR from a few years ago you'll notice has a talent for creating a gloomy atmosphere out of everyday landscapes
It's not a perfect film and I constantly found myself wondering why it only seems to be the three lead protagonists/antagonists who are seemingly capable of speech . If I remember correctly there are only five speaking parts in the entire movie . Some people will also find the dark subject matter just a little bit too disturbing and depressing to make it to the end of the movie . Despite this divisive tone if you appreaciate the end of the world type movies that doesn't involve armies of CGI zombies you'll find a lot to respect here
Finally a credible piece on post-apocalyptic survival
lougadou17 September 2017
Extraordinarily well executed, fresh, replete with lots of smart details bring it all to life. The characters are believable; raw and wild, running on their baser instincts, struggling to be civil in a world where gnash-toothed animals survive and civility only gets you dead. They try to be civil! Oh bless their hearts they try.
What I loved the most is the transformation you see in the characters; they go from feral, viciously unlikeable creeps to slowly warming up and right before your eyes they bloom into something like humans again, full of love and empathy and hate and greed and loyalty and all the paradoxes of the human condition. The setting is well fleshed out, with enough mystery regarding the details of society's breakdown to suspend any disbelief you might have about the premise. You feel like it's real. The characters further help you sense the desperation and anxiety of the world portrayed here. It's very somatic; you feel the hunger, the distrust, the anger and the violence of revenge.
I was left feeling grateful for the world I live in, which is the purpose of theme I suspect. It really could be worse. Watch this movie and feel intense gratitude for your humdrum life. Enjoy!
What I loved the most is the transformation you see in the characters; they go from feral, viciously unlikeable creeps to slowly warming up and right before your eyes they bloom into something like humans again, full of love and empathy and hate and greed and loyalty and all the paradoxes of the human condition. The setting is well fleshed out, with enough mystery regarding the details of society's breakdown to suspend any disbelief you might have about the premise. You feel like it's real. The characters further help you sense the desperation and anxiety of the world portrayed here. It's very somatic; you feel the hunger, the distrust, the anger and the violence of revenge.
I was left feeling grateful for the world I live in, which is the purpose of theme I suspect. It really could be worse. Watch this movie and feel intense gratitude for your humdrum life. Enjoy!
Effective and downbeat post apocalyptic thriller
dworldeater27 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The Survivalist lives up to its name. Taking place in a dystopian future where overpopulation leads to widespread famine, a man living by himself by a hut in the middle of the woods lives off the land and protects his livelihood. Things start to get sideways when he takes in an old woman and her daughter and an arrangement in agreed upon where he gives them food and shelter for a little poon tang from the younger daughter. The approach to the film is raw and viceral and is presented in a very realistic and downbeat manner. The acting is good and much is conveyed with little dialogue. You can feel the discomfort and tension and while I thought this was going to be more of an action piece, I can appreciate this as good for what it is and this indie thriller pulls no punches in its harsh, bleak portrayal.
The most pointless movie I've seen in a long time
vinkler20 February 2016
It's been a while since I felt that I completely wasted two hours of my life watching a movie. This one did that. Yes, the acting is good, there is nothing wrong with that. But why write or direct or produce a movie that gives absolutely nothing to the audience. It teaches nothing, but presents a totally cynical view of human beings, as if this post-apocalyptic world would turn everyone into these zombie-like creatures unable to communicate with each other, unable to have normal human interactions, unable to smile or have fun. It just shows the writer/director's lack of understanding about life and human beings, and all it reflects is the pessimistic view that he/she currently has about people.
Surviving - but alone
thekarmicnomad12 March 2016
Some unknown disaster has struck the planet causing a severe food shortage, it's every man for himself. The title character is held up all on his own in the woods, subsiding on the meagre scraps he can grow and repels anyone who encroaches on his land.
Then a woman and her, rather plain looking, daughter show up asking to trade. The Survivalist, devoid of all human contact apart from the marauders he kills, cannot resist the pull of some female companionship.
This film has a very small stage, concentrating entirely on the three central characters. Dialogue is minimal but effective, the Survivalist is especially grumpy and non-communicative.
There is a lot of nudity, expect dong shots and people washing their bits in the river and some very grubby sex scenes.
The scope of the story is small but the stakes for the characters are high. It has a poke around at desperation and necessity. Would you pimp your daughter out for a bowl of soup? I suppose it depends how hungry you are.
Well made, well acted, small budget but clever lighting makes it look gritty rather than cheap.
A very good, low octane watch.
Then a woman and her, rather plain looking, daughter show up asking to trade. The Survivalist, devoid of all human contact apart from the marauders he kills, cannot resist the pull of some female companionship.
This film has a very small stage, concentrating entirely on the three central characters. Dialogue is minimal but effective, the Survivalist is especially grumpy and non-communicative.
There is a lot of nudity, expect dong shots and people washing their bits in the river and some very grubby sex scenes.
The scope of the story is small but the stakes for the characters are high. It has a poke around at desperation and necessity. Would you pimp your daughter out for a bowl of soup? I suppose it depends how hungry you are.
Well made, well acted, small budget but clever lighting makes it look gritty rather than cheap.
A very good, low octane watch.
Effective low key thriller
Leofwine_draca27 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
THE SURVIVALIST is a fairly effective, low key thriller set in a post-apocalyptic world. Being a low budget movie, we don't see much of this world; the enclosed setting is a cabin in the woods inhabited by the titular character, whose life is changed forever when two women show up at his home one day, looking for help. What plays out is occasionally intense but mostly a slow burner, and the surprise is that it works well despite not much going on. The film it most reminded me of was FAR NORTH, and while it's a far cry from the quality of that movie, it's still rather watchable. The performances are interesting throughout, with the actors going for a less-is-more approach, and Mia Goth in particular is a standout.
I had high hopes going into it.
lukeh2325 February 2016
Looking at the cover, you may well have high expectations for this film..you see review snippets of .. "Masterful!", "Will shake you for days", "Mad Max, in the countryside". Seeing that Post Apocalyptic films are my favourite genre, I thought I might be about to watch something special.
It starts off very slow, but that's OK. You figure they are bringing you gently into the Brutal reality of the world in a curious unsuspecting way, but no. It just stays at a slow pace from there. We are introduced to the protagonists enemies on very rare occasion, which helped break the monotony a bit, but its fleeting, and do not expect anything like the visceral eye feast of Mad Max.
A disappointment really, and certainly a bad comparison to make it to Mad Max. I had high hopes of something akin to the UK feel of 28 days later, but this was quite a lack lustre of a film.
Have to say as well, there is some sort of weird erotic element to the film. The main actor is well endowed, as they say, and so the director seems to like showing this off in a few random scenes. So out of the blue, we see him walking around naked in his dreams or having a random masturbation session.
It starts off very slow, but that's OK. You figure they are bringing you gently into the Brutal reality of the world in a curious unsuspecting way, but no. It just stays at a slow pace from there. We are introduced to the protagonists enemies on very rare occasion, which helped break the monotony a bit, but its fleeting, and do not expect anything like the visceral eye feast of Mad Max.
A disappointment really, and certainly a bad comparison to make it to Mad Max. I had high hopes of something akin to the UK feel of 28 days later, but this was quite a lack lustre of a film.
Have to say as well, there is some sort of weird erotic element to the film. The main actor is well endowed, as they say, and so the director seems to like showing this off in a few random scenes. So out of the blue, we see him walking around naked in his dreams or having a random masturbation session.
The food comes first. The life's later or maybe never.
Reno-Rangan14 October 2016
The title reveals everything, but still you must watch this to know how everything going to take place. Life on earth is meant for survival of the fittest, but the human evolution changed that idea and again, what happen when the rules we are used to have changed back to the original? This is a post apocalyptic theme set in somewhere in the Britain and revolves around three people who are fighting for their survival, everyday.
The feature film debut for the director, who also managed the screenplay quite superbly. You can find many similar films, but everyone of those has its own story with the backdrop of various threats and other issues to deal. Also, when the circumstances differ, the following events take a different lead. Thus giving the viewers a new perspective and entertainment.
This is nothing like those I had seen. It was too rough and tough in revealing stuffs to the facts of its state of condition. I mean the humans have lost the trust between one another. You might say that is common in all the post-apocalyptic films, but this is very good at details. A silent film, like background score was almost zero, so the appeal was stronger in every those thrill scenes like it was real or some kind of a documentary film.
A man is living alone in the middle of the forest, grows his own vegetables and always be an extra careful from any outside threat. Then one day a woman and her daughter comes looking for food to trade with their valuables. The deal does not go well between them, but somehow they all manage to gain trust and start to live together. Obviously there's always an issue of food shortage, so how they are going to handle and followed by many other troubles brings an end to the tale.
"The only thing I have caught in there walked on two legs."
A minimal cast film with less dialogues, but totally a visual storyteller. I liked the film, but not my favourite, just a fine thriller. The actors are not very popular, but still they are familiar faces and I liked the film because of them. Critically acclaimed and well received by movie goers, but the common people who are vital for the commercial success let it down. It was nominated for the BAFTA awards in the newcomer writer/director category, but did not win.
The film's main plot is the food. The human population grown so fast during entering the twenty first century and again fallen rapidly due to the shortage of food which is obviously directly affected by pollution and other issues. So the theme was right, but not everybody gets that message. Because most of who watch it expects entertainment and nothing else. I hope that would not be your excuse to ignore it.
The film was shot in Northern Ireland, in a couple of places and its surroundings. It is slow, but steady in what it wanted to tell us. It's not a question about how familiar the theme is, but how different and obviously how different people tackle such situations is what this film focused to tell us pretty dramatic way.
When I say the poster, I thought it was like a native American or south American's story. Mainly because of the haircut that gave the impression like that I saw from other films. The synopsis gave a different perspective, so I found it more interesting than before. Then I watched, with a low expectation after knowing it was not received well. But I surprised and come to know this is not a bad film as they have said. In fact a very interesting perspective on how these three people struggle with what they have got in front of them. I am not saying it's a must see, but definitely not the worst, so I suggest you to do small research if you are confused to try this title. If you ask me, I would say just go for it.
7/10
The feature film debut for the director, who also managed the screenplay quite superbly. You can find many similar films, but everyone of those has its own story with the backdrop of various threats and other issues to deal. Also, when the circumstances differ, the following events take a different lead. Thus giving the viewers a new perspective and entertainment.
This is nothing like those I had seen. It was too rough and tough in revealing stuffs to the facts of its state of condition. I mean the humans have lost the trust between one another. You might say that is common in all the post-apocalyptic films, but this is very good at details. A silent film, like background score was almost zero, so the appeal was stronger in every those thrill scenes like it was real or some kind of a documentary film.
A man is living alone in the middle of the forest, grows his own vegetables and always be an extra careful from any outside threat. Then one day a woman and her daughter comes looking for food to trade with their valuables. The deal does not go well between them, but somehow they all manage to gain trust and start to live together. Obviously there's always an issue of food shortage, so how they are going to handle and followed by many other troubles brings an end to the tale.
"The only thing I have caught in there walked on two legs."
A minimal cast film with less dialogues, but totally a visual storyteller. I liked the film, but not my favourite, just a fine thriller. The actors are not very popular, but still they are familiar faces and I liked the film because of them. Critically acclaimed and well received by movie goers, but the common people who are vital for the commercial success let it down. It was nominated for the BAFTA awards in the newcomer writer/director category, but did not win.
The film's main plot is the food. The human population grown so fast during entering the twenty first century and again fallen rapidly due to the shortage of food which is obviously directly affected by pollution and other issues. So the theme was right, but not everybody gets that message. Because most of who watch it expects entertainment and nothing else. I hope that would not be your excuse to ignore it.
The film was shot in Northern Ireland, in a couple of places and its surroundings. It is slow, but steady in what it wanted to tell us. It's not a question about how familiar the theme is, but how different and obviously how different people tackle such situations is what this film focused to tell us pretty dramatic way.
When I say the poster, I thought it was like a native American or south American's story. Mainly because of the haircut that gave the impression like that I saw from other films. The synopsis gave a different perspective, so I found it more interesting than before. Then I watched, with a low expectation after knowing it was not received well. But I surprised and come to know this is not a bad film as they have said. In fact a very interesting perspective on how these three people struggle with what they have got in front of them. I am not saying it's a must see, but definitely not the worst, so I suggest you to do small research if you are confused to try this title. If you ask me, I would say just go for it.
7/10
Awful
galactic_drone23 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
!SPOILERS!
I imagine this is happening in some sort of post-war world, where people have to survive on their own without energy. If it isn't so, we are not told anything anyway.
So an old woman and a young girl continuously try to kill a lonely young man in his small wooden house in the middle of the forest. The one that treated them fairly well, fed them, and could possibly protect them and be very useful. Yes, the younger one offered sex for all of this, and it was a mutual agreement, yet they continued to try killing him again. What was their plan - to live together in his house happily ever after? It wasn't about robbery, he clearly didn't have much of value, and the women had enough time to see that.
Then, out of nowhere comes a bunch of ill-motivated men wearing masks (as if it still mattered in their world whether their faces would be seen or not) trying to kill everyone in the house, apparently, while destroying his crops. The three of them did not compete for anything in that forest, so what was the point of attacking them, with an intention to kill? Why would you destroy crops in a world where food is hard to come by? Maybe the attackers had something else in mind, they probably wouldn't kill a young female, and maybe they would try to convince the guy to join them as well, but the two parties were not given a chance to talk, in fact, they didn't even see each other before the final shoot- out. I had an impression the women have escaped from their previous camp, and the dudes were searching for them, but again - nothing is explained.
It's hard to see anyone's intention here, since characters barely speak (the main man is mumbling in Irish (I suppose) at times, to add that "extra flavor"), and their actions make no sense. Everyone is simply homicidal for no apparent reason, and no coherent story is shown.
The director clearly didn't use his thinker too much with this one, he was too busy showing us cock, ass and tits close-ups (hello, Mia Goth fans), and trying to attract unwise survival-minded viewers. It seems the movie has no other point than to show how unreasonable people (and movie directors) can be.
I imagine this is happening in some sort of post-war world, where people have to survive on their own without energy. If it isn't so, we are not told anything anyway.
So an old woman and a young girl continuously try to kill a lonely young man in his small wooden house in the middle of the forest. The one that treated them fairly well, fed them, and could possibly protect them and be very useful. Yes, the younger one offered sex for all of this, and it was a mutual agreement, yet they continued to try killing him again. What was their plan - to live together in his house happily ever after? It wasn't about robbery, he clearly didn't have much of value, and the women had enough time to see that.
Then, out of nowhere comes a bunch of ill-motivated men wearing masks (as if it still mattered in their world whether their faces would be seen or not) trying to kill everyone in the house, apparently, while destroying his crops. The three of them did not compete for anything in that forest, so what was the point of attacking them, with an intention to kill? Why would you destroy crops in a world where food is hard to come by? Maybe the attackers had something else in mind, they probably wouldn't kill a young female, and maybe they would try to convince the guy to join them as well, but the two parties were not given a chance to talk, in fact, they didn't even see each other before the final shoot- out. I had an impression the women have escaped from their previous camp, and the dudes were searching for them, but again - nothing is explained.
It's hard to see anyone's intention here, since characters barely speak (the main man is mumbling in Irish (I suppose) at times, to add that "extra flavor"), and their actions make no sense. Everyone is simply homicidal for no apparent reason, and no coherent story is shown.
The director clearly didn't use his thinker too much with this one, he was too busy showing us cock, ass and tits close-ups (hello, Mia Goth fans), and trying to attract unwise survival-minded viewers. It seems the movie has no other point than to show how unreasonable people (and movie directors) can be.
It didn't need to show his d*** whilst masturbating
johnnybigspuds10 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This overall was an enjoyable movie film, ive seen scathing reviews on here, but do you seriously expect constant action from a movie in which the majority of the plant earth has died!
People want realism and when faced with it they find it boring lol
There is a gritty dark realism to this movie that makes it enjoyable.
It would have got better marks if it didnt graphically show the guy knocking one out over a picture.
Spoilers follow ...
parry_na4 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Not that it matters, but I've found it very hard to stick with a horror film longer than 20 minutes of late. A possible mixture of over-familiarity and the relentless 'getting-to-know-you' set-up of characters that are difficult to care about has seen to that. 'The Survivalist' is thankfully entirely different.
Martin McCann plays the unnamed titular character who is seen meticulously tending to the allotment surrounding his remote shack. The world's economy has stopped, society has imploded, and this results in a back-to-basics culture for the few remaining. Occasionally, a glimpse of an ideal world is apparent – all the trappings of modern day culture gone, The Survivalist's solitary nature is stripped back to the bare essentials. Memories of a brother long dead, a photograph of an unspecified girl kept for masturbationary purposes – all this is shattered by the arrival of Kathrine (Olwen Fouéré) and her daughter Mia (Mia Goth). These two, despite their good deeds, are rarely entirely trustworthy, but a relationship is built – initially on Mia being a bargaining chip in exchange for food, and ultimately on something approaching mutual friendship.
This is a bleak film, but not quite as grim as it may appear. There is no soundtrack other than the beginning and end theme. We hear the irresistible crackling of fires, the plaintive tweeting of the birds, and still feelings of fear, apprehension (but never jollity) are communicated to the viewer. Perhaps those directors who smother their films with mass orchestrated musical stings and bangs and whistles designed to instil fear should take note! The Survivalist has been nominated for, and won, a variety of awards, for Mia Goth and Director/Writer Stephen Fingleton. Well deserved. The fall and further fall of these characters is compelling viewing.
Martin McCann plays the unnamed titular character who is seen meticulously tending to the allotment surrounding his remote shack. The world's economy has stopped, society has imploded, and this results in a back-to-basics culture for the few remaining. Occasionally, a glimpse of an ideal world is apparent – all the trappings of modern day culture gone, The Survivalist's solitary nature is stripped back to the bare essentials. Memories of a brother long dead, a photograph of an unspecified girl kept for masturbationary purposes – all this is shattered by the arrival of Kathrine (Olwen Fouéré) and her daughter Mia (Mia Goth). These two, despite their good deeds, are rarely entirely trustworthy, but a relationship is built – initially on Mia being a bargaining chip in exchange for food, and ultimately on something approaching mutual friendship.
This is a bleak film, but not quite as grim as it may appear. There is no soundtrack other than the beginning and end theme. We hear the irresistible crackling of fires, the plaintive tweeting of the birds, and still feelings of fear, apprehension (but never jollity) are communicated to the viewer. Perhaps those directors who smother their films with mass orchestrated musical stings and bangs and whistles designed to instil fear should take note! The Survivalist has been nominated for, and won, a variety of awards, for Mia Goth and Director/Writer Stephen Fingleton. Well deserved. The fall and further fall of these characters is compelling viewing.
Grim Future
Tweetienator30 March 2020
A fine and grim post-apocalyptic movie that aims for a mature audience - The Survivalist is for sure not your typical Hollywood hero story or big blockbuster production but a nice grim trip into a world where survival of the fittest is the one main rule again. Recommended if you enjoy such movies like The Road, Hell, Extinction, Into the Forest, The Divide, Cargo (Australia, 2017) etc. The Survivalist - a pretty good one!
Very well acted
iconians14 February 2016
I overall liked the movie. It didn't try to take on a large topic. It wasn't fun or nice or had a happy ending, just a well told story. Many movies are trying to be more than they are, and this wasn't one of them. It was very well acted and has great visuals. Often times, movie will go for 1-3 minutes without any dialogue, which I found to be an effective way to tell the story.
Main 3 characters didn't have any allusions of hope; they were just there trying to survive day-to-day. I am a fan of the Dystopian genre; however, often times, it ends up being unrealistic or trying to a franchise maker. This didn't try any of it, and just succeeded to be a strong movie.
Main 3 characters didn't have any allusions of hope; they were just there trying to survive day-to-day. I am a fan of the Dystopian genre; however, often times, it ends up being unrealistic or trying to a franchise maker. This didn't try any of it, and just succeeded to be a strong movie.
Slow burn with good acting
judosg-797685 January 2019
The movie overall was pretty good. I felt there was too much filler in the form of stares and glances(about 1/2 the movie), but what else is there to do during the End of the World filled with deceit and distrust? Realistic approach I suppose.
Very slow
dancarter7714 February 2016
I don't usually write reviews but must say I was disappointed with this film. It reminded me a lot of the plot from last year's novel "California" by Edan Epuki.
I think it could have been better with a bit of a rewrite. I could see that it was trying to tell the story with minimal dialogue, but I found myself just waiting for it to end.
I also think that it could have been better with tighter editing. There were just so many scenes that seemed to be drawn out for longer than they needed to be.
Now I feel terrible for picking holes in this film, which does have some decent acting and an interesting premise. See it if you are into long dystopian films!
I think it could have been better with a bit of a rewrite. I could see that it was trying to tell the story with minimal dialogue, but I found myself just waiting for it to end.
I also think that it could have been better with tighter editing. There were just so many scenes that seemed to be drawn out for longer than they needed to be.
Now I feel terrible for picking holes in this film, which does have some decent acting and an interesting premise. See it if you are into long dystopian films!
A low-budget gem
euroGary16 February 2016
The opening shot of 'The Survivalist' cleverly sets the situation in which the film is set: the camera follows two lines on a graph, one showing oil production, the other world population. While the oil one starts to reduce, the population one continues its dizzying climb (appropriately, the film is set in Ireland, home of the European Union's highest birth rate!) until suddenly plummeting. Thus the scene is set.
An unnamed man (Martin McCann) lives in a forest, protecting his vegetable garden from occasional marauders with his rifle, his knife, and his totally naff haircut. This hand-to-mouth existence is disrupted one morning when a mother and daughter appear, seeking to barter the sexual favours of the daughter (Mia Goth) for food. The two women stay and, although suspicious, the man gradually, slightly, lets down his guard - but are the women as innocent as they appear?
Essentially a three-hander, at first glance this could make a good play, although live audiences might find their attention wandering during the long periods where nobody speaks as they tramp through the forest, do gardening, or irrigate the crops by urinating on them. But on film these sequences have a quiet beauty (well, not the urination) and, crucially, writer/director Stephen Fingleton - who has won several awards for this work - doesn't over-play them, or drag them out - something of which certain other directors of far more experience would be guilty.
The acting is good, with all three leads providing low-key but believable - as far as the circumstances allow - performances. Olwen Fouéré is especially noteworthy as the older woman seeking to manipulate things in order to survive, and McCann provides some good facial expressions that well convey emotions that would otherwise remain unexpressed, such is the monosyllabic speech of his character.
Combining human interest with tension and threat, this is a low-budget gem that is well worth seeing if you get the chance.
An unnamed man (Martin McCann) lives in a forest, protecting his vegetable garden from occasional marauders with his rifle, his knife, and his totally naff haircut. This hand-to-mouth existence is disrupted one morning when a mother and daughter appear, seeking to barter the sexual favours of the daughter (Mia Goth) for food. The two women stay and, although suspicious, the man gradually, slightly, lets down his guard - but are the women as innocent as they appear?
Essentially a three-hander, at first glance this could make a good play, although live audiences might find their attention wandering during the long periods where nobody speaks as they tramp through the forest, do gardening, or irrigate the crops by urinating on them. But on film these sequences have a quiet beauty (well, not the urination) and, crucially, writer/director Stephen Fingleton - who has won several awards for this work - doesn't over-play them, or drag them out - something of which certain other directors of far more experience would be guilty.
The acting is good, with all three leads providing low-key but believable - as far as the circumstances allow - performances. Olwen Fouéré is especially noteworthy as the older woman seeking to manipulate things in order to survive, and McCann provides some good facial expressions that well convey emotions that would otherwise remain unexpressed, such is the monosyllabic speech of his character.
Combining human interest with tension and threat, this is a low-budget gem that is well worth seeing if you get the chance.
wilderness is tough
cdcrb26 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
a man, unnamed, is surviving by himself in the wild. we know there are others around because he has set up all kinds of traps and alarms. somehow, two women show up on his property unannounced. of course, only a woman could be smart enough to get through his defenses. (this is a joke). anyway, the younger woman has just what our survivalist wants and he lets them stay and share his bounty. of course, the women have something in mind. the film has a real look and surviving looks tough. it seems like not much happens, but, in fact, a lot does. it's violent and unpleasant in some ways, but intriguing. not for everyone, obviously, because you have to anticipate, instead of knowing what's coming two hours ahead.
The Survivalist: Certainly not the mainstream
Platypuschow9 October 2017
The survivalist leaves a lot to the imagination, telling the story of our lead a man who lives out in the wilderness paranoid and alone when his world is disrupted by the appearance of two women.
Does he risk his perfect though limited little world by allowing them access to his home or should he turn them away? The Survivalist is a dark gritty tale that pulls no punches, I found myself oddly empathising and relating to the lead and yet at the same time was frustrated by that distinct lack of entertainment value I found.
This multi award winning effort simply didn't connect with me and though I certainly appreciate what they were going for unfortunately didn't see the appeal.
Credit to the cast, credit to the film makers but for me this made for uncomfortable viewing and a really lackluster finale.
The Good:
All round well made
Strong performances
Great concept
The Bad:
Uncomfortable stuff
Certainly niche viewing
Weak ending
Things I Learnt From This Movie:
The survivalist lifestyle isn't as glamorous as others may have you believe
Don't let women in your life, they'll ruin everything
Does he risk his perfect though limited little world by allowing them access to his home or should he turn them away? The Survivalist is a dark gritty tale that pulls no punches, I found myself oddly empathising and relating to the lead and yet at the same time was frustrated by that distinct lack of entertainment value I found.
This multi award winning effort simply didn't connect with me and though I certainly appreciate what they were going for unfortunately didn't see the appeal.
Credit to the cast, credit to the film makers but for me this made for uncomfortable viewing and a really lackluster finale.
The Good:
All round well made
Strong performances
Great concept
The Bad:
Uncomfortable stuff
Certainly niche viewing
Weak ending
Things I Learnt From This Movie:
The survivalist lifestyle isn't as glamorous as others may have you believe
Don't let women in your life, they'll ruin everything
masterful, captivating, phenomenal.... CRAP!
violetpine16 April 2016
masterful, captivating, phenomenal, powerful.... CRAP! How many post-apocalyptic movies are we going to have to be subjected to by Hollywood and their whipmasters? Anytime I see a movie promo sleeve covered with stars and BS like 'masterful', i'll pass. Do they really think we're buying into this over the top, 'you gotta see this', 'it'll blow your mind', 'everyone loves this movie' stroke-job? What a bunch of clowns! No human of average intelligence is going to watch your latest bit of mindwipe. Get real or get lost! Do these over-weight, over-paid, drooling old snakeheads think we want to see the same old apocalyptic, zombie filled, alien invasion pieces of crap that pass for an imaginative and entertaining film? Welcome to zombie-wood! Not to mention the trans-human, turning people into robots garbage that they love so much. I'd like to finish by saying, dream on follywood, but that would require some imagination, which they have none of.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
