"Shallow Grave": a "full-throttle bit of Hitchcockian nastiness"

In 1994, before he directed Trainspotting or Slumdog Millionaire or 127 Hours (AKA the movie where James Franco cuts off his arm), Danny Boyle directed Shallow Grave--now out on a Criterion Collection DVD. 

Here's Criterion's blurb:

"The diabolical thriller Shallow Grave was the first film from director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, and screenwriter John Hodge (the smashing team behind Trainspotting). In it, three self-involved Edinburgh roommates—played by Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston, and Ewan McGregor, in his first starring role—take in a brooding boarder, and when he dies of an overdose, leaving a suitcase full of money, the trio embark on a series of very bad decisions, with extraordinarily grim consequences for all. Macabre but with a streak of offbeat humor, this stylistically influential tale of guilt and derangement is a full-throttle bit of Hitchcockian nastiness."

Here's part of what Tom Charity said about it in his Time Out review:

"This impressively assured, highly accomplished British feature doesn't dwell on moral niceties, but goes straight for the gut. John Hodge's screenplay has the kind of unrelenting forward momentum and close-to-the bone sense of purpose which sees you safely through a good many logical minefields, even if nagging question marks occur in retrospect. Given that most of the action takes place in the flat, it's remarkable how agile and invigorating Boyle's direction is. As the friends fall out, the movie loses some of its black comic edge, perhaps, but only to gain in sheer, back-stabbing, bloody-minded mayhem."

The Criterion disc contains some great extras, including recent interviews with the cast and a behind the scenes documentary that shows how 20-something producer-wannabe Andrew Macdonald spent years trying to get financing to make John Hodge's screenplay into a movie.  After financing was in place, they interviewed various directors, ultimately choosing the 37-year-old Boyle.  While Shallow Grave is his first theatrical film, he already had years of experience directing in the theater, along with years of directing TV shows and TV movies in England.

Here's one of Criterion's fun "Three Reasons" videos for the film:

If you're someone who insists that you must like the characters to like a movie, book, or play (I guess that means no Macbeth or Othello for you), you might want to skip this one.  Everyone here's a nasty piece of work.

"A Blessing" by James Wright (1927-1980)

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,

Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.

And the eyes of those two Indian ponies

Darken with kindness.

They have come gladly out of the willows

To welcome my friend and me.

We step over the barbed wire into the pasture

Where they have been grazing all day, alone.

They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness

That we have come.

They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.

There is no loneliness like theirs.

At home once more,

They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.

I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,

For she has walked over to me

And nuzzled my left hand.

She is black and white,

Her mane falls wild on her forehead,

And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear

That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.

Suddenly I realize

That if I stepped out of my body I would break

Into blossom.