There is one thing above all that one must understand about this before watching, a truth that is not communicated anywhere one may read about the film: it's a horror-comedy. Leaning heavily on folk beliefs, it's noteworthy just as much that this carries itself with a predominantly light, wry, even downright jocular tone. No, it has nothing to do with the fact that the actor playing the protagonist looks a great deal like young Hugh Laurie. Yet there's a significant strain of humor about 'Tilbury,' as if it could have been found on British television somewhere between the last run of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' and like fare of the late 80s, to say nothing of the almost farcical traits given to the soldiers we meet. Even as this is filmed and set in Iceland, and is an Icelandic production, the number of British characters on hand threatens to rob the title of its own identity, and the same is true of the levity and the more fantastical elements. By all means, this is enjoyable and well made; it's pretty terrific, in fact - but it's probably not the movie you think it is from the outside looking in.
In all earnestness, there's a major question here of balance, for the root premise seems to get sidelined for a majority of the runtime in favor of what comes across as sitcom-ready conflicts between characters, or perhaps a serial drama. Even as the softer hues may be twisted into darker ones, as seen during a lengthy dance hall sequence, the more sinister airs and strong violence to come deep in the back end butt up against cheeky, irreverent frivolity. A complete, cohesive, compelling story is told, but I think it could have done with a little more mindful care in how it was crafted, for there's a sense that it didn't entirely know what it wanted to be, or lacked unity of vision. The fact that it's nevertheless so well made and entertaining is a credit to all involved, even the writer and director who are also the ones to mishandle the treatment. The stunts, effects, and special makeup are all outstanding; the cast fully embrace the wild personalities of their characters, and each in turn is a joy to watch; the production design and art direction are splendid. Even the choreography we see in that dance sequence is a blast, and the scene writing is particularly robust.
I just wish 'Tilbury' didn't toe the line as much as it did, for tone is the one issue in my opinion to hold this back from coming off even better. Either the horror element should have been further reduced, and itself wrapped up more in the lightheartedness, or the comedy should have been diminished to give more breathing room for the more nefarious aspects of the narrative. I like this, and I'm glad I took the time to watch; I'm also glad for those who get more out of it than I do. For that matter, maybe I'm being too finicky. One way or another, at only one hour this minute feature is deserving on its own merits, and fun overall, but it would have been more so if - by one means or another - the two halves of the horror-comedy approach had been woven together more smoothly, in different proportions.
In all earnestness, there's a major question here of balance, for the root premise seems to get sidelined for a majority of the runtime in favor of what comes across as sitcom-ready conflicts between characters, or perhaps a serial drama. Even as the softer hues may be twisted into darker ones, as seen during a lengthy dance hall sequence, the more sinister airs and strong violence to come deep in the back end butt up against cheeky, irreverent frivolity. A complete, cohesive, compelling story is told, but I think it could have done with a little more mindful care in how it was crafted, for there's a sense that it didn't entirely know what it wanted to be, or lacked unity of vision. The fact that it's nevertheless so well made and entertaining is a credit to all involved, even the writer and director who are also the ones to mishandle the treatment. The stunts, effects, and special makeup are all outstanding; the cast fully embrace the wild personalities of their characters, and each in turn is a joy to watch; the production design and art direction are splendid. Even the choreography we see in that dance sequence is a blast, and the scene writing is particularly robust.
I just wish 'Tilbury' didn't toe the line as much as it did, for tone is the one issue in my opinion to hold this back from coming off even better. Either the horror element should have been further reduced, and itself wrapped up more in the lightheartedness, or the comedy should have been diminished to give more breathing room for the more nefarious aspects of the narrative. I like this, and I'm glad I took the time to watch; I'm also glad for those who get more out of it than I do. For that matter, maybe I'm being too finicky. One way or another, at only one hour this minute feature is deserving on its own merits, and fun overall, but it would have been more so if - by one means or another - the two halves of the horror-comedy approach had been woven together more smoothly, in different proportions.