Decent Film, Though the Message is a Bit Fuzzy
A couple with severe relationship problems go on a camping trip in
Australia with their dog Cricket. Things unravel fast, as the couple bicker and treat nature poorly... and before long, it seems as though the very forest turns against them. "Nature's Grave" (as the film is called in America) is a good film with wonderful visuals and a steady pace of disintegration. The limited number of characters keeps the development strong, and there is a a decent level of gore for the horror fans. Yet, there's something really fishy about this movie. Presumably, the message is that we shouldn't abuse Mother Nature. Yet, this is not really made clear. While the couple does mistreat their surroundings, it is largely unintentional, and the bulk of their time is spent yelling at each other. The message is further confused when considering the other group of campers, who end up in dire straits for no reason that we are aware of. Jim Caviezel is a strong actor, though he doesn't really stand out in this film. His character's wife is equally bland. There is some confusion, at least to me, of their nationality. She seems to be Australian, while he does not have the accent. Yet, when confronted with a beached manatee, it is Peter (Caviezel) who knows the history of the local creatures. This was odd. Aside from the ending, the manatee was for me the most interesting -- and creepy -- part of the film. If you're interested in good shots of wildlife and scenery, this film has plenty of that. But the acting is average and the plot isn't really clear, beyond a fighting couple. Another reviewer writes, "I would not call this a movie where nature strikes back, I would call it a movie where a moron angry at his wife makes a lot of boneheaded decisions." That really sums it up. This film is remake, and I unfortunately have not seen the original and cannot compare them. However, as a solo film, I found this one to be for the most part enjoyable and I would recommend it to others. To not see this film would be a crime against nature. Be sure to check it out, because you will not find another like it.. 
What Is This?
Nature's Grave doesn't have much of a plot in the conventional sense;
not many of the events are tied together by anything and nothing really pays off. It is pretty much about a husband and wife, who are having marital problems, going camping on a beach. They are trying to make the best of it but weirder and weirder things keep happening, none of which they can explain. This is one of the most confusing and pointless movies I have ever seen. Almost every scene consists of the same thing; they argue, something weird happens they say "what was that" then on to the next scene. You are given absolutely NO explanation to what any of it means.I'm not sure if the director was trying to make some sort of half baked message about respecting nature or what, but almost nothing in this movie sticks. The acting is extremely poor as is the writing. I'm not a huge Jim Caviziel fan, but I expected more than this from him. Worst of all however would be the boredom. I was so miserable halfway through this I couldn't wait for it to be over. Nature's Grave unfortunately isn't even worth watching for a laugh, because those movies can be even more fun than good movies sometimes, and if there's one thing Nature's Grave isn't it's fun.. |
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