Written and directed by Paul Andrew Williams, The Cottage is a British horror comedy that benefits from some stellar acting talent in main roles, a rich seam of dark humour running through it, and a couple of top-tier gore gags. It isn’t a film I see mentioned too often nowadays, and I am guilty of forgetting about it myself, but it’s one I hope to remind everyone about right now.
Andy Serkis and Reece Shearsmith are two brothers, David and Peter respectively, and the film begins with them having just committed a kidnapping. Their hostage is a young woman named Tracey (Jennifer Ellison), but it soon becomes clear that she isn’t aiming to be a helpless victim. Things quickly start to go wrong, and there are a number of unexpected visitors. To say any more would spoil some of the delicious surprises contained within the movie.
Without revealing any more details of the movie, aside from that basic plot summary just used in the previous paragraph, what makes The Cottage so enjoyable is how it layers the standard botched crime caper we have seen many times in British cinema with an unexpected selection of tropes from a particular subgenre of horror. It also helps that the dialogue is spiky and satisfyingly witty, delivered with aplomb by the leads. Every detail adds to the overall picture, and there are a number of subtle set-ups that lead to very enjoyable pay-offs.
It is stating the obvious to say that both Serkis and Shearsmith are great actors, even if they both have very different performing styles, so just take it as given that both actors are once more great onscreen here, and both are great fun as they rile each other up. Ellison isn’t to be dismissed though, happily subverting the image of a typical “damsel in distress”, and I wish we’d seen her in some more comedic roles like this one. Steve O’Donnell adds to the fun, and adds to the levels of incompetence on display, and there are cameos for both Doug Bradley and Steven Berkoff.
Paced perfectly, shot with a great eye for the visuals (helped by excellent production design throughout), and full of small moments and scripted gems that make it a rewarding rewatch experience, The Cottage is a superior slice of macabre mirth. As it was released almost fifteen years ago, maybe it’s time we all stopped sleeping on it.
8/10
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