Retreat

Plot synopsis:
London architect Martin Kennedy (Cillian Murphy) and his journalist wife Kate (Thandie Newton) often visit a small, remote, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland called Blackholme Island, for their holiday retreats. The only dwelling on the island, Fairweather Cottage, is seasonally operated by the owner Doug from the mainland and only reachable by ferry. After previously suffering a miscarriage, Kate's relationship with Martin has become tense, and in an effort to rekindle their marriage they decide on a return visit to the island. A few nights into their stay, the generator in the cottage explodes, injuring Martin's arm and leaving them without electricity. They use the CB radio, their only source of communication to the mainland, to call Doug who agrees to ferry out to help them.
Kate spends the next day waiting at the jetty for Doug to arrive, but to no avail. Later a mysterious man in green combat fatigues washes up on the island, bloodied and half-conscious. When he comes round, he identifies himself as a soldier, Private Jack Coleman (Jamie Bell). He tells Martin and Kate that there has been an outbreak of an airborne disease, Argromoto Flu, codenamed R1N16, which started in South America and has spread over the entire world in the timespan of a few weeks. The virus is incurable and highly contagious, attacking the respiratory system and causing the victims to choke on blood with a 100% fatality rate. Jack says that the military has lost control, and is now advising civilians to seal themselves up in their homes and not allow anybody access. With only static now coming from the CB radio, Martin decides to play it safe and help Jack, who aggressively takes command, board up the door and the windows.
Over the next few days, Jack becomes increasingly strange and erratic, and his intimidating behaviour begins to disturb the couple even further. They even suspect that the virus might not be real and Jack is insane. When Kate asks him if he is married, he tells her his wife died of R1N16 and he becomes aggressive and threatening. Martin and Kate decide to leave the cottage and take their chances outside, but Jack refuses to let them, forcing them into the bedroom at gunpoint and locking them in. Martin sneaks outside through a skylight, finding the bodies of Doug and his wife at the pier, killed by gunshot wounds. Using Doug's hunting shotgun, Martin returns to the cottage and gets the upper hand on Jack. However, just as Kate begins to tie Jack's hands behind his back, Martin suddenly begins coughing up blood; it appears the Argromoto Flu is very real and he is infected. Kate is forced to shoot her husband dead with the shotgun, to spare him a slow and agonising death.
Jack reveals to Kate that he was experimented upon at a secure military compound, from where he was released without realizing he was a carrier of R1N16. Jack infected his wife, killing her, and he fled to Blackholme Island to quarantine himself. Jack reveals the CB radio worked all along, and he just changed the settings so Kate and Martin would not be able to reach anyone. Jack fixes the CB radio and the military broadcast on it claims the soldiers have a vaccine to the virus. He tells her that the military are lying, there is no vaccine, and that the military will not allow them to leave the island alive. Kate does not believe him, and angered by the possibility that Martin could have been saved she shoots Jack dead. As she attempts to leave the island in the boat with Martin's body, a military helicopter flies over and she is killed by a sniper who shoots her in the head.

Tags: murder

Review:
The acting was good and it keeps you guessing to the very end.Worth your time to watch.
"Retreat" is a three-hander, starring Thandie Newton, Cillian Murphy and Jamie Bell (although there is one other character with a brief speaking part).
The journalist Kate (Thandie Newton) and her estranged husband, the architect Martin (Cillian Murphy), rent an isolated house in Fairweather Cottage in the Blackholme Island expecting to rekindle their love and save their marriage after a miscarriage of Kate.
Is he telling the truth?"Retreat" is a boring and annoying psychological thriller, with a terrible story and unlikable characters.
It is a psychological thriller,the acting is very good (Cillian Murphy is a remarkably good actor,but also Jamie Bell and Thandie Newton are a pleasure to watch)and the story kept me guessing until the end.
Retreat slightly reminded me of 28 Days Later,but it is a totally different story and captivating in it's own way.I liked the pace and the atmosphere of the film,and I would recommend it to everyone interested in this genre.
The chemistry between Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton was good, and as always they both acted their parts excellently (Jamie Bell, also, played his role brilliantly, although he will always be Billy Elliot to me!) The film itself is brilliantly written.
The dialogue is believable, and there is just the right amount of confusion and suspense building up to the twist ending.Speaking of the ending, I genuinely did not see it coming at all, and for me it just made the film that little bit better.In summary, it's a brilliantly acted film, it's a new twist on the whole "pandemic" concept that has come about during the last few years, and I think it definitely deserves a watch.
I'm not sure how much I can write with this film because writing much would be risking large spoilers.Essentially, a couple with personal problems are alone at their private island home and before long, the unreliable generator breaks down, leaving the house without much power.
However without power, how will they discover the truth?That's basically where the suspense comes from - not knowing what the stranger might do, or how this couple might respond to their situation or try to escape.In the final act, many pieces of information are revealed, turning the audience's perspective on its head..
I'm a big fan of both Thandie Newton and Cillian Murphy.and...B. I like thrillers in general, and it's been a while since I've seen a good one.And does it live up to those expectations?
Is the threat really the world outside, or the man in their home?There's a twist or turn near the end that keeps Retreat from being strictly as predictable as my description might have lead you to believe, but whether that makes the story any better is up for debate.
Thandie Newton is as always a good bet and of course Cillian Murphy makes it a hat trick.People have pointed out plot errors and there are a few but I feel that watching a film always involves leaving reality at the door to a certain extent so think this is nitpicking.Enjoy this film for what it is.
The characters question morality with their paradoxical natures, Thandie Newton and Cillian Murphy both being vulnerable yet assertive in their own way, with Jamie Bell being selfish but also selfless.
As a debut writer/director, Carl Tibbetts' "Retreat" is a well made psychological thriller with steady increase in pacing that generates an atmosphere going from brooding to disturbing.
Claiming the outbreak to be extremely lethal, Jack proceeds to board-up the cottage from the inside, even as it dawns on Kate and Martin that their strange guest is becoming increasingly hostile.Although widely comparable to the Nicole Kidman-Sam Neill thriller "Dead Calm", Tibbetts' work here is mostly captivating, relying heavily on portrayals from Thandie Newton and Cillian Murphy as the couple, and Jamie Bell as the antagonistic intruder.
This is evident that although there is a growing wedge in their relationship, previous problems diminish in size when faced with what they must now do to protect each other and their marriage.With a good part of the plot carried out within the confines of the cottage, Tibbetts succeeds in holding on to the viewer's attention despite the fact that single locale films can become boring.
Personally, I was hoping for a satisfying ending, but as it seems, Tibbetts may have had other things in mind like connecting the viewer with his characters and then brutally severing that connection; its like saying hope is as useful as a missed opportunity.All things considered, this movie is a decent attempt for a film maker writing and directing his first movie.
There really isn't anything to recommend this movie for, not even Cillian, unless you're the kind of person who just likes to watch a whole film about people being tense and whiney with each other while one of them messes with the other two people's heads..
I was riveted for the first hour and twenty minutes and then sat agape in frustration for the last ten minutes.Martin (Cillian Murphy) and Kate (Thandie Newton) are a married couple seeking an isolated retreat.
As I said, we're pretty sure he's crazy, and this is just the type of thing that crazy people say.The fascinating parts of this film involve the soldier convincing Martin and Kate that the threats are real, Martin seeming to believe him, Kate getting angry, and then Martin just wanting to take care of his wife and save their marriage.
Let the mind games begin as each character tries to figure out what they want, how to get it, how to do it alone or with somebody else.When we approached the end, I was playing along with their game, trying to predict each twist and turn that would take us to the satisfying conclusion.
The basic premise is an excellent and unique one and the film features a stunning cast of Cillian Murphy, Thandie Newton and Jamie Bell.
In "Retreat", a couple (Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton) decides to solve all their marital problems by staying on a peaceful island somewhere.
This is the last thing they'll know after the appearance of an injured man named Jack (Jamie Bell), a soldier who at first says his boat sank after a military exercise, but later this guy's gonna prevent the couple to get out of the house by telling that a dangerous virus was spread around the world.
What's best for the couple, to stay with him or to try to run away from the island?The suspense is well built even with already known formulas used in better thrillers like "Dead Calm" or "Death and the Maiden", three characters involved in situations of high tension, almost a play.
If not for its clichés at least go see it for the actors involved specially Murphy and Bell, the latter finally playing a villain and a good one (I don't know why people are complaining about how come this short guy can be that tough.
The wife played by Newton is just one more for his curriculum of whining characters (her behavior changes towards the ending, quite a blow) and it's kind of hard to feel sympathy for her.I can recommend "Retreat" for those who enjoy thrilling flicks but just lay low a little your expectations and have fun.
The story is very interesting.But I'll tell you right now: you can have the best actors, the most interesting 'idea', and some great interaction between characters, however if you have a plot hole as big as the one's you see in this movie (yes, there were many), then it ruins the entire movie.You know those moments while you say to yourself, "Seriously?
Jamie Bell has come a long way since he played that annoying little kid in Billy Elliot and so far from what i have seen of him as an adult actor he has shown a lot of promise.
Cillian Murphy's credentials go without saying but the big let down in this film is Thandie Newton.When a character is up against a dangerous enemy and the odds are stacked against them ( as they are with Martin and Kate ) it helps if you want them to come out on top if you are going to enjoy the film.
The Thandie Newton character ( Kate) in Retreat is such a misery you just cant help but hope the sinister stranger does her in so we don't have to put up with her miserable face.I partially put this down to Newton , who seems to skulk her way through roles every time i see her and it's not helped by a confusing sub plot going on which is about her having an abortion and the couple not getting on.Retreat is entertaining in parts but for most of the time it's predictable disappointing and doubt the likes of Bell and Murphy are particulate proud of the final cut considering their pedigree..
That is not what this movie was intended to be, but it does its job really well!This is, once over and done with, a heart-rending psychological thriller that will make you think you have it figured out, and then something slightly different in the characters' behavior makes you think maybe you were wrong--right up until the end.
Finding out the reasons behind their behavior provides an interesting window into the psychology many of us share, where our guilt over something causes us to project blame onto someone else, or to put forth anger or any number of redirected emotions.If you simply don't like slow-building thrillers (NO, this is NOT a gory horror movie), don't watch it.
Its along the lines of Dead Calm (replace boat with remote cabin) and admittedly kinda slow to get going but I did like the atmosphere and Scottish location.It follows Kate (Thandie Newton) and Martin (Cillian Murphy) as they try to repair their strained relationship by revisiting a remote island cottage where they were once happy.
Films like this are completely reliant on the cast and most times simply don't work, but for some reason, I was really into Retreat and had to know if it was going to end the way I thought it would.
Martin, Kate, Jack - Retreat doesn't need many more characters to play with the audience's emotions.
Jamie Bell, Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton are all excellent actors and all put in good performances.
This movie is been one of the best in its genre, I don't want to spoil anything to you, so all I'll say, it's that if you enjoy the movies that let you with your mouth open but without wondering what the hell happened, this is a perfect movie for you, I mean, you won't know what the hell until the very end, but you will know, it's not like those movies that let you that sensation like you didn't catch half of the plot, if you pay attention to all the details you will get all the answers at the end, the acting was terrific, I'm a huge fan of Cillian Murphy and he didn't let me down, was good to watch him as a normal nice guy for a change, and Thandie Newton and Jamie Bell were outstanding also, I think that what it makes this movie so enjoyable it's the fact that the main characters were normal human beings reacting as regular people would react in such situation, there were no Rambos who knew how to handle SMGs, and fight and build bombs, anyway to me it's totally worth it and I recommend it 100%..
Anything else I write about it can give away important pieces of the story, so I will stay away from that.What I can say is that even thou it has a short cast, and it's not a very long movie, the script is pretty solid and the acting is really really good.
The scenery is also great, the dialogues aren't over done and the pace in which the events happen, keep you wondering the whole movie.Other than 1 or 2 dragging moments, this movie kept my attention the whole time and I think most people, fans of the genre or not, will also be satisfied.This movie was really entertaining and I recommend it 100%, especially if you're looking for some sort of "end of the world/psychological thriller" movie to watch..
I watched Retreat to the bitter end because I love Thandie Newton (and so the ending didn't please me one bit!) With a couple of exceptions, Cillian Murphy's character, Martin, was pretty lame.
This movie is as much a story of a pandemic allegedly touching various parts of the globe as a tale of a marriage in crisis and the savagery involved in giving someone (a stranger or loved one) the benefit of the doubt and realizing far too late that the road to hell IS paved with good intentions!The married couple here are played by Murphy (as Martin, a somewhat timid husband character who has a quiet dignity, but is poised to explore his dormant aggressive side) and Thandie Newton (in an at times volcanic, but always emotionally involving performance as Kate).
Retreat is a disappointing movie about a couple and a wounded soldier they found and take to their cottage on a remote, forsaken island.
Three incredible actors in Cillian Murphy, Thandie Newton and Jamie Bell are completely wasted in this tripe.
As soon as Jamie Bell arrives in the film and starts barricading up the house without so much as any protest from Murphy's and Newton's characters I knew the film was going to be dreadful.
If you watch the trailer of Retreat, you watch 75% of the movie.The movie spends the first twenty minutes telling the story of a young couple Martin (Murphy) and Kate (Newton).
They are experiencing some marital problems, so they retreat to this isolated island in hope to save their marriage.Then Jamie Bell's character Jack - a unconscious stranger covered with blood - finally appears, just as you see in the trailer.
However, I feel Jamie Bell might be the one who enjoyed filming this movie most.
Unsure whether the man in their house is telling the truth, or a maniac with ulterior motives, the couple find themselves locked in an increasingly tense psychological battle where the one place they should feel most safe becomes the tightest little corner in the world.It's interesting, and certainly very sad, how a lot of promising ideas for great films seem to find themselves skipping theatres and going straight to DVD in these tough economic times, which would appear to be the case with Retreat, which couldn't quite be described as a 'great' film, but certainly quite an impressive and well made one, that quite rightly has an impressive cast list to back up it's neat idea.
(This was all in the trailer so you can still read this without spoiling the movie:) A couple on an isolated island retreat takes in a wounded man who tells them there has been an outbreak.
'Retreat' has great performances, very good directing along with a nice film score.
The husband and wife characters don't know whether they can trust him / whether this guy is paranoid and crazy or whether he's telling them the truth, the viewers are made to relate to these husband and wife characters due to the movie doing a very good job of keeping the audience in the dark as well.'Retreat' is a very tense thriller with a minimal cast, there should be more movies like this with a great plot and with literally only a few characters, films like this are proof that a movie doesn't need to have a big number cast to make a film great.The only thing that is wrong with this flick is a couple of comments of sexism coming from the bad guy "Jack", example - when he tells the husband that they can't allow the woman to make all the decisions, and the scene where he puts food out and tells her to make him breakfast, when he can easily make it himself (but then again that particular scene was a means to an end for that moment, it was set up to simply build a tense outcome, but still they could have done that outcome in a different way without the sexism).'Retreat' has quite a few plot-twists and the very end scene is shocking and unexpected.If you like thrillers, i recommend renting this film on Amazon Prime Video..
The film plays out like a standard stranger-danger movie where troubled couple Martin and Kate go for a break on a deserted island only to have their home invaded by a stranger who essentially holds them captive.
It reminded me a bit of one of my all-time favorites, Death and the Maiden, whereas it screamed theatre production and 90% of the movie was just three characters.Martin and Kate decide to return to a desolate island cottage retreat following the still-born of their child.
So, naturally, this newly founded threesome isn't going to have a smooth vacation.It's suspenseful and wonderfully acted by both Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton, both I have liked a lot in the past and it's a wonder this movie hasn't gotten the attention it deserves.
The story sees unhappily married couple Thandie Newton and Cillian Murphy holed up in a cottage retreat off the coast of Scotland, only to have their home invaded by a psychotic soldier, as played by an against-type Jamie Bell, warning of a plague epidemic on the mainland.This is a story of ambiguity and supposition, with the viewer unsure of what's really happening.
The story and direction are very effective in building tension and suspense and the plot twists are interesting and don't sound absurd.However, the movie has some pace problems during the second act, where barely anything happens.
Jamie Bell is the one that does the best job among the main cast while Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton are on autopilot in this film.