(This is actually a reprint of an older post I did that no one ever saw – because I had some days off and watched this again)
I believe three TH is an appropriate rating for this movie, although the last 30 minutes are very good. I might also believe that I need to look up the definition of “thriller” because the “thrillers” I have rented lately are not really that thrilling, but good or not-so-good dramas. Anyway, this Scottish job features an actress known to me as Lysa Arryn – the breast-feeding-her-12-year-old-son from Game of Thrones (Kate Dickie) and an actor I know as Vincent van Gogh from Doctor Who a series ago (Tony Curran). The synopsis of Red Road is going to contain spoilers, so, if anyone wants to watch this and not know what’s coming, stop after this next sentence. This is a pretty good Scottish movie about a woman who has run into someone from her past that she doesn’t want to see, but for some reason she is compelled to make her way into his life.
Kate – “Jackie” – is a worker for the city at a place called “City Eye” – a government run surveillance unit of closed circuit TVs set up all around Glasgow to help keep an eye on its citizens and prevent crime. She’s mopey yet caring for the people she watches and even has uninteresting sex with her coworker out in a field. One night she is watching the streets when she takes notice of a couple having The Coitus up against a graffiti strewn wall in the ghetto. Once the man is finished, he shucks off his rubber and turns to face the camera. Somehow, through the graininess of videotape, she notices it is the face of a man named Clyde, a man sent to prison for something nine years ago, but he was supposed to be released in ten. This upsets her greatly but we are not told why until she mysteriously seems to be falling in love with him (or is she) and they themselves end up doing The Devil’s Business in what I don’t think was a simulated sex scene. Why? After they finish up she freaks out, grabs his used condom and heads to the elevator where she makes it look like she was raped, even hitting herself in the head with a jagged rock.
In a side story that doesn’t really work too well since it is seen through the CCTV monitor and extremely hazy, we learn that Clyde has a daughter whose mom has told her that her dad is dead. Shortly after Jackie watches the cops haul off Clyde for her rape, she sees his daughter stroll up to his flat – she knows he’s not dead after all. This gives her a change of heart and she clears the charges. All of this leads up to the big pay off that Clyde, high on crack, ran Jackie’s husband and daughter down in cold blood nine years ago and she was out for revenge by framing him for attacking her. There you go – we get an hour and a half of moody brooding, then the big sex scene and the hit the rock in the face and the cops and the daughter and the “YOU KILLED MY FAMILY!!!” and the “at least your daughter knew she was loved” and the Jackie finally can go talk to the husband’s parents now and the end.
I would write some more but that is probably enough and my computer is really acting up…
Isaacs Picture Conclusions 
Good to see you cover this one bro. I wasn’t sure how much of a release this got over your way but I’m glad. I really liked it. A bit grim but really well put together.
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Yep – I wrote this a while back, before we met – do you have any cameos in here : )
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No cameos for me I’m afraid. I do know someone who knows the lead actress. That’s about as close as I get to this one.
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I like Kate Dickie a lot – did you ever see Outcast?
https://isaacspictureconclusions.com/2012/03/30/outcast-2010-four-top-hats/
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Yeah, Kate Dickie is a fine actress who seems to be getting regular work.
I just read your review. Left a comment on your page.
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I appreciate it – I was very happy to see her turn up in Prometheus – big movie with big exposure : )
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I wasn’t overly keen on Prometheus but like you say, it’s great exposure for her. I’m normally a supporter of all Scottish actors and actresses as I think it’s very difficult for them to break through. There’s seems to be quite a lot going around now, though; McGregor, Butler, McAvoy, Mullan, and even the smaller actors like Dickie, Kelly Macdonald, Tony Curran, and James Cosmo are making regular appearances in things. Christ, at one point all we had was fucking Sean Connery. Nobody else was getting a look in.
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Give the Scots a shot!!
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Indeed sir! As we’d say in Scotland… “Haw! Fuckin’ geez a shot, or al boot yer fuckin’ baws wee man” 😉
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Fucking beautiful!!
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Haha! By the way, you really should check out Filth. I know your not overly keen on McAvoy but he’s absolutely outstanding in it and I think the humour will be right up your street. It’s funny as fuck. Kate Dickie is in it as well.
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OK – you sold me on Dickie : )
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Believe me, you just might change your mind about McAvoy after this. So far, it’s the best performance I’ve seen all year. Either way, just watch it. If only for Dickie.
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I’ll give it a run when I can get a hold of it : )
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Please do! It’s a real laugh but not without its dark moments either.
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Will do Muckers –
I just finished polishing up our big post for Monday morning!
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Good stuff. I’m ready to go when you are. 🙂
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I have it scheduled for 5 AM my time which is probably around noonish over yonder –
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I’m easy at whatever time, man. I’ll be working but that’s also my blogging time 😉
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Sounds like an interesting movie. Maybe good. Maybe bad. Maybe somewhere in between.
Perhaps I’ll check it out some day so I can judge it on its own merits.
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Sounds like a good plan – you could do MUCH worse than this. I promise.
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Huh huh, Kate “Dickie.”
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You laugh because you love.
And because you’re wearing a dickie to work today.
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With a rubber over it!
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Used!!!!
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Wow the plot for this thing sounds kind of ridiculous. People get released from prison early sometimes, but you don’t have to go bashing yourself in the face with a rock because of it.
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I don’t think there’s any reason to EVER smash yourself in the face with a rock. Nope. No. No. Nope. No.
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What if you had to watch “Devil’s Pond” again?
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LOL!!!! That’s probably a good reason to smash yourself in the face!!
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That van Gogh Doctor Who was good. 🙂 This movie doesn’t sound as good!
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: )
It’s not too bad – a little slow at times but the ending is fantastic-o : )
Just think of all of the Whos you can read on the other site : )
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I need to get on this! Andrea Arnold directed Fish Tank, one of my favourite films! Excellent post :).
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Great!! Let me know what you think about it!
I am currently watching Europa Report!!
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Ahhhhh! Have you seen Europa Report previously, or is this the first time?
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This is the first time – do they ever tell us what happens to Copley’s character??
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I assumed that he is left floating for eternity in space, until he dies of course. Love this film, one if my favourites of the year :).
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I actually just got through that part – I was wondering where he had disappeared too : )
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Well – that was pretty fucking fantastic!
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I know, right?! Such an underrated flick so far this year :). Which did you like better, this or “Last Days On Mars?”
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I don’t think I could pick – they’re both really good – I wasn’t in love with the very end of Europa and I wasn’t in love with a couple of things in Mars – both are worth watching again though : )
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Funny you should say that, I’m watching Mars again today :).
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THUMBS UP!!!
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Yeah, I was a little…um…under some influences watching it the first time. So I just want to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
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LOL!!! I was under some influences when I wrote my review of it : )
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OH FUCK!!!
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Nicely done. I really like the direction this film takes.
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Hey thanks!! This movie isn’t too bad at all –
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I stopped reading when you mentioned spoilers. Do you think this is my kind of movie?
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You know – I don’t know… I know you like some mystery in there and this doesn’t really have that aspect…
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I went and saw the “Carrie” remake yesterday and it was much better than the original; all of the issues I pointed out in that entry i wrote last week were rectified in the remake. I actually think you’d like the remake a lot; it feels very much like your kind of movie. You should give it a rent when it becomes available.
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I had planned on renting it when it comes out simply because I like Moretz so much : )
Thanks for the recommendation!
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Yeah, you’ll love this movie then.
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Awww, Van Gogh!! This sounds really really boring though, dude.
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This one may not be for everyone… : )
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