Shallow Grave

"What's a little murder among friends?"

1994 1h 33m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 1,212

CrimeThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When David, Juliet, and Alex find their new roommate dead with a large sum of money, they agree to hide the body and keep the cash. However, this newfound fortune gradually corrodes their friendship.

“What's a little murder among friends?”

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Cast

Ewan McGregor
Alex Law
Christopher Eccleston
David Stephens
Kerry Fox
Juliet Miller
Ken Stott
Detective Inspector McCall
Keith Allen
Hugo
Colin McCredie
Cameron
Peter Mullan
Andy
Gary Lewis
Visitor

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Danny Boyle
Writers: John Hodge, John Amabile
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 7.9× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

32 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Danny Boyle, shot by Brian Tufano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Simon Boswell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Masahiro Hirakubo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston and Kerry Fox carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "What's a little murder among friends?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Danny Boyle directs. Brian Tufano behind the camera. Simon Boswell scores. Masahiro Hirakubo cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $2.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Made its money back 7.9× over at the box office.
332 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Directed by Danny Boyle, shot by Brian Tufano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Simon Boswell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Masahiro Hirakubo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston and Kerry Fox carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "What's a little murder among friends?".
9IMDB entry: tt0111149 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 21 themes, including "distrust", "scotland", "roommates", "overdose".

The technical file

Cinematography: Brian Tufano
Original score: Simon Boswell
Editing: Masahiro Hirakubo
Production design: Kave Quinn
Costume design: Kate Carin
Makeup / hair: Graham Johnston
Sound: Brian Saunders
Stunt coordinator: Clive Curtis
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $2,500,000
Box office: $19,779,614
Return: 791% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Shallow Grave (1994)

Awards

BAFTA Award for Best British Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Danny Boyle

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Filipe Manuel Neto2024-02-08
★ 6/10
An interesting film, with qualities, but it could be much better. I think that, at this point, anyone who reasonably knows cinema already knows that Danny Boyle's films are not for all audiences. Perhaps “Slumdog Millionaire” is his most commercial film, capable of reaching more easily the general public, but we only need to think about “Trainspotting” to get an idea of how raw and intense he can be as a filmmaker. He seems to enjoy it, and there's no denying that there's a niche audience for these films. The script takes us to Edinburgh, to the apartment where three young friends live. As often happens among impoverished youth, they divide the rent between them so that they can remain there, and they are looking for a fourth companion because there is still space for another roommate. However, after about a week, the guy they have chosen is found dead next to a huge suitcase full of money. And they are left in a dilemma: should they call the police and tell them everything? After all, they didn't kill him! Or would it be better to hide the body somewhere and keep the money? They really need it… is it worth it? As you can see, the film explores the themes of greed and pettiness, friendship and the way in which something can transform the way people relate, putting an end to friendships and leading to brutal paranoia that feeds on the unconfessable fears of each one. There's something that reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock here. I believe this would be enough for the film to be interesting, but Boyle added a subplot where a group of criminals knows about the money and are looking for it, leaving a trail of bodies wherever they go. The film didn't need this, and it would have been better to invest in the central plot. The biggest problem with this film is that it is not beautiful nor does it have likable characters. On the contrary! They are petty, cynical, unsympathetic and their friendship seems artificial, forced by circumstances. However, this is exactly what the film could explore to the limit. It tries to do so, the tension gradually increases as this happens, but the sub-plot I mentioned introduces itself blatantly and ruins things a bit. In the cast, Chris Eccleston and Ewan McGregor stand out with inspired and slightly insane performances. Their characters called for this expansiveness and both knew how to rise to the challenge, although they sometimes exaggerated. Kerry Fox is not that good and just exaggerates. Boyle has style, but he is not a director skilled at guiding his cast. In addition, we have Keith Allen, who has very little to do, and Ken Stott, relegated to a secondary position and of no great interest to the plot. Technically, the film has frankly positive notes: the set is very well-thought-out, with the production looking for every means to cope with the Franciscan poverty of its budget. The cinematography is good, but not enchanting, and the camera work has its moments of creative inspiration, with original perspectives and some unusual framings. The fast pace reasonably covers up the weaknesses, making the film more fun and palatable. The ending is an effort, but the twist was predictable.
CinemaSerf2024-05-15
★ 7/10
Three flatmates are having some fun recruiting a fourth to share their spacious Glasgow apartment. "Juliet" (Kerry Fox) is a doctor; "Alex" (Ewan McGregor) is a tabloid journalist and finally "David" (Christopher Eccleston) is an accountant. Despite their differences this trio quite effectively rub along together. It's the doc who first meets the enigmatic "Hugo" (Keith Allen) who convinces the gang - thanks largely to his large wad of cash - that he is their perfect fit. He disappears into his room and after a few days of radio silence, they have to break down the door for a vision of him dead on a bed with a suitcase full of loot underneath it! Should they call the police or should they do a bit of DIY body disposal and keep it all? That's the premiss as they take the latter route and find themselves amidst a series of increasingly perilous scenarios that will change them and their relationship for ever. Yes, it's totally far-fetched but the characters work well together as the simplicity of their ideal becomes compromised in a sea of mistrust, greed and kitchen knives. It's the understated Miller who steals this for me, and there's a fun contribution from Colin McCredie as their would be sharer "Cameron" and Ken Stott's policeman "McCall" who has a pretty quirky approach to policing. There are a few plot holes but they don't really matter as this amiably comedic assessment of human nature races along entertainingly for ninety minutes.