This Christmas I decided to buy The Road (2009) on DVD for pretty much every single member of my family.
Boring? No. Everybody has to see this. It's one of the best adaptations from a novel of the past ten years, maybe more.
Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalypto-depresso follows a man and his young son as they traverse the charred landscape of North America. Their aim: to survive. Of what few people are left on earth, most are desperate and violent. Gangs of cannibals roam around looking for survivors.
John Hillcoat's film evokes every ounce of the novel's escalating desperation. He focusses on the humanity of the characters, drawing mood from the hellish environment on their sombre, almost hopeless journey.
At times the film is horrific. At times it is beautiful.
Not one too cheer you up, though.
I'd strongly advise that you read the novel first. If you're adverse to literature, I can assure you that it is short and the language is very sparing. You don't want to go into the book knowing what happens.
If you're not going to read the book, however, then nothing shall be taken away from your experience of this brilliant, brilliant film.
(psssssssssst! Only six quid in Tescos!)
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