Salvage: Fear Can Not Be Contained
This was the official website for the 2009 terror movie, Salvage. Content is from the site's 2009 archived pages.
Now there are some folks who love slasher thriller. My brother is one of them. He must have over 100 DVD's of this genre of movie. Actually I stand corrected, he has exactly 111 slasher / horror/ thriller movies on DVDs since I just finished packing them in a box for him and I counted every single one. My brother is moving to the west coast. When he called me to tell me about the move I assumed he would use a well known national long distance carrier. But he surprised me by going with a local family owned Baltimore moving company that he has used before. What does a local moving company know about a long distance move to the west coast no less. Well it turns out that this company, Von Paris Moving & Storage is a full service agent for north American Van Lines and their global network of storage facilities. Von Paris even can coordinate an international move. I guess I'm the ignorant one here. Since my brother has only a 1 bedroom condo worth of household stuff to pack I volunteered to help out. Thus there I was packing up his collection of DVD's. And if you are wondering, he did have Salvage. When I got home that night I looked up Salvage on Rotten Tomatoes to see what the viewers thought of it. I was really surprised to see such high critic reviews and such low audience reviews. My brother said the film was low budget, but the suspense factor was high. He thought it was reasonably entertaining and felt the audience reviews on Rotten Tomato too harsh. I'll take his word for it, since I would never choose to watch this type of film.
Nevertheless, if you have found this site, Salvage might be just the film for you.
Christmas Eve, and the residents of a quiet British cul-de-sac are suddenly plunged into a world of violence, terror and paranoia when a group of heavily armed military personnel storm their road ordering them at gunpoint to retreat inside their homes.
Unsure if this is the sign of a terrorist attack, or something much worse, one local mother finds it in herself to desperately fight to save her estranged daughter stranded across the street. However, with growing dread, the residents soon discover that the threat is more monstrous than any of them could possibly imagine, and survival is no longer a guarantee...
A stunning debut from director Lawrence Gough, featuring an award-winning cast (Neve McIntosh – Best Horror Actress at Fantastic Fest 2009), Salvage is a nail-biting exercise in sheer adrenaline-fuelled fear that will chill you to your very core.
TOMATOMETER 86% Critics | 20% Audience
Rating: NR
Genre: Horror
Directed By: Lawrence Gough
Written By: Colin O'Donnell
In Theaters: Jun 21, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Jul 6, 2010v Runtime: 76 minutes
Studio: Revolver Entertainment
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Salvage (2010)
A movie review by John Chard
The Salvage Savage.
Salvage is directed by Lawrence Gough and written by Colin O’Donnell and Alan Patterson. It stars Neve McIntosh, Shaun Dooley and Linzey Cocker.
It’s Christmas Eve, The Wirral, Merseyside, and 14 year old Jodie is reluctantly spending Christmas with her estranged mother, Beth. But family strife is to be the last of their worries, for soon this small cul-de-sac in the North West of England will become a battle for survival as something is loose and on the kill, and the army has got itchy trigger fingers…
It’s perfectly understandable that some horror lovers come out of watching Salvage immensely disappointed at getting yet another spin on the “creature/infected human/zombie on the loose” formula. There’s nothing exactly fresh here in terms of plotting, but considering the minimalist budget and sparsity of production aids, first time director Lawrence Gough has done a bang up job with this picture. The suspense factor is high, where McIntosh’s (excellent) frantic mother tries to stay alive long enough to rescue her daughter from a house just across the road. Something which sounds simple in premise, but as the film unfolds, this proves to be a tense, fraught and nail biting mission. While the fact that the two main characters have been humanised, deep flaws and all, puts added spice to the survivalist horror.
As Mcintosh and Dooley (very good), the latter a one night stand liaison forced into the battle for survival along with some self examination, prowl around with fear and stoic bravado, themes of paranoia, prejudice and military over-kill slide easily alongside the jolts and blood. Nothing is crowbarred in here, the gore is kept in check and the politico rumblings remain just that, rumblings and not vociferous lectures over the loud speakers. The mystery element remains strong as well, where it’s so nice to see a fledgling director not playing the hand too early. Once the “reveal” comes we are in frantic territory as we literally hurtle through stalk the prey land and finish with a finale that is bleak and deserves credit for having the audacity.
It’s badly under valued on the big internet movie sites, which is a crying shame, because it is damned by familiarity of other genre pieces, where the low budget skill in the film making process doesn’t appear to be taken into consideration. No this is not a terrifying and breakneck paced picture, but it has its moments without doubt and certainly deserves better appraisal notices than those afforded the likes of Creep and the recently awful Storage 24. 7/10
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CAST
NEVE MCINTOSH – BETH
Neve McIntosh trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and began work in theatre productions with the RSC. Her feature film credits include Plunkett & Macleane, The Trouble with Men and Women and One Last Chance. She has won two Best Actress Awards for Salvage - at Austin's Fantastic Fest in September 2009 and Portugal's Fantasporto in 2010.
Her extensive television work has included the UK television series Psychos and Gormenghast opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Her most recent appearance has been the female lead in the very successful series Bodies.
SHAUN DOOLEY – KIERAN
Since winning the Royal Television Society North Award for Best Actor for the military drama Mark of Cain, Shaun Dooley has appeared in several films including UK horrors Eden Lake and Salvage as well as Kandahar Break and the critically-accliamed Red Riding Trilogy.
His prolific Television appearances include roles on The Bill, Coronation Street, Eastenders, The Street and Holby City and he is currently appearing in ITV’s primetime drama Married Single Other as Eddie.
LINZEY CROCKER – JODIE
Hailing from Manchester, Linzey Cocker left school at the age of 16 to join the Laine Johnson Theatre School. Linzey has appeared in the feature films Wild Child and Is There Anybody There? Her appearances in UK TV series include Shameless, The Innocence Project and Drop Dead Gorgeous.
CREW
LAWRENCE GOUGH – DIRECTOR
Salvage marks Lawrence Gough’s debut feature film. He has previously directed some impressive short films through his company Hoax Films and UK Film Council, winning awards including Best in the Northwest and Best Drama, from the Cornerhouse Cinema. He trained as professional actor but his intentions have always been on directing feature films.
He is currently developing his latest film The Drought, an Ecological Horror, which is set in the UK during a global drought.
COLIN O’DONNELL – WRITER
Award-winning writer Colin O’Donnell was discovered during his Screen Writing MA, winning the 2003 Lynda La Plante writing award. As Story Editor for British soap Hollyoaks at Liverpool’s Lime Pictures, he was part of the winning team that scooped Best Storyline at the 2006 Soap Awards. Colin has written several thriller feature film scripts currently in development.
JULIE LAU – PRODUCER
Julie Lau has worked predominantly with digital projects and has a background in music videos. Most recently she worked as production manager on the feature film All Day And All Night. Her drama credits include Daydream and O Jerusalem.
ALAN PATTISON – ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Manchester based Alan Pattison started out directing a wide variety of plays in Manchester theatre, including ‘King Lear’ at the Contact, ‘Rita, Sue and Bob Too’ at the Library, and ‘Abigail’s Party’ and ‘Endgame’ for the Green Room. In the last five years he has gone on to produce films with Lawrence Gough at Hoax Films.
More Background On Salvage
"Salvage," a 2009 British horror film directed by Lawrence Gough, presents a gripping narrative set on Christmas Eve in a suburban cul-de-sac that unexpectedly becomes the scene of a military lockdown after a mysterious container washes ashore nearby. This debut feature by Gough stars Neve McIntosh, Shaun Dooley, and Linzey Cocker, who find themselves trapped and fighting for survival against a monstrous threat.
The film is noted for its effective use of suspense and a minimalistic approach to storytelling, focusing on the residents' growing paranoia and fear. "Salvage" was produced on a modest budget and utilizes the setting of the former "Brookside" soap opera set, marking the last time this location was used before its sale to a private developer. This setting adds a unique, almost claustrophobic feel to the film, enhancing the terror and isolation experienced by the characters.
Critical reception of "Salvage" has been mixed, with some reviewers appreciating the tense atmosphere and McIntosh's intense performance, which earned her the Best Horror Actress award at Fantastic Fest in 2009. However, others have criticized the film for its familiar plot elements and sometimes unclear narrative. Despite these critiques, the film has been praised for its character-driven approach, allowing viewers to feel the confusion and dread of the characters firsthand.
Overall, "Salvage" represents an intriguing entry in the horror genre, particularly for its atmospheric tension and strong central performances. It stands as a testament to low-budget filmmaking, leveraging its constraints to deliver a compact and effective horror experience​.
Popularity
"Salvage" (2009) is a low-budget British horror film that did not achieve significant box office success. The movie had a limited release and garnered modest reviews, which reflected its constrained financial and promotional resources. Despite these limitations, "Salvage" was recognized for its compelling use of suspense and Neve McIntosh's performance, which won her two Best Actress awards in the horror genre. The film's unique use of the Brookside set was noted, but it didn't translate into widespread popularity or financial success​.
Press & Media Coverage
"Salvage," a 2009 British horror film, received a modest level of press and media coverage, reflecting its status as a low-budget independent film. The media highlighted its compelling storytelling and effective suspense, brought out by the directorial debut of Lawrence Gough. Despite its limited release, it garnered some attention for its use of the iconic Brookside set, adding a unique backdrop to the horror narrative. Coverage often focused on the performances, particularly that of Neve McIntosh, whose role was critically acclaimed. The film's marketing efforts were concentrated around its gripping plot and the debut of its new director, which was enough to generate interest within niche horror film circles.
Audience
"Salvage" has had mixed reactions from its audience. Critics generally gave the film favorable reviews, appreciating the suspense and direction, but it received a lower reception from general viewers. The audience scores, such as those on Rotten Tomatoes, show a significant disparity between critic and viewer opinions, with viewers often finding the film less compelling than the critics suggested. This gap may be attributed to the film's genre clichés and modest production values, which might not meet the expectations of some horror enthusiasts.
Known For
"Salvage" is primarily known for its atmospheric tension and effective use of a limited budget to craft a compelling horror narrative. It gained attention for its creative setting, utilizing the old Brookside soap opera set, which added a unique backdrop to the film’s suspenseful story. Additionally, Neve McIntosh’s performance was a standout, earning her critical acclaim and awards. Despite its low budget and limited release, the film is recognized in the horror community for its intense, claustrophobic atmosphere and strong performances.
Cultural & Social Significance
"Salvage" holds cultural and social significance primarily as a piece of independent British cinema that leverages its horror genre to delve into themes of paranoia, isolation, and survival in a contemporary suburban setting. It reflects the anxieties of urban societies post-9/11, touching on fears of terrorism and the repercussions of military intervention. Additionally, it's noteworthy for its use of the Brookside set, symbolically connecting British television heritage with modern cinematic storytelling. The film also discusses the dynamics of estranged familial relationships, showcasing personal conflicts amid societal chaos, thus mirroring the often-complex personal interactions against a backdrop of communal threat.
