Tiger House (2015)

A Major Disappointment

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Don't know how taboo it is to review a movie if you couldn't even watch the majority of it but I'm going to do it anyways. Within about 5 minutes I had to just cut my losses. In those first 5 minutes, a glaringly unbelievable, and for me unacceptable, plot point was established. The main character (didn't make it far enough into the film to find out her name) played by Kaya Scodelario is seen in a cutesy, home-video situation with her boyfriend as they record each other in some field. In this scene, they introduce Kaya's character as being a pretty serious gymnast, or at least seriously dedicated to it. She states that she wakes up early (at 5 am) to train for two hours,daily. She turns down a cigarette when offered, says she doesn't drink either because she has to keep in shape for gymnastics. I will reiterate again, she is maintaining her body because it is necessary for her sport. It's clear, it matters to her...a great deal. After that exchange, cut to her boyfriend pulling out an antique crossbow that he pretentiously claims he had to bring back in pieces from France (I say pretentiously as Kaya's character had previously called him posh, which I believe is synonymous with pretentious). Kaya's character expresses disinterest, and even discomfort with him wielding the crossbow. He proceeds to try to goad her into trying it out. He loads the crossbow and then as anyone who has never and should never wield a crossbow does, he plays around with it inching towards her with it LOADED. The crossbow isn't in frame anymore, Kaya's character is protesting loudly. At this point I paused and wondered, I knew someone was going to be shot but who? I hoped for the idiot boyfriend however, I could not have that simple wish granted. The crossbow misfires and strikes Kaya's character, the gymnast, in the leg. Let me remind anyone reading (doubt it'll be many), it's obvious that gymnasts especially need their legs to do gymnast things. Being shot in the leg by a crossbow at close-range is needless to say, a career-ending injury. Now I'll get to the point that was truly unbelievable, they have their credit intro and then cut to Kaya sneaking into the house of the very boyfriend who had just previously shot her in her leg. I'm sorry but no relationship, even a "crazy" teenage one , could withstand being shot in the leg by a crossbow. Add to that the fact that the counterpart shot in the leg was as stated before a pretty serious gymnast. I just couldn't wrap my mind around how they expected me to believe that the relationship would have continued after something like that. People break off relationships for less, and if there were ever a reason to end it: your significant other shooting you in the leg and essentially ending any and all hopes you had for your career in gymnastics would be a pretty big #1.With that, I could not withstand this film and after reading other reviews I'm glad I didn't continue watching past that point as they all seem to express similar sentiments, it was terrible. It was unfortunate the actors had to deal with material so dismal, but I'm sure whatever check they got was worth it.

Tense, well-crafted home invasion thriller that doesn't, in the end, add much to the genre and doesn't leave much of an impression once it's over. I appreciate that the screenplay by Simon Lewis reaches for some thematic resonance about characters at critical turning points in their lives without belaboring the points or becoming hackneyed, but the character development takes a back seat to the mechanics of a twisty plot that isn't as compelling as it should be. This film has both too much and too little going on. It could have been longer and I wonder if it fell victim to some overzealous pruning. Still, crisp direction by Tom Daley and a good performances all around make this an entertaining watch while it lasts. I just wish I wasn't already starting to forget that I saw it.

Indeed ignore other reviews written. This was a great watch. Kaya Scodelario was awesome and Ed Skrein really impressed me as well. I had seen him before in something I can't really remember and wasn't impressed, so when I heard he was doing the (unnecessary) Transporter reboot I was disappointed, this however was a great edgy performance from him.The whole film by the way was pretty damn edgy. Maybe a couple small holes here and there, sure, but most were adequately explained. I particularly love this type of home invasion, one location, against the odds story done on a shoestring budget. And it brought some old school nailbiting tension as well.I really don't understand the criticism. Of course this story has been done before, but this one definitely had it's own originality. This combined with gorgeous photography, a gorgeous leading tough girl, and an overall great cast, always nice to see Dougray Scott in action, he's just great at dying slowly, made for an excellent exiting watch. 7/10

**spoiler**Preview makes it sound that the "gymnast" girlfriend will save the day. The only "gymnastics" in the movie was her flopping on a bed from a windowsill. Clearly no athletic ability there so I move on. The over acting on not one but all actors in this film was laughable. Trying to be silent while hiding under a bed for half the movie isn't hard to do. but when you are dramatically and loudly banging your head against the floor and breathing hard like your choking to death isn't good acting.DougRay Scott has held his own with a good list of movies under his belt so he must have owed someone a favor for this pile of smelly rubbish. From the ending it seemed they just kind of gave up on the script and walked away. Beating a dead horse just a little too long it seems. So pile millions of perfectly cut money into a Mini Cooper and drive away. Keep holding that breath for the call about the Oscar nod. It's coming any minute now. Wait for it...