Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This was well acted especially by the two female leads. However, the twists were overdone...especially Celia Imrie as a Psycho. She being a doctor how come she did not know Mr Van Huet was properly dead!?Other characters, Sophie ward's first husband and his second wife didn't instill belief, when all others did. Also, Mr Van Huet also became a sudden Psycho, killing Michael Elphick(not wholly sure why, was Mr Elphick in on his "death") and, so the viewer, may believe at the end going to kill Sophie Myles.If it had not gone slightly over the top and crappy other characters, it could have been a really eerie/mystery film in the old Gothic style.It's a shame to the male world that Sophie Ward is a lesbian. But Overall enjoyable.

A couple of years ago I did manage to speak to writer/director Merlin Ward who like nearly every British screenwriter was having problems getting money for his projects and was suffering the heart breaking experience of seeing his screenplays sitting on a shelf gathering dust , so when I heard one of his projects was finally going into production I felt happy for the guy . Alas after seeing OUT OF BOUNDS I found myself asking couldn't one of Merlin's other scripts have been more deserving of funding ? Some people haver mentioned that the look of the film is at fault and the whole feel of the movie has that made for television look similar to one of those feature length plays found on ITV during 9pm on a Sunday night . This is certainly true but it's the screenplay that's at fault . The story starts with an art teacher at an all girls school having sex with Louise one of the pupils . It should be pointed that Louise is 18 and well above the age of consent but I couldn't help thinking this doesn't make it all right in anyway and I watched this the same day as a certain Scottish football team revealed that their new coach was someone who spent time in jail for having sex with a 15 year old so sure as heck I wasn't going to empathise with the characters Problem number one: I couldn't empathise with the characters but that's not the major problem with the script which lies in its contrived over complicated nature in the last third . Rmember when you saw RETURN OF THE KING in cinemas ? Remember everyone started reaching for their jackets and handbags half an hour before the final credits ? We have a whole series of similar false endings here where you think the mystery has been cleared up then BANG Mr Ward decides an already over cluttered screenplay isn't complicated enough so he adds yet another plot twist which makes the story more and more ridiculous as it trundles along Merlin I hope you make a success of your career but remember one thing - Less is more

This film is well acted, especially by it's two attractive leads, Sophie Ward and Sophia Miles. Two better known actors, at least to me, are in support roles - Celia Imrie and Michael Elphick.The action takes place in a remote location (a girl's boarding school during the holidays) and has an Agatha Christie's 'Ten Little Indians' / 'And Then There Were None' atmosphere to it. The twists come thick and fast and I believe too often. The film seems to slip in and out of being a supernatural thriller and in the end I am unsure whether it was supposed to be or not. Perhaps a second viewing would tie up a few loose ends.I have scored this movie 5/10 but it deserves higher for it's acting.Spoilers: The character Michael Elphick played was introduced as such an unimportant, yet filler role, that a British audience would expect he would have an impact on proceedings later on. He did, but in a story of so many twists, it impact was diluted.

Wow, what can I say? This film was superb. With a young lady trapped in a whirling story with 2 other ladies, with a dark past to hide, and about her affairs, despairs and strives for life and truth. In a creaky old 'lady's school', it provided the eerie setting for the murders that were to take place. With twists and suspense, and a fine, fine plot, this film will have you gripped. With its stunning mix of complex mysteries and murders to boot, this film was a thrill a minute to watch. Excellent acting skills and the most precise timing I have ever seen in a film really brought it together. I urge any of you people out there reading this to see it, as I hope to again. And hey, why not email me about what you think? Maybe you agree/disagree with my comments? I guess I'll see.