The Road (2009)

The Road is based on the best selling novel by Cormac McCarthy, the story follows a man and his son fighting to survive in a post apocalyptic world. The main characters are given no names, just the Man and the Boy, highlighting how they could be anyone, from anywhere, from any place. Armed with a rifle with only 2 bullets, and a trolley carrying anything useful they can find, the outlook for the two characters is bleak. Their aim is to travel across the country to the south to try and escape the oncoming winter, but they have to face many obstacles on their way. There is hardly any food at all, there are no animals or vegetation; the weather is awful and cold; and worst of all many of the few remaining survivors have turned to cannibalism. John Hillcoat has brilliantly adapted McCarthy's novel onto the screen, widely staying true to the story whilst also implementing his own vision and ideas to the film. I found that the best moments of the film were with just the father and son. The Boy is constantly worried about who are the 'goodies and the baddies', and the Man reassures him by telling the Boy that the goodies "carry the fire inside of them". The performance by Viggo Mortensen is a long way from Aragon but he brilliantly portrays a man with nothing, the sole reason for his existence relies on his need to protect his son. The Boy, Kodi Smit-McPhee, is equally good, especially for such a young actor with such a large role. The Road is a brilliant but harrowing film which will haunt you long after viewing. It also makes you think a lot, asking yourself questions about what you would do in such a horrendous situation and what if that was your future? If you are in the mood to be thoughtful and thoroughly depressed watch the Road. Although it is great, the outlook is so bleak and so miserable that by the end of the film you will be in pieces, so be prepared with some tissues and some ice cream!