I like Robert Carlyle, I like Guy Pearce, and there’s some really horrific stuff in this film, but I have to be honest, the musical score kept ejecting me from the film.

Beyond that it’s a tightly crafted film about cannibals, using the story of the Donner Party as a loose launching point.

Guy Pearce is Boyd, a soldier who is suffering because of his cowardice. His superior officer, Slauson (John Spencer) sends him to a remote northern California outpost. It’s overseen by Hart (Jeffrey Jones) and is manned by a skeleton crew during the winter.

When a stanger, Ives (Carlyle) is found, he tells a terrifying tale of an expedition that fell upon hard times, and devolved into cannibalism. Ives is the only survivor. And he leads them right into a trap. Preparing to continue his feasting. And from there begins a deadly cat-and-mouse game, a test of wills, and surprises.

Tying in with the mythology of the wendigo, Ives and Boyd are forced to go toe-to-toe, as Ives tempts Boyd with food, but he’ll have to kill for it. And Boyd, he struggles with his own cowardice, will to survive, and a drive to stop Ives.

It’s well-made, and the cannibalistic moments are handled incredibly well, and Carlyle turns in an unnerving performance. There’s also a solid supporting cast that includes Jeremy Davies, Neal McDonough and David Arquette.

Bird directs the film with a sharp eye, and an engaging narrative. It’s just that score. Towards the end, the score begins to work, but early on, it lends itself to a little but of quirky silliness. Not that it isn’t enjoyable, Blur’s Micheal Nyman and Damon Albarn now music, I just don’t think it always works for the film.

Beyond that, everything else feels like it works. The location, the performances, the costumes, the gore, it all works, and Carlyle is a scene-stealer, but that stunt of leaping off the cliffside… jaw-dropping.

Pearce is nicely reserved, a tightly coiled spring that you know is going to break before the film’s end.

It’s not great, but it was good. And the cast is incredibly solid, Pearce and Carlyle always turn in great performances, and this time out is no exception.

This is a bit of a shorter review, I just didn’t want to give too much away. If you want something rough and tumble, and don’t mind an eccentric score, this one may be for you. And don’t forget that cast!