I’d not read Cormac McCarthy’s book before seeing this film so didn’t know much about it, apart from the fact it was a post-apocalyptic road movie with Viggo Mortenson. I’m quite partial to a PA film, whether it is utopian or dystopian, because either way it serves as a commentary on the world around us; road movies are usually good too and Viggo is a good actor so I went thinking it would be entertaining. Boy did I get that wrong. The world of THE ROAD is probably closer to the reality of PA than most movies as it is simply about people surviving in a barren landscape, and survival is the heart of the story as the father and his son go in search of a safe place to live, although the story is more about the relationship between the two than the journey.
This is a finely crafted movie with an excellent performance from Viggo, and fine direction and cinematography, but it is unbearably bleak. Even the little glimmer of hope at the end was not enough to make me feel better. If you do go see it just make sure you take some upbeat summery music with you, or go see something bright and cheerful afterwards, especially at the moment when the streets are covered in dirty slush.
THE ROAD is out now from Icon