Calibre

Calibre 2018

Runtime

101 min

Language

English

English

Directed by

Matt Palmer

Matt Palmer

Made by

Netflix

Netflix

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Plot Summary


An aggressive businessman from Edinburgh named Marcus takes his boarding-school friend, Vaughn, on a weekend hunting trip in the picturesque Scottish Highlands. Vaughn, who is soon to be a father, has no prior hunting experience. Their adventure begins at a cozy village pub where they encounter community leader Logan and two young women, Kara and Iona.

After a night filled with dancing and drinks, Marcus unexpectedly spends the night with Kara, ignoring warnings about his reckless behavior. Meanwhile, Vaughn and Iona share a tender moment that quickly dissipates when Vaughn, reminding himself of his responsibilities, pulls back.

As dawn breaks, Marcus rouses a still-hungover Vaughn for their hunt. On their way, Vaughn discovers Marcus has been using cocaine and admonishes him. Just before heading out, Vaughn realizes he left his ammunition behind, compelling Marcus to lend him one of his guns, despite the clear breach of firearms regulations. During the hunt, Vaughn unexpectedly shoots and kills a young boy, hidden from view behind a deer. Grief-stricken, the boy’s father confronts Vaughn, but Marcus intervenes by shooting the father in a panic.

Despite Vaughn’s desire to report the tragic accident, Marcus persuades him that they will be falsely accused of murder. The two men opt to conceal the evidence by hiding the bodies and lying about their hunting location. As they navigate through a complicated web of deceit, Logan expresses a need for help in reviving the economy of the community, while at the same time, a petrol station owner overhears their predicament and raises suspicions that jeopardize their cover.

That night, they bury the bodies and recover the bullets from the boy’s skull at Marcus’s chilling insistence. On the verge of escaping the village, they face additional complications when Marcus’s indiscretions ignite the wrath of Brian, another of Logan’s brothers. When their getaway is thwarted, Vaughn learns the unintended consequences of their actions as it becomes increasingly clear that the boys they killed are connected to the community.

Tension mounts as they become entangled in a growing conflict with the locals, which leads to a frantic search for the hidden bodies. Although Marcus attempts to escape, he leaves Vaughn behind to fend for himself, culminating in a violent confrontation with Brian.

In a shocking turn of events, Vaughn finds himself cornered and faced with an ultimatum—kill Marcus or face dire consequences. As Vaughn struggles with his conscience and the loyalty to his fiancée and unborn child, he ultimately succumbs and takes Marcus’s life under extreme pressure from Brian. Following this gruesome act, the locals cover up their misdeeds, coaching Vaughn on how to mislead the police when they question him.

Months later, Vaughn awakens, cradling his newborn, yet his once joyous face is now marred with the burdens of his haunting past, leaving him a shell of the man he once was, burdened by the decisions that changed his life forever.

Timeline


Weekend Hunting Trip Begins

Marcus, an aggressive businessman, invites his old boarding-school friend Vaughn to a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands. Vaughn, who is about to become a father, is unfamiliar with hunting, setting the stage for an unexpected journey.

Scottish Highlands

First Night at the Pub

Their adventure kicks off at a village pub where they meet Logan, a community leader, along with two local women, Kara and Iona. The evening is filled with dancing and drinks, showcasing the lively spirit of the community.

Village Pub

Marcus's Reckless Night

After a night of revelry, Marcus chooses to spend the night with Kara, disregarding warnings about his reckless actions. Meanwhile, Vaughn shares a meaningful moment with Iona but pulls back, reminded of his impending fatherhood.

Village Pub

Hunting Trip Preparations

As dawn breaks, Marcus wakes a still-hungover Vaughn to prepare for their hunting excursion. Vaughn discovers that Marcus has used cocaine the previous night, raising his concerns about their integrity during the hunt.

Dawn Scottish Highlands

Tragic Accident

During the hunt, a grave mistake occurs when Vaughn accidentally shoots and kills a young boy, who was hidden behind a deer. The boy’s father confronts Vaughn, and in a panic, Marcus shoots the father, escalating the situation.

Scottish Highlands

Cover-Up Decisions

Despite Vaughn's wish to report the incident, Marcus convinces him to conceal the tragic accident, fearing they would be wrongfully accused of murder. They decide to hide the bodies and lie about where the incident took place.

Scottish Highlands

Burial of the Bodies

That night, they dig graves to bury the boy and his father, but the tension rises further as Marcus insists they retrieve the bullets from the boy’s skull. This act of concealment deepens their moral corruption.

Night Scottish Highlands

Growing Suspicion

As they prepare to leave the village, their troubles compound when a petrol station owner overhears their conversation, raising suspicions within the tight-knit community. The stakes increase as they realize their deception may unravel.

Petrol Station

Conflict with the Locals

Tensions escalate with the locals, particularly with Brian, Logan's brother, as they begin to search for the hidden bodies. Vaughn soon finds out that the boys they killed are linked to the community, amplifying the threat they face.

Scottish Highlands

Marcus Abandons Vaughn

Faced with mounting pressure, Marcus attempts to escape, leaving Vaughn to deal with the consequences alone. This creates a pivotal moment where Vaughn is left vulnerable and exposed to the wrath of the locals.

Scottish Highlands

Ultimate Dilemma

Cornered by Brian, Vaughn faces a horrifying ultimatum: kill Marcus or suffer dire consequences. Struggling with his conscience and the loyalty to his family, Vaughn ultimately succumbs to pressure and takes Marcus's life.

Scottish Highlands

Cover-Up Guidance

In the aftermath of Marcus's death, locals step in to assist Vaughn in misleading the police during their questioning. This secrecy attempts to protect him while entangling him further into the web of deceit.

Scottish Highlands

Vaughn's Emotional Burden

Months later, Vaughn awakens with his newborn, a seemingly joyful moment clouded by his past. The weight of his decisions weighs heavily on him, transforming him into a shadow of the man he once was.

Months later

Characters


Vaughn (Jack Lowden)

Vaughn is depicted as a conflicted individual about to become a father, grappling with the moral implications of a tragic mistake. His character arc illustrates a profound transformation from innocence to guilt-ridden contemplation as he faces the dire aftermath of the hunting incident.

👶 Fatherhood 😟 Regret 😱 Innocence Lost

Marcus (Martin McCann)

Marcus is an aggressive and reckless businessman, whose irresponsible actions set the devastating events of the film into motion. His character is a study in manipulation and pressure, showcasing the lengths one might go to protect oneself, despite the moral costs involved.

💼 Ambition 🥃 Recklessness

Kara (Kitty Lovett)

Kara is a local woman whose flirtation with Marcus leads to complications in the narrative. She embodies the tight-knit community's dynamics and becomes entangled in the events that unfold, representing the innocent lives affected by the men's actions.

💃 Community 💔 Heartbreak

Logan (Tony Curran)

Logan, as the community leader, embodies the struggles of the local populace attempting to revive their economy. His involvement highlights the consequences of the actions of Vaughn and Marcus and the impact it has on the village's sense of security and unity.

🗣️ Leadership 📉 Struggle

Setting


Time period

Present Day

The events of the movie take place in the present day, reflecting contemporary issues such as the consequences of reckless behavior and the impact of violence on personal relationships. This modern context amplifies the moral dilemmas faced by the characters.

Location

Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh

The Scottish Highlands are known for their breathtaking landscapes, rich wildlife, and outdoor recreational activities, including hunting. Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is recognized for its historic and architectural landmarks, providing a stark contrast to the remote beauty of the Highlands.

🏞️ Nature 🏙️ City

Themes


💔

Guilt

Guilt is a pervasive theme in 'Calibre,' as Vaughn and Marcus grapple with the devastating consequences of their tragic hunting accident. The burden of their actions weighs heavily on Vaughn, ultimately leading to devastating choices that haunt him long after the events unfold.

⚖️

Moral Ambiguity

The film explores moral ambiguity through the characters’ decisions in the face of disaster. Vaughn finds himself torn between loyalty to Marcus and his own ethical compass, highlighting the complexities of right and wrong in high-stakes situations.

🔪

Betrayal

Betrayal runs deep in 'Calibre,' as trust among friends is shattered under the weight of their shared secret. Marcus's abandonment of Vaughn and the violent choices they are forced to make reflect the darker sides of human nature when confronted with desperation.

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