The Cottage

2008

The Cottage

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

The Cottage Photos

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Movie Info

A criminal scheme gone wrong is just the start of a string of life-threatening bad luck in this darkly comic thriller. David (Andy Serkis) and Peter (Reece Shearsmith) are a pair of second-rate criminals who are eager to make a big score and think they've come up with the formula for a perfect crime. David works for a wealthy local businessman named Arnie who dotes on his teenaged stepdaughter Tracey (Jennifer Ellison), and so with the help of Arnie's slacker son Andrew (Steven O'Donnell), he and Peter kidnap the girl and demand a hefty ransom for her safe return. But Tracey puts up far more of a fight than David and Peter ever expected, and when Andrew picks up the ransom only to discover they've been given a decoy instead of cash, the would-be kidnappers have no clue what to do next. But this problem seems like small potatoes when the owner of the seemingly abandoned cottage where they're holed up unexpectedly returns -- he turns out to be a hideously deformed lunatic with a murderous temper and a bitter hatred of trespassers.

Rating:

R
Genre:

Horror
Directed By:

Paul Andrew Williams
Written By:

Paul Andrew Williams
In Theaters:

Feb 7, 2008 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Jun 3, 2008
Runtime:

91 minutes
Studio:

Screen Gems

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Cast

Andy Serkis
as David

Reece Shearsmith
as Peter

Jennifer Ellison
as Tracey

Steve O'Donnell
as Andrew

Steven O'Donnell

Simon Schatzberger
as Steven

Dave Legeno
as The Farmer

Katy Murphy
as Farmer's Wife

Doug Bradley
as Old Man

Jonathan Chan-Pensley
as Chun Yo Fu

Johnny Harris
as Smoking Joe

Logan Wong
as Muk Li San

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News & Interviews for The Cottage

UK Box Office Breakdown: 10,000 B.C. claims no. 1 spot

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Critic Reviews for The Cottage

All Critics (18) | Top Critics (6) | DVD (1)

lively if programmatic horror pic

Mar 17, 2008 | Full Review…

Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic
Nice performances from Shearsmith and Serkis, and some outrageous ketchupy grossout, though I have to say The Cottage has nothing like the rigour, originality or power of Williams's debut.

Mar 14, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
Top Critic
This film is fabulously deranged.

Mar 14, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

James Christopher
Times (UK)
Top Critic
This is cartoon carnage with a slightly surreal twist - most notably in Peter's encounter with a swarm of moths - but the developing bond between the brothers makes it surprisingly poignant too. All things considered, you'll forgive the shaky parts.

Mar 14, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
Top Critic
Andy Serkis shouts a lot, as if raising the decibel level will compensate for the dire dialogue, while Jennifer Ellison displays more cleavage than acting ability.

Mar 14, 2008 | Rating: 1/6 | Full Review…

Nigel Floyd
Time Out
Top Critic
If there's a more depressing release this year then God help us all.

Mar 12, 2008 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

Matt Glasby
Little White Lies
Top Critic
The Cottage is a film that knows how to play to its strengths, namely making the most of its modest budget and not even attempting to break the B-movie glass ceiling.

Oct 14, 2012 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Ali Gray
TheShiznit.co.uk
'The Cottage' doesn't have enough horror to satisfy horror fans and not enough comedy to satisfy everybody else.

Jun 17, 2008 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

Lucius Gore
ESplatter
The degree to which the movie is redeemed by its impossible-to-anticipate third act is consequently quite staggering...

Jun 8, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
The Cottage, against the odds, makes a better caper movie than gore flick.

May 12, 2008 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

Bryant Frazer
Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus
Broad comedy and splattery horror are a pretty tough combo to pull off, but if anyone can do it ... the British can.

May 9, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Scott Weinberg
Cinematical
an expertly witty, often hilarious gorefest

May 4, 2008 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Jay Antani
Jaman

View All Critic Reviews (18)

Audience Reviews for The Cottage

Aug 16, 2011

Wow...that's not what I expected. So, this is a british dark comedy film that has plenty of good bloody moments. The humor was pretty funny, and the story was good...the only problem is that this was definately, a "Hatchet Wanna-be." They copied Hatchet a little too much, with the same humor, and even the same death scenes! It was still good, though. Hope for a sequel, an hope it's not another "Hatchet II Wanna-be."

Jacob P Super Reviewer
May 15, 2010

starring Andy Serkis The guy that played Pinhead is in here as well. Well at least what is suppose to be scarry in it, you MIGHT flinch. Oh that face. Mm tell me do you think this one or leatherface is scarier? The foul mouth girl gave me a laugh a few times with the slew of insults she spews, but eventually that gets tired & sounds like it?s the same lines over & over. Basically it?s a bit of a ?silly? comedy Horror. Which is cool. (I don?t often find/hear of horror comedies) C

Kym (c my community profile) R Super Reviewer
Mar 26, 2010

Funny yet scary horror movie. I like it.

Dead A Super Reviewer
Mar 18, 2010

First things first. Reece Shearsmith's character in The Cottage was one of the most annoying characters I've ever encountered in a movie. All his spineless cringing, screaming, and his general uselessness, made me want to climb somehow into the movie and kill him. Yes, I know the character was intentionally written that way, and in no manner is this a criticism of the movie. I'd actually like to commend the director, writer(s), and Reece himself, for creating such a thoroughly annoying character. Now, on to the review. I liked the first half of The Cottage more than the second. The initial half was fairly humorous, and gave off an enjoyably creepy vibe. I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of some vague threat, while gleefully cheering for Ellison's rather intimidating prisoner. Serkis was also in fine form, as his character struggled to salvage some kind of plan amidst the overwhelming incompetence of his cohorts. The second half of the movie is basically a decidedly average slasher-film. Not awful, but nothing special. I found myself missing the humor of the first 40 minutes. Depending on your preference for that genre, you may end up liking The Cottage more than I did. It only came to my attention because of the presence of Jennifer Ellison, but I'm glad that I ended up seeing it.

Lewis C Super Reviewer