In this rural fishing community in Scotland, the ocean is master. Respect for the sea runs deep (no pun intended) as generation after generation pass down folklore of the “devil in the ocean” to their children. This omniscient figure is the catalyst for the independent film, For Those In Peril- a surreal, slow-burning story about coping with loss and the internal struggle of letting go and moving on.

This dark drama focuses on a small community in Scotland and their inability to cope with tragedy. After a mysterious accident at sea (that is never shown, but alluded to), a town mourns for the “presumed” deaths of their friends and loved ones. What can only be assumed as a boating accident gone awry- five men are considered dead. Aaron (George Mackay), the only survivor, doesn’t remember the accident or its cause and faces community backlash and resentment for his survival. Only his mother Cathy (Kate Dickie) and his late brother’s girlfriend (Nichola Burley) support him as Aaron believes his brother and the rest of the crew are somewhere out in the ocean just waiting to be rescued. This stress forces Aaron into an existential crisis, and on the brink of disaster.

[George Mackay’s] performance as lone survivor Aaron is powerful and raw; his pain is felt with his every move and his boy-next-door looks captivate.

BAFTA award winning director Paul Wright brings to the screen a story about love and loss while creating this ominous entity that is the ocean. Wright brings a unique voice to the film; incorporating character’s “home videos” as flashbacks and subtle touches of the “found footage” technique to cinematically shake the linear story up cinematically. The dialogue was rather unconventional as well- at times, Peril feels as if it’s packaged like a news story as Wright relies heavily on interviews with the aforementioned b-roll to move the story along. It’s different, but it works well with this type of film.

However, an interesting story is nothing without a talented cast, and George Mackay truly carries the weight of this film on his back. His performance as lone survivor Aaron is powerful and raw; his pain is felt with his every move and his boy-next-door looks captivate.  

For Those In Peril won Best Picture at the 2013 Scotland BAFTA Awards, and George Mackay took home the best actor award, as he should have. A widespread release isn’t set yet, but it is showing at smaller theaters and is definitely worth seeking out.