Deathwatch director Michael Bassett goes for more grounded horror territory in this follow-up about a terrorised group of young offenders. On a trip to a “deserted” island with warder Sean Pertwee, a mysterious opponent starts picking them off one by one. Given that archery and dogs are his principal weapons, this has some fairly inventive — not to mention grisly — deaths. But the main interest is in the characters’ struggle to co-operate to survive: not so easy when they’re mostly hot-headed sex offenders and murderers.
While Toby Kebbell is quietly charismatic as self-appointed leader Callum, some of the less experienced actors struggle. But with its brisk pace, bursts of humour and dark commentary on the institutional system, this is a very watchable, Dog Soldiers-style horror.