MovieChat Forums > Safe House (2015) Discussion > It's grim oop north

It's grim oop north

posted 9 years ago by catpetal-1
8 replies | jump to latest

Am I right in my conclusion that this safe house was intended to be a B and B? Had they finished painting it, ready for paying guests, or was it yet to be painted.

Because it's the grimmest b and b I've ever seen, with grunge green on the walls, and curtains to match. It's hardly bathed in a golden glow, like much of Broadchurch - yet the Lake District is gorgeous, and many of its hotels and b and b absolutely top notch.

Is it therefore to show jus exactly how grim up north truly is?

I love Chris Eccleston, I think he's a fantastic actor - but if that's his taste in paint ...

[–] ib011f9545i 9 years ago

It is meant to be a niche sort of place,the selling point is that it has few mod cons,but I don't know if such a set up is really realistic,even if you are into outdoor stuff you might want a nice place to relax at night?

Would a place like this ever make any money?

I am liking this show,I don't trust anybody and I think that there are going to be some surprises as it goes on.

[–] catpetal-1 9 years ago

Shabby chic, eh, with emphasis on the shabby?

Having lived in Cumbria for 12 years, it's not always blowing a gale/raining/dark/dreary and whatever else. It's a small niggle in the scheme of things, but it's Atmosphere with a capital A, Doomy music with a capital D, and though I'm usually highly uncritical of stuff I like, this is something I wanted to like, love the actors, adore the place - but - but - it's so cliché. I've stayed in a number of places in Cumbria, and they've all been absolutely delightful, "light and airy", as the cliché goes.

Hey ho. I'll stick with it, but I'm on the edge of being one of the 700,000 who saw it in week 1 and departed before week 2. Which is a shame, really. If they'd just dialled back slightly on the grunge, I think that would have been more honest.

[–] ib011f9545i 9 years ago

You don't live in Penrith then.

[–] catpetal-1 9 years ago

No - but I know it well. I used to live near Grange over Sands.

Penrith is a good deal better than it used to be... Now, if you were talking about Shap, I think one might possibly have some grounds for comparison. Except that even there, I bet they don't paint the walls dark grunge.

[–] ib011f9545i 9 years ago

1983,I was unemployed and was on an demonstration marching from Glasgow to London.
We arrived in Penrith and this hotel landlord came out and told he would not serve us drink he "DID NOT WANT ANY FREEDOM MARCHERS"in his bar.
Had a negative view of Penrith ever since.

I suppose they have to play up the remoteness and the gloom to make the story work but the Lake District always feels less remote than much of the Scottish Highlands.

[–] catpetal-1 9 years ago

Well, Cumbrians are a tight-knot group, wary of offcomers. And have long defended themselves against marauding Scots - reivers and the like. Not that I'm suggesting you're a reiver.

But yes, that's not a nice way to greet honest travellers.

It is a nicer, brighter place now, though not the easiest place to park. Has the most wonderful bookshop, and, for me, a very nice fabric shop.

Agreed. I think the landscape actually looks great, and I loved it on dark days and sunny ones. I think I'm only really concerned about the interior of his bed and breakfast - perhaps they simply haven't finished painting?

[–] ib011f9545i 9 years ago

the whole b and b thing seemed unrealistic,the whole plot is unrealistic but never mind.
How can we mention PENRITH without mentioning WITHNAIL AND I?

But I like the Lake District.

[–] jwkfh 9 years ago

I got the impression the place was just a personal house owned by a cop who got shot and his wife. The cop was asked to take care of the family by his previous boss, who was just trying to give him something to do whilst providing an out of the way safe house for the family who needed protection. I don't think Christopher E was ever going to open a B&B he was just staying to himself after being shot.
If this series is only going to be 4 episodes it's not worth watching. It is slow moving and once you get invested in the characters it will be over. Why British programs are so short I'll never understand. If your going to make a plodding 4 episode series, don't bother, just speed things up and make an hour and a half movie and be done with it. Can't English television companies be creative enough to make a show that lasts a few seasons with 20-24 episodes per season. It seems like 10 episodes is the limit, (IE: Downton Abbey), with most being 6(IE: Peaky Blinders)...