The Secret Path (2014 film)
A homo-erotic film by director Richard
Mansfield
[Official British DVD release]
Outstanding
near mint condition throughout (barely used).
Rare British
DVD release of this cult gay interest period drama.
Originally bought from a British retailer. Beware of fake DVDs.
[My ref: 2141]
Details
Is discontinued by manufacturer :
Unknown
Rated
: Suitable for 18 years
and over
Language
: English
Package
Dimensions : 19 x 13.6 x 1.4 cm; 10 g
Director
: Richard Mansfield
Media Format
: PAL
Run time
: 1 hour and 17 minutes (77
min)
Release date
: 13 Oct. 2014
Actors
: Darren Bransford,
Miguel Campbell-Lewis, Daniel Mansfield, Henry Regan
Studio
: Tla Releasing
Producers
: Daniel Mansfield,
Richard Mansfield
MPN : TLAUK214 / LTA UK 214
Country of origin
: United Kingdom
Writers
: Richard Mansfield
Number of discs
: 1
Best Sellers Rank: 70,239 in DVD & Blu-ray (See Top 100
in DVD & Blu-ray)
453 in Gay,
Lesbian & Transgender
18,890 in Drama
(DVD & Blu-ray)
Customer reviews: 2.9 out of 5 stars (75 ratings)
Description
The year is 1810. Frank and Theo are in love and on the run
from the British Navy. There is a war on and they have escaped their home on
The Rose, the ship where they met to live the rest of their lives together.
They hide out in the grounds of a large abandoned house in the English
countryside. Their new hiding place may be even more dangerous than life in the
Navy. Theo keeps seeing a dark and sinister figure watching them in the grounds
and haunting his dreams. Only their love can save them.
Additional
Info (copied from rear of case)
A unconventionally bold love story. Theo and Frank are on
the run from the British Navy in the 1800s. They hide in the grounds of an
abandoned country house- and quickly learn that it's more than their former
life they are running from. A strikingly original British queer feature, The
Secret Path is like nothing you've seen before.
SPECIAL FEATURES / EXTRAS / BONUS MATERIAL
- Audio Commentary track
- Deleted Scenes
- Director’s Intro
- Cast/Crew Interviews
Review(s)
While indie gay cinema has become more diverse in recent
years, the genres it’s dipped its toes into are still limited, largely because
the often minuscule budgets tend to limit what you can do in arenas such as
sci-fi or action. Another genre we very rarely get is period drama, but
writer/director Richard Mansfield has found a way to do it by making a film
that’s set totally in a forest with only four people ever seen – and just two
of them on-screen for 95% of the time. As a result he can do period drama just
with costume and character.
In the early 1800s Frank (Darren Bransford) and Theo (Henry
Regan) have escaped the Navy and washed up on the shore. They are now on the
run from the press gangs and hiding in the woods near a large country house.
They plan to get by on crime, perhaps as highwaymen or grave robbers.
Mostly though they seem pleased to be alone and able to be a
couple who are deeply in love, away from the disapproval of society. However
soon Theo starts to see a strange figure lurking in the trees, as well as
dreaming about a man he once knew called Thomas (Miguel Campbell-Lewis) who
warns him about the devil and the need to get away as the evil place they’re
in.
Frank can’t see anything and doesn’t think anything is
wrong, but Theo’s fears grow as he starts to see more and more omens. However,
is he just losing his mind or is there really something to be scared of?
The Secret Path certainly isn’t a straightforward film, and
if you’re the sort of person who likes to know exactly what’s going on at all
points in a movie, you’ll find it an extremely frustrating experience. Much of
it is strange, rather creepy and it’s unclear what’s going on. Sometimes this
goes too far and it starts to feel like the movie is obfuscating for its own
sake rather than because it’s actually adding anything. Indeed there’s
something a little student-filmmaker about a lot of it, from the shaky camera
to stabs at depth about things that don’t really seem that deep.
In the opening credits it says the dialogue was improvised
by the cast, based on a story by Richard Mansfield. The actors do a good job
and are generally very likeable, but a stronger hand was needed to keep things
on track, so that the viewer is less likely to wonder whether the film is
either stalling for time or if even it’s unsure what it’s all about.
However the real heart of the film is Theo and Frank, and
the power of their relationship. It’s not that often that a gay-themed film is
made where no matter what happens, the main characters never question their
feelings for each other. On this score the film is quite strong with the actors
really throwing themselves into the roles of two men who have a deep, abiding
love for one another.
The Secret Path is a film with ambition and plenty of rough
talent, but when it steps away from the main couple to the weird shenanigans in
the woods it loses track of itself, and even at the end many people will be
left scratching their heads. Is it supernatural? Is the posh-looking man Theo
keeps seeing real? Are they in limbo? Did they ever really wash up on the
beach? In the way of many things since TV’s Lost made it trendy, the film sets
up a lot of mystery that feels like it ought to be explained in the next
instalment, but of course it’s unlikely we’ll ever get any more explanation.
Overall Verdict: The central romance is strong and the
actors are certainly likeable, but when The Secret Path tips into slightly
metaphysical thriller mode it comes a little unstuck. It offers plenty of
intrigue but even it seems confused about where the secret path is leading. Shows promise - Richard Mansfield is definitely
a Director to watch in the future…