Driftwood * (1997, James Spader, Anne Brochet) – Classic Movie Review 12,102

James Spader drifts out of luck with the arty-farty 1997 Misery clone thriller film Driftwood. 

Director Ronan O’Leary’s 1997 UK/ Irish thriller film Driftwood is based on a novel by Richard M Waring, and stars James Spader, Anne Brochet, Barry McGovern, and Anna Massey.

Director Ronan O’Leary’s 1997 thriller Driftwood is an arty-farty Misery clone, with an amnesiac man (James Spader) washed up on a remote Irish beach, and tended back to health by lonely sculptor Sarah (Anne Brochet), who won’t let him leave.

The okay premise starts the film off well, but it disintegrates fast as the contrived story drifts. Spader is fine in an intelligent, compelling performance. But Brochet seems dislocated, unconnected and uninvolved, though to be fair she is playing a woman on the verge of madness. And poor Anna Massey has a thankless task as her ghost of a mother.

Also in the cast are Barry McGovern, Aiden Grenell, Kevin McHugh, John Cleere.

It is written by Richard M Waring, based on his novel.

Driftwood is directed by Ronan O’Leary, runs 100 minutes, is made by Deadwood, Goldcrest Films and Setanta, is released by Blue Dolphin (UK), is written by Richard M Waring, based on his novel, is shot by Billy Williams, is produced by Mary Breen-Farrelly, is scored by John Cameron, and designed by Tim Hutchinson.

Release date: March 28, 1997 (UK).

It was shot in March 1995 on location in County Wicklow, Ireland, and Aran Islands, County Galway, Ireland, and in the studio at Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,102

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