Hillwalkers ★★½

IT NEVER ceases to amaze how many first-time directors also write and edit their offering.

Irish drama Hillwalkers is the debut from Tom Cosgrove and it’s a mixed bag.

The story is derivative and there are problems with both the structure and pacing, but it does demonstrate a good grasp of both atmosphere and sense of place as well as the overall visual impact.

A group of friends embark on a hike but when one of them is injured they venture onto privately-owned land in search of a shortcut, attracting the ire of the owners.

Why the owners react so furiously is never properly explained and there is a confusingly presented suggestion that they have done similar acts before.

Cosgrove takes too long trying to establish his characters and trying to build empathy with them, but when the conflict reaches its zenith is quite compelling.

There is also an unforgivable error with padding underneath an actor’s jumper clearly noticeable during a scene of violence.