Gone to Ground
August 25th, 2026
MOVIE: GONE TO GROUND
STARRING: MELISSA DE MOL, ALAN BRECK, ALASTAIR THOMSON MILLS
DIRECTED BY: PHIL PEEL
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 1 STAR (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 116 MINUTES
The plot of Gone to Ground could be serviceable, something that a horror director could turn into a terrifying scenario. I suppose that is a statement that could be made about any movie, where, in the hands of someone else, a few touch-ups to the script and a bigger budget could help anything. I’m not so sure about Gone to Ground, an odd and truly disjointed thriller about two people finding one another under unexpected circumstances and developing an unusual friendship in the process. Some movies just can’t be saved.
The story starts with a car crash in the countryside of England. Behind the wheel is Magda (Melissa De Mol), a Polish woman fleeing from the pursuit of ruthless gangster Justin (Alastair Thomson Mills). An elderly man named Guy (Alan Breck) is the only person around to help save her from the wreck- a feat that is both implausible and hilarious- as he drags her out of the car and into his home. The dainty man tends to her, cleans her wounds, and tries to give her food. When she comes to, she is abrasive and rude, unsure of where she is. Her injuries force her to stay longer (why an ambulance or a trip to the hospital isn’t an option is beyond me), and we get to witness the relationship between this odd pairing grow.
Written and directed by Phil Peel, the premise of Gone to Ground has a bit of Misery mixed with incompetent filmmaking. The narrative seems designed to be a sweet pairing of the crude prostitute and the reclusive WWII vet, as he teaches her how to chop wood (for some reason?) and she teaches him Polish swear words. The problem, however, is that everything about Peel’s film is a mess. The dialogue between the two characters will irritate anyone, with De Mol’s thick accent and Breck’s lack of energy. The editing is a choppy mess, and the majority of the film consists of the two characters having uninteresting conversations.
At the core, there seems to be a sweet story behind the film, as Peel based the character of Guy on his father. What might have worked is a story about two opposites coming together and creating a genuine friendship. It works in Tuesdays with Morrie. Here, it is constantly awkward, as the film jumps from the two leads connecting to Justin searching for Magda, making pointless phone calls, and eventually confronting her when he finds her. The ending is a hilarious mess of bad fighting and overacting.
As I typically say, I never want to hate a movie, and that sentiment is no different with Gone to Ground. Unfortunately, I hated this film. There is little to praise and far more to admonish. This is simply a poorly directed film with unskilled actors and a low-budget production that truly sinks it. Gone to Ground should be buried under the ground.
1 STAR
GONE TO GROUND IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON TUBI.
Written by: Leo Brady
