Get Duked!

Get Duked! is a 2019 exuberant dark comedy, adventurous and satirical film directed by Ninian Doff. The film is a bold mix of genre blending humor, element of horror and coming of age adventure. The film's inventive storyline, engaging screenplay, and lively performances by the lead cast including Lewis Gribben, Rian Gordon, Viraj Juneja, and Samuel Bottomley, makes it a unique and must-watch cinema.

The narrative takes us into the heartland of the Scottish Highlands, where three perennially underachieving high school friends embark on an eccentric wilderness journey. The film begins with Dean (Rian Gordon), Duncan (Lewis Gribben) and DJ Beatroot (Viraj Juneja), being drafted into the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme by their well-meaning teacher (Jonathan Aris). This course is meant to develop the life skills of youngsters and is portrayed in the film as a traditional means of molding the undisciplined city kids into responsible societal beings. However,hapless lot enter into the award scheme cluelessly, unaware of the selfish interests of the person guiding them.

Accompanying them is a homeschooled, nerdy teenager, Ian (Samuel Bottomley), hoping that his Duke of Edinburgh Award will serve as a ticket to his dream of joining the university. This quartet traverse the journey in high spirits yet unprepared, soon realizing that instead of the wild creatures, they need to fear the pasty-faced, elder gentry duo (veteran comedians Eddie Izzard and Georgie Glen) who want to hunt them down for sport.

The raw juxtaposition of urban youngsters against the rural Scottish wilderness becomes the unique twist in the film. The highlands turn out to be a place of bizarre and unforgettable experiences for the city youngsters as they grapple to find their way out of the wild landscape, fighting for survival against the elusive hunters and coming across peculiar characters over the course of their journey.

The character arcs in Get Duked! are brilliantly laid out. Each of the four main characters has a distinctly endearing personality. Dean, the leisurely unconventional leader; Duncan, the most dim-witted yet well-meaning companion; DJ Beatroot, an eccentric, self-obsessed budding rapper, and Ian, the sensible kid who initially seems out of place but grows through their adventures. The great camaraderie and chemistry between these four young actors are among the movie's many strengths.

The film cranks out a plethora of ideas, from high-concept social satires to low-brow toilet humor, and wraps it all in a purely comedic and horror style of storytelling. The quintessential British humor is interspersed with bits of hip hop and rap, making for an extremely entertaining soundtrack. The director, Ninian Doff, incorporates surreal moments of soundtrack sequences that build up the character of DJ Beatroot and adds an extra layer of absurdness to the storytelling.

The movie's humor balances well with the horror, never making it too scary or too silly but a perfect blend of both. The pacing is consistent, there is always something unpredictable happening on the screen, and the 87-minute runtime flies by in a flash. The stunning cinematography by Patrick Meller accentuates the expressive landscape of the Scottish Highlands, making it a character in itself in the narrative.

Get Duked! is much more than a conventional adventure comedy. It's a wild, exhilarating rollercoaster ride brimming with satire, horror, mischief, laughs, and socio-political commentary. It's about friendship, trials of growing up, the power of teamwork, and the age-old clash between authority and rebellious youth.

Director Ninian Doff's transition from music videos to his debut feature film is impressive. His approach is slick, his storytelling is sharp, and his handling of the young cast is praiseworthy. Get Duked! is indeed a joyride that ticks all the right boxes, promising a zany yet thrilling movie-watching experience that's pure fun from start to finish.