The Silent Storm

In this modestly scaled 1950s-set drama, stern Calvinist minister Balor (Damian Lewis) resolves to stay on a remote Scottish island with his long-suffering spouse (Andrea Riseborough), despite an exodus of the population because of the closure of the local mine. However, unexpected company is provided by the probation service when a youth offender (Ross Anderson) is unloaded on the couple for some moral rehabilitation. Sundry hellfire lectures from Balor and rather more care and kindness from his wife then ensue, pointing the material towards dramatic love-triangle territory. But writer/director Corinna McFarlane struggles to add much in the way of surprise. As events move sluggishly and predictably forward, hard-working Lewis chews the scenery as the deeply unsympathetic religious zealot, while much-put-upon Riseborough wrestles with a somewhat odd Scandi-Scots accent. The good intentions are palpable, but sadly the results are rather turgid and the overblown choral score only makes matters worse.