Calibre: The Chilling Scottish Highlands Thriller With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score

A weekend hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands becomes a nightmare in Calibre, Matt Palmer’s tense 2018 thriller that has earned a perfect 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Set amid the remote beauty of the Highlands, the film follows lifelong friends Vaughn and Marcus as one devastating incident forces them into a desperate struggle with fear, guilt, loyalty and morality. What begins as an escape from everyday life quickly turns into a situation neither man could have anticipated.

Calibre is currently available to stream on Netflix.

One decision changes everything

Jack Lowden stars as Vaughn, alongside Northern Irish actor Martin McCann as his longtime friend Marcus. The pair travel to the Highlands for a hunting trip, expecting a quiet break away from their normal lives.

Instead, a traumatic incident changes everything.

As the consequences begin to unfold, Vaughn and Marcus are forced to navigate an increasingly dangerous situation while trying to avoid suspicion from the local community. Their choices become more difficult with every step, and the film steadily tightens the pressure around them.

The remote setting is central to that tension. The vast Highland landscape may initially look peaceful and beautiful, but its isolation gradually becomes part of the nightmare, making the two friends feel increasingly cut off as events spiral beyond their control.

Jack Lowden leads a strong Scottish cast

Lowden and McCann are joined by Scots actor Tony Curran and Fort William-born actress Kate Bracken, with Ian Pirie and Cameron Jack also among the cast.

For Lowden, the role of Vaughn provided an early opportunity to showcase his ability to carry a psychologically demanding performance. McCann’s Marcus becomes equally important as the fallout from their actions begins to reshape their relationship and the situation surrounding them.

Written and directed by Matt Palmer, Calibre marked his feature-film debut. The film premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2018 before making its way to Netflix.

Palmer’s debut subsequently won the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Why critics responded to its slow-burn suspense

Rather than relying on constant action, Calibre builds its tension gradually, allowing the consequences of the central incident to become increasingly difficult to escape.

The film currently holds a 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 critic reviews, while its audience score stands at 79% from more than 1,000 ratings.

Critics have particularly praised the way Palmer creates a claustrophobic atmosphere within the expansive Highland landscape. The Guardian described the film as a fresh approach to a familiar thriller setup, while Screen Daily highlighted its tension and momentum.

Its reception at the Edinburgh International Film Festival also drew attention to the cinematography, performances and deliberately methodical approach to suspense.

Viewers praise the performances and moral dilemma

Audience reactions have also focused on the film’s ability to keep viewers questioning what they might do in the same circumstances.

One viewer called it an “absolutely brilliant film,” praising the performances, writing and realism while arguing that it deserved greater recognition. Another described it as a “master class in storytelling,” highlighting the acting, dialogue and the way each scene steadily raises the tension.

Other viewers singled out the unexpected twists, final act and performances, with one describing it as among the strongest films they had seen in the genre for some time.

The moral questions at the heart of the story have also prompted strong reactions. One viewer particularly praised the way Calibre examines responsibility after a tragic accident, exploring how one bad decision can lead to another and leave people questioning where accountability ultimately lies.

Combined with the film’s striking visuals, that moral uncertainty gives the thriller a lingering sense of unease that continues well beyond its most dramatic moments.

Watch the trailer

Netflix’s official trailer runs for just over two minutes and establishes the film’s central premise without giving away the later developments.

For anyone looking for a dark, atmospheric thriller set against the Scottish Highlands, Calibre offers a tightly focused story about one disastrous moment and the increasingly impossible choices that follow.

Calibre is available to stream on Netflix now.