The Mountain

Directed by Rachel House, The Mountain follows an ill adolescent (Elizabeth Atkinson’s Sam) as she becomes convinced that a nearby mountain can cure her ailment and subsequently recruits two fellow kids (Reuben Francis’ Mallory and Terence Daniel’s Bronco) to accompany her on the journey. First-time filmmaker House, armed with her and Tom Furniss’ screenplay, delivers an exceedingly earnest drama that benefits from its strong performances, as House does an effective job of eliciting compelling work from all three of her leads – which, in turn, ensures that the characters’ exploits remain more engaging than one might’ve anticipated. (It’s clear, too, that the picture boasts a strong selection of periphery figures, predominantly in the guise of the aforementioned kids’ parents.) And while the movie remains quite watchable throughout, The Mountain’s awfully slight narrative does pave the way for a midsection that’s perhaps not quite as engrossing or compelling as House has intended (eg there’s a sleepover stretch that seems to go on much longer than necessary). By the time the touching and heartfelt final stretch rolls around, however, The Mountain has ultimately confirmed its place as a pleasant debut that will perhaps work best among younger viewers.

**1/2 out of ****