Overview: A killer stalks a remote island in this edge-of-your-seat thriller starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman, and Tim Roth. Helen (Clarkson), a recently widowed doctor, returns home to her isolated cottage off the Canadian coast to find a stranger with a gunshot wound (Speedman) hiding out from two men intent on killing him.

DVD Verdict: 'October Gale' is a suspense thriller about a woman in a remote cabin who comes to the aid of a stranger washed up on shore with a bullet wound. Patricia Clarkson plays Helen, a widowed doctor, seeking solace in her remote cabin. She is haunted with memories of her deceased husband as she cleans the dusty cabin preparing for a long stay.

During her first evening, her revere is disturbed by an unexpected stranger washing up on her dock. He has a bullet wound and is unconscious. Being a doctor, she instantly goes to his aid, dragging him into her cabin and tending his injury. He remains asleep through it all, giving the moment an air of mystery and suspense. It doesn’t last long. As he sleeps, Helen attempts to go to town on her boat, but a storm is coming so she returns.

Scott Speedman plays William, the wounded stranger. When Helen returns, he is now awake and exploring her cabin. Their meeting is tense and full of awkward questions that go unanswered. The storm gains momentum and they are forced to remain in the cabin and with each other. William eventually shares the story behind the bullet wound.

Two more men arrive on the scene, hunting William. Helen and William are forced to run for their lives through the woods behind the cabin. Although Patricia Clarkston and Scott Speedman play their parts flawlessly, the plot falls short. The characters are interesting to learn about, but without a more complex plot and perhaps a romantic storyline, I was left wanting. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1:85.1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.

Reviewed By: Michelle Richardson

DVD Purchase Link