Way Upstream (1987 TV Movie) User Reviews

Somewhat engaging but totally mental.

[javierwinstondiaz · 4/10 · 1 November 2022]

The tonal shifts in this film are something to behold, and I don't think they're intended to be so... Nauseating? It's hard to say, as obviously it's meant to progress (without spoilers) from one genre to another but it seems neither subtle enough to be a slow burn, nor deliberate enough to be intentionally (and the keyword here is "intentionally") jarring.

It's a real head scratcher... On top of the strange thematic shifts, the film suffers from characters that are unlikeable across the board, with the exception of Emma, and unresolved plot threads. To give it credit, I would say the first 40 minutes is interesting enough that you want to see where it goes, but personally I felt that where it went was unimpressive. It's not an outright "bad" film (as it manages to be engaging to an extent), just a poorly realised one.

Like 'Deliverance' on the canals, but funnier

[johnrowb · 21 September 2010]

I saw this a couple of times back in the late 1980s and would love to see it again. Very funny, at times darkly so. Surreal. A sort of 'Deliverance' on the UK canals?

Odd situations... strange plot twists. The actor who plays the madman is quite convincing, but it's well acted all round.

Originally shown on the BBC (maybe it was a 'Play For Today', I can't remember). And that is about all I can type about this one from memory, so bear with me while I try to fill up IMDb's ten line minimum review requirement.

There we go. Recommended. BBC please re-transmit this one!

Abigail's Party on a boat...

[vnmjdcv · 7/10 · 30 October 2022]

Just stumbled across this on Netflix. Saw it years ago on the BBC. A little gem from the "Play for Today" archives.

Yes, it's a little bit dated now, but it's a delightful study of different characters with some lovely black comedy thrown it.

It plays out as a sort of Mike Leigh kitchen sink drama for the first 35 minutes or so, then gradually turns into a "Lord of the Flies" tragedy when Stuart Wilson (Vince) gets on board. He is superb as the hilarious, but menacing Alpha male who completely takes over control of the boat and the others.

Worth a look if you like quirky movies about the English class system, repressed individuals and wacky endings!

Poundland Mike Leigh

[gelvisblue · 3/10 · 1 November 2022]

I saw this on Netflix recently and it hasn't aged well at all. Charmless, humourless and falls flat at every turn.

Unlikeable characters, who you don't care about or what happens to them. Like an amateur dramatics Troup trying to do a Mike Leigh production. Poor casting doesn't help it's cause. The villain is like a poundland Oliver Reed. That said, it is the strongest performance in the film. Such a shame as the set up had so much potential to deliver a great dark comedy. The pointless and cheap titalation scene at the film's climax added nothing to the film. Clearly there to get people talking about the film, back in the day.

Quite a nice surprise!

[urkus · 7/10 · 1 November 2022]

I didn´t know about that film. I read some critics and I was tempted to watch it in Halloween. They say it was in some way like John Borrman´s Deliverance. Well, in a way it is but like a dark comedy.

The characters are surreal, when you start watching it, you think: "this is really strange, the acting is histrionic but i ike it". So you continue to watch it, expecting something new an obscure to happen. And there it appears Steven Wilson, in a tremendous histrionic character, more than the others, and you start to laugh because of the bizarre of the events. Then you think it is a dark comedy, but when you smile, you star to watch a thriller (psicological like movie) and the fear invades you. Therefore the comparison to Boorman´s Deliverance.

A very funny, entertaining, intrigging and surprising movie. Not in quality like Deliverance, but either more like a telefilm well done. Like a movie you would like to re - watch it in cinema, on a big screen.

Very well done for the teleplay, directing and the characters. You will enjoy it!

7 stars out of 10.

Pathetic

[semaj-95339 · 2/10 · 29 October 2022]

I've rated this 2 only for the fact Emma gets her thruppney bits oot at the end. This film will frustrate you at how pathetic these people are. I could care less for any of them, nothing redeeming about any of them. If known some weak people in my time but nothing quite as soppy as the Alistair character.

The whole thing is unrealistic, my wife chose this film for us to watch and she apologized afterwards. Maybe it's the fact we're Scottish, both of us sat watching this saying nope, I'd knock F oot of him and kick him off the boat. I have no clue why this is rated so high or people saying they've watched this several times, they must be as pathetic as Alistair.

recently acquired a copy and was not disappointed

[royhaslam51 · 10/10 · 3 October 2006]

i watched this movie on TV in 1987 i recorded to video and watched it countless times. i was very lucky recently to be given a DVD copy.it is nearly 20 years since i have watched this comedy/drama and it did not disappoint me.

the story begins with two couples the guys are business partners. as soon as they step on the boat the bully husbands wife is not happy with anything about the boat she wants to go home .the tension builds from the first day.

the other business partner is a weak guy and as no guts whatsoever.

the movie really gets going when keith one of the partners goes back to his factory to settle a dispute.and leaves alistair in charge of the boat.

within minutes alistair has grounded the boat .they all think they have met a lucky mascot vince who comes to their rescue ,he refloats the boat and june invites him on the boat for a drink at the annoyance of keith her husband who says "we don't even know who this guy is" the story quickly unfolds as vince is a phsycopathic madman. ENJOY

great film

[maz-cooper · 9/10 · 19 July 2007]

I have watched this film over the years again and again and my two sons have grown up with it. I have been a fan of gorgeous Stuart Wilson since I saw him in The Strauss Family and loved him ever since. The film is a mixture of comedy,tragedy and black comedy. All the characters are stuck in an unsatisfying rut of different types of frustration and disappointment with their lives. The films unique setting-aboard a small rented cabin cruiser on a so called "holiday" could put you off boating for life (unless you want to see Hadworth Brick works and dash off a postcard). All in all it is a really interesting film and the unexpected ending leaves you thinking.

Seen this 3 times,

[edwardrevans · 8/10 · 22 March 2021]

My view of this is that it is about class though i do believe that the authors says otherwise. We have two middle class couples who own a factory and decide to take a break on the river cruising up to and no further to a place called Armageddon Bridge. The couples are polar opposites of each other one been bossy and outgoing and the other been weak and uptight. Along the way the bossy male character (Keith) and self appointed Skipper of the boat has to go back to the factory to sort out a strike that has taken place in their absence so here we have the workers vs the management again one could say working class vs middle class. Alistair the weak male stays behind with his wife and Keiths wife and is now reluctantly in charge of steering the boat which soon runs aground, with the help of a good Samaritan (Vince) or that's how it first looks Vince takes Keiths place in more ways than one.