Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Stag, film review: Tale of masculinity, trust and friendship delivered in droll fashion

(15) John Butler, 94 mins Starring: Andrew Scott, Hugh O'Conor, Peter McDonald

Geoffrey Macnab
Thursday 13 March 2014 23:30 GMT
Comments
Andrew Scott stars in 'The Stag', Ireland's answer to 'The Hangover'
Andrew Scott stars in 'The Stag', Ireland's answer to 'The Hangover'

John Butler's comedy follows prissy young Irish man Fionan (Hugh O'Conor) and his friends on a walking trip through the wilds as part of a "stag" weekend.

He is far too refined and "metrosexual" to engage in macho debauchery but his psychopathic brother-in-law to be, "The Machine" (Peter McDonald), is determined to make the weekend as extreme as possible.

The trajectory of the film is predictable (ritual humiliation, nudity) and the ending is horribly maudlin, but Butler makes his points about masculinity, trust and friendship in droll enough fashion.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in