тιтle: “A Tense, Thrilling Ride That Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat”

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Desperate Hour (2021) delivers a pulse-pounding, high-stakes thriller that keeps viewers on edge from start to finish. Directed by Phillip Noyce, this intense film explores the terrifying experience of a mother trying to save her child during a school shooting, all while trapped in the wilderness and helplessly watching events unfold from afar.

The plot centers around Amy Carr (played by the incredible Naomi Watts), who is out for a run in the woods when she receives a distressing phone call informing her that her son, Noah (played by Colin Jost), is caught in the middle of a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly situation at his school. As she races against time to find a way to help him, the film unfolds in real-time, heightening the tension as Amy tries to navigate a world where every second counts.

Naomi Watts gives a stunning performance, portraying Amy’s raw emotion and desperation with authenticity and depth. She’s fully immersed in the role, capturing the unrelenting panic, the heartbreaking helplessness, and the fierce determination of a mother in crisis. The film rests squarely on her shoulders, and Watts delivers a gripping performance that will resonate with audiences long after the credits roll.

The concept of Desperate Hour is both compelling and terrifying. The idea of being so close to the action yet so far removed, unable to do anything directly to protect your loved one, is chilling and thought-provoking. The film focuses on Amy’s struggle with the limitations of technology and the frustrating helplessness of watching a tragic event unfold from a distance. While the premise might seem a bit implausible at times, the emotional core of the film keeps it grounded in a relatable and harrowing reality.

The pacing of the film is relentless. As Amy makes phone calls, frantically tries to figure out what’s going on, and searches for answers, every second feels like a lifetime. The tension doesn’t let up, and even though the plot takes place primarily on a phone call and over the course of a single day, the sense of urgency is palpable.

The cinematography is effective in building a sense of isolation and panic. The contrast between the beautiful, serene woods and the chaos unfolding in the distant school creates a visual tension that mirrors the film’s emotional atmosphere. Director Phillip Noyce also uses the wide-open landscape to make the audience feel the vastness of Amy’s physical and emotional isolation.

The biggest flaw of the film is perhaps its predictability in certain moments. Some may find the real-time format a bit repeтιтive, and the minimalistic plot may feel limiting. Still, the raw emotion and Watts’ powerful performance make up for the lack of narrative complexity. It’s an emotional rollercoaster rather than a traditional action thriller, which might not appeal to everyone.

In conclusion, Desperate Hour is an intense, thought-provoking thriller that pulls you into the heart of a mother’s nightmare. Naomi Watts anchors the film with a powerful, emotional performance that is hard to shake. It’s a tense and emotional journey that will leave you holding your breath and questioning how far you would go to protect those you love. While it might not break new ground in terms of plot, it certainly packs an emotional punch.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.