Alice Bell (Ruth Wilson) is a lonely laborer at a sheep farm. After getting news of her father's death, she returns to her family's rundown sheep farm despite being haunted by a family secret. Her bitter brother Joe (Mark Stanley) is angry at her 15 years absence and her attempt to revive the farm. He has plans to sell the stock and abandon the tenancy.

This is dark, bleak, brooding, and not that exceptional. It's all grindingly dark and brooding. The dialogue is sparse. There isn't much surprising. Wilson is able to portray this darkness. It would be nice to have more. It's all one note and oppressively depressing.

Ruth Wilson puts in a strong performance in 'Dark River', playing a young farmer who inherits her family's troubled legacy. She's good, but the film never completely escapes its "grim up north" sensibility, as a story unfolds of unmitigated harshness in a world inhabited only the by the terminally taciturn. One can credit the writers for not tossing in a throwaway romance; but without hope, it's hard to sustain the interest of the audience.

Storytelling should have a good flow where the pieces fit together, and for the average novice viewer of a 90 min. film they shouldn't be left confused. First, too many flashbacks especially when we have an obvious family relationship problem. We get it! Second, how farming/ranching tenancy works in England left me confused, and if as poorly run as was shown then they need better laws. Also, passing on responsibilities to family members was just a mess left by someone or some organization. The buying & management scenes were too contrived. Third, the sibling arguments seemed forced, and not common sense soluble. Last, the shooting episode, and who was shot and the brother & sister's response left me with what's-going-on?