Three is a magic number. As we all know, it’s perfect for learning, a la SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, and the standard for taut, twisty character thrillers, a la KNIFE IN THE WATER and DEAD CALM. Taking a stab at the latter, Carl Tibbetts’ RETREAT shoots for frustrating claustrophobia without escape, but comes up short of the bar set by the aforementioned and very fondly remembered titles.

The quite picturesque film sees married couple Martin (28 DAYS LATER’s Cillian Murphy) and Kate (Thandie Newton)—as so many cinematic married couples do when their union is falling apart—leave their hectic lives for a calm vacation to reconnect following a miscarriage. Their destination of choice finds them in a cabin, on the unpopulated Blackholme Island off the coast of Scotland, that holds particularly lovely memories for them. Soon, the already uncomfortable air is further distressed by the arrival of the injured Jack (Jamie Bell), who claims the outside world has begun succumbing to an epidemic and they must isolate themselves in the cabin for safety. Manipulation, aggression and unexpected reveals ensue.

Gorgeously shot—especially the contrast of the wide and beautiful seaside landscape of the world outside, versus the close quarters the lead trio share—and well-acted by its small, yet notable cast, RETREAT’s story is what’s most lacking, and it’s evident from the outset. There’s very little to draw you in as close as necessary to really care about the fate of Martin and Kate’s marriage, something emphasized by their cinematically oft-treaded central conflict.

The film undoubtedly picks up, however, upon the arrival of Jack, a manic soldier hell-bent on self-preservation. Like most uninvited strangers, he’s unreasonably aggressive and temperamental, serving to both unite and divide the unhappy couple in several tense and stark moments, even despite said moments hitting familiar beats (asserting and questioning masculinity, sexual power and mind games). As RETREAT gains speed, with its three stars elevating the proceedings as best they can, it serves to truly build to a memorable and visceral climax that brings Kate and Martin face-to-face with the expectedly concealed truth.

However, once removed from the moment, it’s evident that the film follows an ultimately disappointing trajectory. After winning an audience over from its lackluster start with a seemingly terrific ending, the realization that the preceding actions were fairly hollow isn’t far behind. While, well-intentioned and as stated, effective, the reveal upon which RETREAT hinges itself forces one to deem the entirety of the characters’ actions unnecessary, and sinks the film itself back down to nothing remarkable.

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