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SUFF 2024 – Movie Review: The Organist (2024)

21 Wednesday Aug 2024

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If ever there was a reason to get behind homegrown cinema then it’s got to be in support of Andy Burkitt’s feature directorial debut, The Organist; this darkly, hilarious take on the underground organ donor industry. At the heart of this surrealist and macabre view is Jack Braddy’s delectable take of down and nearly out grifter and gift of the gab, Greame Sloane. It’s precisely Sloane’s natural persuasive abilities that landed his job as the face and mouthpiece of a organ-procurement organisation. His charm and subtle appeal is all on show from the get-go as he successfully secures a donation from an unwitting suburbanite. From this swift introduction though, the curtain drops and reveals a far sinister movement behind the veil, one that has been building on the trust of such donors to feed a collective of highly financial cannibals. Now Sloane must fight tooth and nail to fight every ounce and fibre of his being that detests the notion of feeding these elite human bloodhounds, battling in a corner that has no way out, but keep on talking. Has Sloane bitten off more than he can chew though?

To watch The Organist, there needs to be some suspension of disbelief as each scenario presented reads as ridiculous as the next, but this in effect is also its charm. It resonates with the Aussie battler appeal with Sloane continuously digging further and further into a pit of despair, and hopelessness. Whether it’s trying to engage with with the hilariously sinister HR rep Tracey (Lena Moon); building up the hopes of a donor recipient’s father, Bruce (Garth Edwards); trying to dissect the mind of the psychopathic cannibal; or fuse or diffuse his connection with would be buddy-yet-potential multiple donor, the suicidal Riley (Luke Fisher). This bromance shared between Sloane and Riley is in part symbiotic, relying on each other’s strengths and seemingly shared beliefs to pull them through to the bitter end. And in doing so, drives the viewers engagement with the feature, willing for hope to shine through this heartachingly bitter string of scenarios.

Burkitt relies on your faith to stick to his vision. In doing so, you are rewarded with a harrowingly, dark and hilariously bleak tale of humanity that may take every part of your body to see it through to the end.

  • Saul Muerte

Catch the screening of The Organist at the Sydney Underground Film Festival at Dendy, Newtown.

Screening times and tickets available below:

SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER – 7.30PM

SUNDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER – 1PM

Movie Review: Late Night With The Devil (2024)

18 Thursday Apr 2024

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Australian sibling directors Cameron and Colin Cairnes have been meticulously crafting a distinctive voice from behind the lens and with their third outing, Late Night With The Devil they have tapped into the horror zeitgeist on a global scale. Their first feature, 100 Bloody Acres was a more straight up narrative, leaning heavily into macabre humour starring Angus Sampson and Damon Herriman as struggling brothers in the meat industry who add a secret ingredient into the mix with over-the-top comical results.

Upon closer scrutiny though, it would be their second feature, Scare Campaign that is more closely aligned with the direction that LNWTD would take, with a TV show venturing into the occult investigation that goes horribly wrong. Although it missed the mark to a degree in its execution, the Cairnes brothers have learnt from this previous outing and produced a creative and decisive tale with Late Night With The Devil. 

The premise pits David Dastmalchian in his first leading role, as late night talk show Night Owls host Jack Delroy. Delroy embarks on a last ditch attempt to pull back the ratings through a marketing stunt set on Halloween 1977, and books a psychic Christou (Fayssal Bazzi), a sceptic, and a parapsychologist (Laura Gordon) who claims that her surrogate daughter Lily is possessed by the devil. 

The look and feel of this feature is so sweetly on par, it is easy to drift into the era that it is set and be lured in by the spectacle; one of the many tricks that the Cairnes team perform well. The decade of choice is no mere accident either with America rife with violence and horror that has put society on the brink of sanity, exposed to the likes Son of Sam, David Berkowitz and Charles Manson, and with the breakdown of freedom, comes the exposure to occults and satanism, leaving everyone questioning to what end can humanity be exposed to? It is this playground that the directors’ choose to play in and through the medium of television, force this evil into the homes of every suburban household.

The Cairnes also have perfected their craft in storytelling, by slowly eeking out the threat of danger in their chosen format of late night television; each guest that is introduced is a snag on the tooth of the viewer, to pull them deeper into the world they have created, until the final act is revealed with the not so sweet Lily (Ingrid Torelli). The role of the critic, Carmichael Haig (Ian Bliss) is a smart storytelling device too by constantly asking the questions that audiences will naturally come up with. How much of this is real? How much is performance? And how deeply can we keep probing for the truth before we get our cat-like curiosity scorched?

The breadcrumbs that are left along the way, adds to the weight of the journey, and the torment that is exposed by the film’s conclusion. The performances are solid and none more so than Dastmalchian, who’s character Jack is the character truly under scrutiny. How much has he had to sacrifice in order to keep up with the likes of fellow late night presenter Johnny Carson? Is there more to the history behind his wife’s mysterious and fatal illness? These questions can only be dealt with through the meticulous direction and the strength in Dastmalchian’s performance; oozing charm one minute before serving a backhand of depravity the next. We’re guided on a trail of human decline where the end is nowhere to be seen with ruin at every turn.

The Prognosis:

The American Dream is served up on a plate here and scorched beyond recognition. The Cairnes Brothers capitalise on their previous efforts to expose the frailty and deprivation through a stylised lens that is fresh, inviting and delightfully disturbing. 

This is an example of an idea executed so adeptly that every creative player involved brings their A-game to the fold and delivers.

While there are some subtle flaws, the fact that they hold fast to the look, feel and strong performances, allows them to flourish and produce a solid, entertaining feature.

  • Saul Muerte

Movie Review: You’ll Never Find Me (2024)

17 Sunday Mar 2024

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Sit up and take notice Australia as another creative homegrown team have produced a dark tale worthy of your attention. Indiana Bell has once again teamed up with her directing partner Josiah Allen to develop her screenwriting skills for their first feature length outing. 

A deliciously claustrophobic story, set predominately inside a mobile home at the back of an abandoned caravan park during a gloomy and stormy night. Its sole occupant is Patrick (Brendan Rock – Carnifex, The Stranger), a strange and lonely man with hints that he may harbour a disturbing past, or is he just a man suffering from a traumatic incident that has forced him away from society?

On this one night from which the story takes place, Patrick receives an unknown visitor (Jordan Cowan – Jade of Death) at his door; the woman also displays some strange behaviour. Does she also conceal an iniquitous truth? Or is she merely the seeker of one?

From here on out will have a very simple-yet-smart narrative that pits two souls in the midst of singular location. Trust/mistrust, deception/investigation. By the time the story ends the truth will out as both delve deep into heart of it, but neither party may accept the outcome with.

The Prognosis:

This film could so easily be dismissed and with its minimal cinematic release could further bury it amongst a plethora of other features. To do so would be grossly dismissive as Indiana Bell and Josiah Allen have presented a clever and harrowing story carved out of a singular location. Smart in that it keeps the budget down, but also the manner in which they slowly deliver their tale, drags out the tension further much to the delight of the viewer. All of this is further strengthened by its two leads (Rock and Cowan) who equally showcase depth and intrigue to their respective roles. Hats off to cinematographer Maxx Corkindale who crafts his own vision from behind the lens to add another layer to the artistry on display. 

From what has been a quiet year on the horror scene so far, You’ll Never Find Me throws down the gauntlet for originality told on a low budget with a great mix of talent on show.

  • Saul Muerte

You’ll Never Find Me will be available as a Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray at Umbrella Entertainment while stocks last from May 22. 

Movie review: Subject (2023)

21 Saturday Oct 2023

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Described as a suppressed footage film Subject is painfully constrained as it drip feeds paranoia, isolation, desperation and claustrophobia in a tightly wound up exposition. Director Tristan Barr who also stars in the feature essentially squeezes out every ounce of his experimentation into human frailty with the minimum amount he has at hand. The fact that his budget is tight, relies heavily on the delivery and execution, shifting perspectives along the way, and testing his character and the audience with every frame.

Dalensky (Barr) is a man about to serve a lengthy prison sentence but is intercepted by a secret government agency who offer him a deal in exchange for commuting his sentence. All he has to do is spend time in an isolated facility and monitor a strange creature. What appears to be a straight forward contract soon unravels to reveal the true question beneath it all… who is the real subject under scrutiny?

The Prognosis:

The real quality of Subject is from the approach that Barr takes on. To weave a troubled and tensely riddled piece though the constraints on show is cleverly told through a gradual process that steadily places its central character under the spotlight, By providing his audience with little clues to the history of his protagonist, Barr tweaks out the core of the matter, so that we are deprived of the full picture till the last. The journey to get there is equally magnified as he ramps up the tension. While it’s not ground-breaking, there’s enough energy on the screen and smarts in the direction to make this a bold entry into his experimental canon of work thus far from behind the camera.

  • Saul Muerte

Movie review – Surrogate (2022)

25 Saturday Mar 2023

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First things first, Surrogate has been improperly overlooked by the film going public, potentially cast aside as a typical ghost horror story, but there’s more than meets the eye for Australian director David Welling’s debut feature film.

Secondly, it boasts Kestie Morassi (Wolf Creek) who deserves more screen time as she carves out another powerful performance for the lead character, Natalie.

On face value, you could be forgiven for your preconceptions as the narrative slowly unfolds but all this allows for Natalie’s plight to become entrenched and equally for Morassi to invest in delivering a deep portrayal of her character.

Natalie is a single parent, who has to rely heavily on her own mother, Anna (Louise Siverson) and her brother, William (Darcy Kent) to raise her daughter Rose (Taysha Farrugia). This is because Natalie is also a full time nurse, which requires her to work out of town every once in a while, taking her away from her family. It is on one of these nights that Natalie encounters an erratically behaved woman. Choosing to ignore her plight, and in doing so these inactions would go on to haunt her. This is one of Welling’s subjects that he wants the audience to pay close scrutiny to. Society is all-too-willing to shirk the responsibilities or face up to any problems that warrant attention. Let’s face it, we’re all so consumed by our own daily tribulations. When Natalie then encounters the woman again that night, thrown into trying to save her life, she unwittingly becomes the ‘surrogate’ of a ghostly presence. Upon returning home, Natalie exhibits all the hallmarks of a pregnancy that baffles doctors and brings the attention of Lauren Balmer (Jane Badler), a child welfare officer. With this comes another subject that Welling zooms in on, with the troubles that single mothers face when under pressure from their commitments and in some cases the wrongful accusations that surmount from external means. 

Natalie’s maternal instincts kick in when the phantom presence becomes a physical one, placing all those close to her, under threat. Is there an ulterior motive for these expressive and harmful measures? Or is there an inherent evil the cause of all this maliciousness? 

The Prognosis:

Welling’s feature is a decent effort for a debut. It embarks on some important issues that unfold through the course of a well-built narrative. 

He also skilfully draws out the best in his players to support his vision with Morassi leading the charge in a captivating performance of a woman struggling to build the best world for her daughter to live in.

  • Saul Muerte

Surrogate is currently screening on TubiTV.

Movie review: Awoken (2020)

22 Monday Feb 2021

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I gotta say that I was pleasantly surprised by Awoken. I had prejudiced this Horror, Mystery, Thriller on face value because of its quiet film release here in Australia where it premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival and has been subjected to the Straight to Home Entertainment release.

This is an unfair judgement on my behalf though, as Awoken is one of those admittedly middle-of-the-road movies, but it does just enough to keep you hooked and entertained to its conclusion, which is a testament to Director Daniel J. Phillips and his writing partner Alan Grace.

Phillips chooses to keep his setting simple, predominately in one location and in doing so, can heighten the tension surrounding his key players, whilst keeping the budget low.

HIs storytelling is also strong, flicking from past and present with the use of old medical tapes that the research team slowly trickle through to gain an understanding of what they are up against.

And the choice of subject matter in Fatal Familial Insomnia is also one that sparks the imagination of terror in us all as this disorder affects the thalamus, part of the brain structure that controls our emotional expression and can lead to lack of sleep and dementia. 

With a select group of subjects, a small medical team, led by leading doctor, Robert (Erik Thomsen), go all flatliners and try to do some underground research in literally an underground laboratory in the hopes of finding a cure or a breakthrough to help those suffering from this condition. Robert has had previous experience in conducting similar experiments and serves as  the chief advisor and patriarchal figure of the group.

Our lead protagonist, Karla (Sara West – Ash Vs Evil Dead) is one of these medical students, who’s brother Blake (Benson Jack Anthony – Cleverman) suffers from the genetic insomnia condition and is subjected to this observation trial. The clue here is in the genetics component as it its revealed that their mother also had the same condition and was subjected to similar medical trials.

It is through their studies though that things begin to escalate. Cut off from the world above and incredibly sleep deprived, both patients and medics alike begin to hallucinate.

Is this the instabilities of the mind though? Or is there demonic possession at play?

The Prognosis:

Awoken doesn’t break new ground in the realms of science vs religion and suspected demonic possession, but what it does do well is construct a tight knit, well crafted storyline that drip feeds the tension whilst building up the paranoia and uncertainty of reality.

Some of the effects are a bit tried and tested, falling into the fairly predictable terrain, but Director Daniel J. Phillips has carefully positioned the audience into a false sense of security and then dialling up the entertainment level, whilst spinning a strong thriller that poses all the right questions towards a highly amped ending.

Surprisingly good and well worth checking out.

  • Saul Muerte

Awoken is currently streaming on Shudder ANZ

Movie review: The Last Wave (1977)

16 Wednesday Sep 2020

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Peter Weir is one of the most accomplished directors not just in Australia, but also on the global scene.
Many would know his name in relation to his involvement in the Australian New Wave cinema movement or his high profile American films, such as Witness, Dead Poets Society, or The Truman Show, but back in 1977, sandwiched between Picnic At Hanging Rock and Gallipoli he released a forgotten gem.
The Last Wave is arguably the boldest movie that Weir directed with its apocalyptic tale spun through an Indigenous Australia’s connection with nature and the land, infused with both the positive and negative relationship of the ‘white’ settlers. 

Ever litre of sweat, blood, and tears oozes onto the screen with harmonious energy, rippling through every crevice of the narrative, to explode in a maelstrom of emotion and torment. 

At its heart, the film is deeply grounded in reality and over the course of the story, the emotional weight of our dream-like state breaks through from the human core to reveal an unstoppable force and an ambiguous ending – a message to the viewer of how we’ve lost our souls in an ethereal state, far removed from our ancestral beings.
It’s opening scene is a stark metaphor for this overview, as the familiar barren and dry Australian landscape is suddenly the victim of nature’s wrath as an unforeseen storm descends upon a small remote town, unleashing torrential rain and hail upon a school playing field.

From here, the story unfolds through the gaze of Sydney lawyer, David Burton (Richard Chamberlain), hired to defend four Indigenous Australians accused of murder, following the mysterious death of an Aboriginal man outside a pub.
In accepting the case, Burton finds himself in a world, removed from his own, opening up a parallel existence that he is inadvertently connected to through his dreams.
It is through this alternant state that pulls Burtons professional and personal life apart, and once caught in the rip, he has no option but to give in to the power of water, confront the kurdaitcha tribal elder and be spat back out into the world to confront the remnants of his life in the face of devastation.
Has he awoken, or will he be engulfed with the impending doom, to be washed away with the gulf of humanity?

The respect that Weir pays towards Indigenous Australian culture is its strength and appeal.
Casting Indigenous Australians in their respective roles, among them David Gulpilil as Chris, one of the accused, forced to give up some of his tribal secrets. Gulpilil’s performance is deeply engaging and one of the key reasons that the film is so grounded in reality, serving as a conduit for the audience to connect with the culture and in a way that leaves us questioning our own wake of life.
What does it mean to be tribal?
How can we separate our way of life and re engage with the world? Questions that are so pertinent today more than ever and casts The Last Wave at the forefront of must watch movies. 

Thanks to Umbrella Entertainment, this has become possible and remastered on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD. Its Blu-Ray release boasts some insightful featurettes with Richard Chamberlain, Producer Jim McElroy and  Director of Photography Russell Boyd that are incredibly engaging and further support just how integral this movie is in cinematic history and why it deserves your time.

  • Saul Muerte

Will Sweet River be the next sleeper hit from Australia?

05 Tuesday Nov 2019

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Today we learnt of an exciting new project that is shooting in Northern NSW, Australia which could herald another strong story that exposes the dark underbelly of our Great Southern Land. Australia has been slowly carving out some disturbing tales of late such as the fantastic Hounds of Love, Killing Ground, Rabbit, and Lost Gully Road, all released within the last couple of years and well worth your time.

Described as a psychological thriller, Sweet River is set in between Byron Bay and  Tweed Heads, a land filled with sugar cane farms, that can grow up to 16 metres in height and potentially ripe enough to harbour secrets within. It’s a beautiful part of the world, so expect some stunning shots from Justin McMillan (Storm Surfers 3D), who also co-owns a drone company. 

The story unfolds with Hanna Montague (Lisa Kay – Indian Summers) who is on a quest for closure following the death of her son, and moves to a small cottage, but is confronted by a town hell-bent on hiding its secrets. She is united in her grief with her neighbour (Genevieve Lemon) who has also lost a child in tragic circumstances, but how far into their sorrow are they willing to go in order to uncover the truth?

Also starring Martin Sacks (Wentworth, A Place To Call Home), Sweet River promises to set the mystery that lurks beyond the shadows ablaze, and deliver a tale that could have devastating consequences. 

It is expected to be released in 2020 through Film Ink Presents. 

For more information see the press release below:

sweet-river-announcement-finalDownload
  • Saul Muerte

Movie Review: Sweet River (2020)

Movie review: Rabbit

28 Sunday Oct 2018

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Luke Shanahan’s directorial feature debut, Rabbit is a stellar example of what Australians do well, Dark and gritty drama.

The difference though is that Rabbit is not just grit for grit’s sake, but a compelling and captivating drama that lures you in and ensnares you to the bitter end.

The concept is a simple one, Maude Ashton wakes from a vivid dream that compels her to return home and find her missing twin sister.

The journey she takes to find her though is a far from simple one as Maude must listen to her instincts and psychic intuition through a twisted labyrinth of trauma and despair.

Shanahan has a gift for tapping into the psychological aspects of the human mind and weaving together an intriguing narrative that in lesser hands could lead you up the garden path with no purpose or direction laid down. Shanahan’s screenplay takes you by the hand and directs you with purpose.

I also want to applaud the acting accolades of the two women in this film; the lead Adelaide Clemens who plays Maude and her twin shows great depth in her character, and Veele Baetens as Nerida who is harbouring a troubled past that she displays with great restrain beneath the surface. Both their performances were incredibly rewarding to watch and keeps you engaged throughout the movie.

The Diagnosis:

Rabbit is a quality psychological drama that keeps you entranced and could very well prove to be the sleeper hit of the year.

  • Saul Muerte

Movie Review: Killing Ground marks new territory in Aussie horror

23 Wednesday Aug 2017

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Australians have been producing quality horror films for some time now, whether you look at the films of yester-year with the likes of Long Weekend, or Turkey Shoot, to more modern scares with The Babadook, Wyrmwood, The Tunnel, or Wolf Creek.

There’s a range of psychological emotions that come with each of the afore-mentioned movies with one thing in common…the ability to heighten your senses by scaring and entertaining you.

It’s part of the reason that as a film lover, (and to isolate that down further) a fan of the horror genre, that I’m proud of the quality movies that are being produced on this Southern land that I call home.
And it’s also why I’m a huge campaigner of the films that are being produced here in Australia.

So with eagle eyes, I’ve noticed a recent ripple in the genre on our homes soil, with the much-touted Killing Ground.

Directed by Damien Power, who has been turning heads with his short features for the past few years, most notably with Peekaboo, and A Burning Thing, which starred Nashville’s Clare Bowen.

Killing Ground would be Power’s feature length debut and it certainly packs a punch.

Utilising two of Australia’s strong identity components in the bush land and the sun.

Firstly, I’d like to look at the first element…the bush.

Australia is notorious for its ever-rolling landscape, with is a strange mix of the wild and beautiful thrust together in co-existence.

It’s an area that has been explored before with the afore-mentioned Wolf Creek, where director Greg McLean highlights the fear within Australia’s red centre.

With Killing Ground, Power takes that same initiative, but thrust the viewer into the bush land, centring on a couple, choosing a romantic getaway at an isolated spot known for its walks among the fauna.

All gets flipped over though when said couple, Sam (Harriet Dyer) and Ian (Ian Meadows) unwittingly stumble on a crime scene and have to resort to their wits in order to survive.

Meadows is fast crafting a name for himself in the genre following the Cairnes brothers movie, Scare Campaign, and carves a decent performance in Killing Ground as Ian, a doctor by trade, but when push comes to shove, becomes indecisive and ultimately only thinks of himself. It feels like a natural response coming from this character and tears down the walls of predictability with Ian’s reactions or lack thereof highlighting his plight.

Equally, Harriet Dyer’s journey of Sam bends a strong character arc that shines brightly by the films conclusion and is enjoyable as a result.

In order for the film to be successful though it does hinge on the antagonists to be brutal, savage, and fearful.

And this maybe my only criticism of the piece, from what is essentially a well crafted film.

The highlight, hands down, is Aaron Pedersen’s portrayal of German. The menace and savagery that he brings to the table is haunting and Pederson delivers a character that is embedded in dark mind that can be turned on and off with horrifying ease. He was a delight to watch and it was a shame to see his comeuppance come so swiftly, when it does arise. (Although, again it feels like a realistic moment when it does occur).

As a result though, the film relies on the unhinged Chook (Aaron Glenane) to carry out the proceedings of hunting down our protagonists, and unfortunately this is where I feel it falls flat.
Chook is unbalanced, and clearly motivated by his sexual appetite, his character never feels threatening enough. Yes, he’s a crack shot with the rifle and that’s plenty to be fearful of, but he’s bumbling approach to life, dampens the threat a little.

It’s a shame as it feels like so much attention was focused on the other characters that with a bit more work on this would have made for an excellent climax.

Speaking of which, the ending to the movie feels like it takes a bit of a stretch, and maybe because I had high hopes, I was left wanting.

Yes there is a resolution and one that does satisfy with our central character’s journey, but that satisfaction is left a little empty as the threat level diminishes.

I say all this, but it negates the films strong points. It’s a well-crafted slow burner of a thriller that propels you along with its split timeline narrative and allows the horror to be drawn out in a compelling way.
Damien Power certainly has a gift for spinning a thrilling yarn both as director and writer of Killing Ground, and this effort is definitely one to be proud of.

I look forward to seeing where his talents take him next.

 

– Paul Farrell