Locusts

For a low budget independent Aussie B-grade film, this was surprisingly and impressively entertaining!

This is novice director Heath Davis' third full length film, and he did not disappoint. And considering this is amateur writer Angus Watts' first ever dabble in filmmaking, his screenplay was better than some seasoned writers work I've seen lately. Cinematography was on point, with excellent landscapes. Casting and performances were great, and Jessica McNamee was certainly easy on the eyes. The editing needed some work, and the score, albeit fitting for the genre, was way too loud, I could barely make out the dialogue in some scenes. The pacing was a little slow, but bearable with the short and comfortable 85 min runtime.

This certainly isn't no big budget Hollywood blockbuster, but for a low budget indie film put together by newb filmmakers, it is undeserving of of anything under a 5 - new filmmakers have to start somewhere and should be rated based on their experience. Sure it's no 10 either, but it is very deserving of my 8/10. To see more of my 800+ reviews and 1000+ ratings, click on my username.

The Australian film industry doesn't do itself any favours. I have lost count of how many Australian films involve trailer trash ( or whatever the Australian equivalent is ) that live in a farm or in a small town and are intent on violence and killing . Talk about stereotyping a nation and this film is no different.

This is the story of to brothers who are reunited after their fathers funeral and become a target of extortion from a group of violent local thugs .

This is not a terrible film . In actual fact the performances are really good but I've seen it all before and sadly the film bored me because of that .

The title is deceiving as well . Despite the first scene describing what Locusts do it's not about locusts. If it was , it might have been more interesting.

An unexpected gem - a punchy, suspenseful outback flick with some neat twists and turns. So many Aussie films are cut from the same old cloth of political correctness, it's refreshing to see a film that ventures outside that stereotypical mould.

Ryan Black (Ben Geurens) returns to his remote hometown to attend his father's funeral. Later he is united with his brother, Nathaniel Black (Nathaniel Dean), who he hasn't seen in quite some time. For Ryan, his father's funeral isn't his only concern while in his hometown. Soon the two brothers are threatened and bribed by a group of ruthless thugs who are demanding $100,000 in cash.

Right from the beginning of this film, there is such a sense of mystery in regards to Ryan's past and his relationship with both his brother and his father. The only thing we do understand is that Ryan is not fond of the idea of returning home and appears to have a different lifestyle in the present day when compared to his past life and upbringing. While watching the film it didn't take me long until I was heavily invested in the film's plot, Ryan's past life and other mysteries. I was simply determined to see how all of this would play out and link together as a story.

Performances here are enjoyable. I found the majority of the actors consistently strong and believable. I also felt many of the key leads performances were gripping at multiple times too.

Visually this film is pleasing to watch even though my screening was on DVD. There were great close up of character's faces during tense moments and I also enjoyed the number of aerial shots which not only show off Australian landscapes but are visually cool (or maybe I just liked the cars that were used in this film too). The film's soundtrack is a blast and right selections have been made. I found myself tapping my foot along with the majority of the songs and generally enjoying the film that comes with it.

Overall, Locusts is a very satisfying Australian film. It's a simple crime story which is loaded with great performances, twists and thrills. Strong visuals and gripping performances are also a nice bonus. In the end, I found myself invested in this film's story. This film should be viewed and needs to be supported by fellow movie lovers today. 7.4/10 - Walkden Entertainment

Fantastic Aussie crime thriller with Jess McNamee and Ben Geurens as a fish out of water who finds himself up to his neck in crack dealers and hustlers in a rundown mining town. Not exactly an advertisement for Australian tourism, but a dark dusty suspenseful take on the age old city-boy-lost-in-the-outback story.

We need more Aussie films like this!