Jack Be Nimble

Bizarre but serious horror film that piques your interest from the opening scene. Maintains a unique and colorful atmosphere throughout. The depths of human evil are depicted here as if one were watching a fairy tale with witches and goblins (thus the Jack of nursery rhyme is chosen here). Great score, by the way, that helps to create the atmosphere throughout.

I recommend it as a good Halloween treat, but definitely not for children.

I recently watched the New Zealand film 🇳🇿 Jack Be Nimble (1993) on Shudder. The story follows a brother and sister abandoned by their parents, forced to rely on each other to survive. Eventually, they are adopted into separate families and endure various forms of neglect and abuse. Desperate to reunite, they finally find each other-but when they do, all hell breaks loose for everyone in their path... including their biological parents.

Directed by Garth Maxwell (When Love Comes Along), the film stars Alexis Arquette (Pulp Fiction), Sarah Smuts-Kennedy (This Is Not a Love Story), Elizabeth Hawthorne (30 Days of Night), and Tony Barry (Goodbye Pork Pie).

This movie exceeded my expectations. The writing and acting are top-notch, and the depth of the characters, along with their internal struggles, feels raw and authentic. The film effectively sets up its circumstances, making the emotional turmoil palpable in every scene. Alexis Arquette is phenomenal as Jack, delivering a haunting and intense performance, while Sarah Smuts-Kennedy also shines in a strong supporting role. The sibling bond is deeply felt, as is the weight of their trauma-making it clear this rollercoaster ride won't end well.

In conclusion, Jack Be Nimble is a unique blend of serial killer thriller and Bonnie and Clyde-style chaos, packed with authenticity and intensity from start to finish. I really liked it and would rate it an 8/10.

I just finished this film. Bought it at eBay. I collect obscure movies. This one is a jewel. A very dark jewel in its very own genre. I'm not one to reveal plots, but I can describe the movie. Director Garth Maxwell takes you on a bit of an unexpected trip. It smacks of classic horror, but, it's new horror and you never know where it's going. Maxwell's use of light and color is simply astounding and unforgettable. I'm sure I'll sleep with some of these images tonight. It's not for those of you who like typical movies. It's very different. I have but two technical problems and they're small: 1) Maxwell let's Dora say, "Marigolds." and they're not. 2) One line slips out while no lips move. Otherwise, the film is certainly going to chill some blood cells and keep your brain ticking. Sorry, but Alexis Arquette couldn't be more good-looking, either. It's not big Hollywood (and I like that), but it's very, very provocative film-making. I like that, too.

This fantastic film is an adventure based upon an old fairy tale with the stepmother and three gruesome step sisters. But Jack will be taking his bloody revenge.

Our film club featured this, and all the viewers were astonished. It's brutal, it's beautiful, it's sparkling with splatter and horror ideas. A true classic, and hidden gem! A complete movie of of vibrant colors sick ideas! The use of colors are greater than David Lynch manages in his films, and reminded me in that way of Blue Velvet!

You really don't know what you've been missing out before you see this! Go head over heels to get hold of this one! Though it deserves to be seen at a large screen, or preferably in a cinema, though that might be difficult for most.

This is one fine example of how great New Zealand cinema scene is, and I'll without any doubt consider this as a classic but refined gore, which should inspire many.

So get gold of this must-see film! But, of course... be nimble!

i like Australian and newzeeland film making in general,but this one is at least as outstanding as "once we were warriors"(not that you could compare these two goodies...) sound,light and camera are really stunning and well balanced.

i really like the performances of all the actors,too! arquette is more than convincing in giving an carping asshole-until it comes out WHY he's acting like this all the time and won't be let alone! this film is a sensual experience,don't miss it!! a shame,that this director did not produce one "real",feauture-length movie since than. this was are more than promising afford, but today, i think he only directs c-class TV-crap like "xenia"(?) and similar low-quality stuff.