Habitantes de la noche

Not many Americans like films from outside the States, but THE LOCALS is one worth looking all over for. Sure its low budget but the story line is brilliant and will leave you guessing up into the very end. THE LOCALS is in a way like LOST if you miss a beat you will go into a tailspin. Greg Page does not say the full story at once but it is up to the viewer to make the connections before the end, if you succeed, congratulations, if not by the end you will. I found THE LOCALS to be more of a thriller rather then horror, I did not fear for my life or hide under a bed but it kept me on my toes. I did get connected with the characters, and felt badly for them, wanting them to get out of the Zone before something bad happened.

I will be hunting night and day for Greg Page's next movie, and as a filmmaker he has given me new outlook on how to make a brilliant low budget movie sill fascinating,

I've just read a review that slags this baby off and there is no way that I can let that particularly misguided reviewer have the last word. he accuses New Zealanders of bigging the film up and criticises the use of lighting and the acting - wrong on all counts, boy! I'm a Brit and I have no particular reason to pretend that a film from New Zealand is good if it isn't. BUT THIS IS WONDERFUL STUFF!!! Low budget maybe, low key for sure - but the film takes its time allowing us to get to know our main characters (pretty clichéd characters but convincing and effective nevertheless. It builds up a spooky atmosphere, allows us to slowly realize that all is not well. The beautiful scenery of the daylight becomes a mysterious place of strange shadows at night. Here is where the lighting works so well. Yes, lots of areas are deliberately over lit - making central occurrences stand out starkly whilst blackness surrounds in a claustrophobic manner. The graveyard is eerily lit - standing like a beacon of badness amidst the shadows. The acting is fine - certainly far better than some of its amateur origins might suggest. I would recommend this film for anyone whether they be a horror fan or a student of film-making on a budget. New Zealand just showed big bucks Hollywood how to make something scary!

I thought the LocaLs was going to be a sad B-Grade Kiwi horror but it turned out to be the wickedest New Zealand movie ever. I particularly like Dave Gibson's role as Nev the 80's bad guy zooming round in a metallic purple (Ford Escort?). It was ace, his voice is so growly and deep and his kiwi accent is just so ...local. I was a bit worried about the acting from John Barker and Dwayne Cameron at first but as the movie progressed I just started to feel for them...I mean they were just city boys aye? By the time Paul was being forced to dig up those bones I just wanted to jump in there and help him. Awesome. I want to congratulate Dave Gibson in particular I thought he was cracker.

"The Locals" is a chilling film that is most effective if you watch it with no expectations or knowledge of its content. As a result, I'll say very little about the plot other than it centres around two young friends, Grant and Paul, who are on holiday to surf. Unfortunately, things don't work out quite as they expected when they meet two young girls, Kelly and Lisa.

This atmospheric film has impressive production values for such a low budget movie and it definitely hits the mark. The cast are excellent and the main characters are likable.

7 out of 10. An unpredictable and pleasant surprise.

This is an above average script - compelling at times - but it's let down by uninspired directing and merely adequate acting . If it had been made by M. Night Shyamalan it would have been an absolute blinder, but as it was so many potentially chilling scenes were just wasted opportunities (all "the Locals" appearing out of the dark, Grant hiding in the kitchen, Paul's dawning understanding in the ditch). The rock soundtrack doesn't help either; they're good tunes, but they're not exactly subtle - that all important suspense is killed off once and for all. This is one situation where a Hollywood remake might actually be a good thing.