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"The Loved Ones" is an adequate example of the now well-worn "torture" genre, but for the most part it's likely to give viewers a feeling of deja vu. It gets more interesting & amusing as it goes along, but doesn't have very much plot - or much point to it at all. It's likely to delight the hardcore horror crowd who favour cruelty and plenty of gore, in any event. The main asset is a memorable antagonist who's cute but deadly. We don't ever get to know the victim that well, but it's not exactly hard to feel bad for him. (One thing must be said: he has a lot of fight in him!) Also, there's a subplot with two characters that never really goes anywhere.

Lola, a.k.a. "Princess" (Robin McLeavy, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"), doesn't take rejection well at all. When Brent (Xavier Samuel, "Road Train") declines to take her to the prom, she gets back at him in a major way, by having her dear old daddy (John Brumpton, "Storm Warning") abduct Brent so they can spend the night tormenting him at their own private gathering. Soon he learns just how utterly demented this duo is; meanwhile, people notice he's missing and try to track him down.

If it weren't for a squirm-inducing scene involving a power drill - it's the sound effects that really sell it - and the tour de force acting by McLeavy, there wouldn't be much to recommend this. That is, of course, unless one is partial to this sort of material to begin with. Unfortunately, even for a movie running a scant 85 minutes long, it feels longer than it is. And it's ultimately pretty damn predictable.

Good soundtrack, though.

Six out of 10.

A far from original tale that bleeds from the initial events when a young and inexperienced driver, through very little fault of his own, removes an important part of his parental relationship by crashing the car at the price of his father's life. As is customary in the genre, the events that unfold some months later are probably more a reflection of the guilt, mental health and anguish being suffered by the young driver, although to believe the type of sadistic pairing he encounters exists, and that they were able to get away with their brutality in the first instance, is far from believable (or maybe not in the place this was made). If you like a bit of incestuous, torturous tyranny, like the aforementioned pair, for no other reason than that's how you get your kicks, then pile in and gorge on the cruelty and sadistic savagery of shallowness.

Many horror movies have been made about high school outcasts. High School in itself can be and is a real horror story for many kids across the world. "The Loved Ones" tells such a story that goes to extreme and disturbing lengths. The movie is from and based in Victoria, Australia and when it comes to bat s**t crazy movies the Aussies really go all out. Lola (Robin McLeavy) is a seemingly shy and meek girl who gathers her courage to ask her crush Brent (Xavier Samuel) to the prom. While Brent who looks a lot like the late Heath Ledger, already has a girlfriend he is going with. He politely declines her offer and leaves. Obviously hurt and disappointed Lola who with help from her father have plans to make it a night to remember.

Ever since Brent was involved in a car accident that took his dad's life he has never been the same. He was driving at the time and blames himself for his death. His mom has also become an emotional zombie. He spends his days smoking pot, listening to heavy metal music and contemplating suicide. His girlfriend Holly is caring and supportive but can only do so much. Just before picking her up for the dance he goes on another one of his lonely contemplative walks, when he is assaulted and kidnapped. If you can connect the dots you'll guess that it was Lola and her father. They bring him to their house and tie him to a chair.

A lot of what we see in the first half of "The Loved Ones" is nothing new, but things do get a lot better. Brent is tortured by Lola and her father. The family along with their creepy comatose almost dead mother is somewhat reminiscent of the crazy family from "Texas Chainsaw" but so many films have gone there it has become quite the horror cliché. At one point Brent does escape, but is quickly rounded up.

There is another storyline going on that really doesn't seem too fit. It follows Brent's BFF Jaime as he takes this Goth chick to the prom. They spend most of the time in the car drinking, smoking pot and being uncomfortable with each other until they start making out. There are some good character moments and the filmmakers do try to link up some of the characters and their "loved ones" towards the end but the whole storyline seems a little misguided. A third story line involves Holly, Brent's mother, and a policeman as they search for Brent.

Lola's torture of Brent starts going to extreme lengths and we also find out a bunch of disturbing back story of the family and what is really going on in their house. Brent is not her first play thing as there have been many others just like him, and she is getting good at it. The movie continues to go down a very dark path and gets just as insane as Lola and her father. Brent throughout his ordeal shows a strong will to live as he fights back against his captors with every chance he gets. The movie comes in at a very trim hour and twenty minutes and although it was made on a tight budget it looks and feels like something that cost a whole lot more. The violence and gore is pretty intense and extremely well done. This is director Sean Byrne feature debut and it will be interesting to see what he comes up with next. "The Loved Ones" is available on DVD or Blu-ray and is a must see for any horror fan.

from the first scene The Loved Ones is able to achieve what bigger budgeted films cannot - clearly defined and appealing characters that you want to see more of.

the film splits 3 ways - the very serious family drama of the widow and tortured girlfriend - the comic/horror torture porn - and the comic high school formal/prom date. Sean Byrne shows off that he can do it all and succeeds hopping between these styles

the horror thread of this film is what it will marketed on. there is blood, LOTS OF BLOOD but very little gore. disappointingly, much of the violence takes place out of shot or has been cut. it is the weakest part of the film due to some over-acting by Princess whenever she goes 'crazy'. still, it's horrific and compensates by being damn funny

so, SCREW IT! this film is fun to watch!

excellent performances, good soundtrack and smooth production. i saw it at the Sydney Film Festival last night and i was very impressed. my apologies to Jessica McNamee. during a Q&A i referred to her as "thingy who played the goth chick'". she is awesome! her work with Richard Wilson is freakin' brilliant. the disastrous prom date, though loosely connected to the rest of the film, is my favourite part of it

not knowing where this film is going to lead you is half the fun. low-budget non-US films try harder and take risks. The Loved Ones does it all. Perfect date movie. See it!

This movie is a hell of a lot of fun. That's really all there is to it.

Having said that, it isn't without its faults. There will be things you don't understand, characters that aren't fleshed out, side stories that are seemingly pointless and don't really push the plot forward, etc. But really, did you expect that much from torture porn? But perhaps fans of the genre might find The Loved Ones a little unsatisfying, as some gore bits aren't as cringe-inducing as they could've been.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. The build up was a little boring, but by the end, man was my heart pumping. I was rooting for the main guy so hard! This is definitely a popcorn flick that doesn't require a lot of critical thinking. The characters are... charming, actors are great, the story unique, execution very nice, and the production design is also surprisingly aesthetically-pleasing. I think horror fans should definitely give this movie a go.

Totally surprised by how awesome this was. I was expecting some campy shallow high school horror film and instead got real thrills, real scares, and REAL CHARACTERS! Can't stress that enough. Awesome performances by actors who had characters written as real people, not effen cardboard cutouts like most slasher films. The only thing that kept me from giving this a ten and declaring it perfect was it is a little thin on any level other than shock-fest. We're treated to a weird family and twisted attachments but it could have been a vehicle to actually SAY something. But even though it didn't make me put on my thinking cap or change my world-view, it was still so much more impressive than I was prepared for!

There may be nothing new under the sun, and there is certainly nothing new on celluloid, but this digital-age flick sure can jump-start a tired old corpse. This one is a creeper, in every sense of the word. It starts slow, but adds speed as it navigates a wasteland littered with slasher-stereotype roadkill, delivering fresh nuances and jolts to the hostage splatterfest subgenre. Managing to be charmingly outback Aussie, yet simultaneously brutally classic Texan Chainsaw/Hills Have Eyes, this may-well be a modern classic. Engrossingly gross, and satisfyingly slick, with crunchy bits.

Torture horror has gone pretty stale since "Hostel". The genre has gotten boring and I really doubted that I would ever enjoy another torture horror film. But man did "The Loved Ones" prove me wrong on that one.

The movie follows along the same line as your typical torture horror film, but they throw in a few original ideas in there to make the movie feel fresh. Whenever you feel the movie is about to get dull, something happens that spark your interest yet again. Also, a lot of things get thrown at you that you simply don't expect.

The gore level is VERY high. There are a lot of very graphics scenes and if you are the type of person who can't handle high amounts of gore I wouldn't suggest this to you.

The movie however does have its downsides. The main character isn't very likable so that makes it kind of hard to root for him through out the movie. Also, even though there are a lot of original aspects to this movie it does still have a lot of "torture horror" clichés that keep the movie from being perfect.

"The Love Ones" is not for everybody, if you didn't enjoy "Hostel" you probably won't enjoy this. But if you were a fan of "Hostel", and really want to see a film along the same lines but with some original elements I highly suggest checking this out.

A very fun and crazy ride 7/10

I attended the International Premiere of "The Loved Ones" at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. In two words, the film is an instant classic. Sam Raimi step aside! This Australian "Carrie"-meets-"Misery" flick is perfectly executed in the hands of first-time feature director Sean Byrne. Star Xavier Samuel, as the sullen Brent, is simply mindboggling. He will eclipse many young actors in this awesome performance. He pulls off a stunning, agonizingly horrific portrayal of a teen forced to suffer at the hands of classmate Lola (Robin McLeavy), the jilted would-be prom queen.

The small cast boasts standout performances from Victoria Thaine as Brent's "real" girlfriend Holly and Jessica McNamee as Mia. As Lola's father Eric, John Brumpton is the creepiest villain this side of Michael Myers.

"The Loved Ones" is not for the faint of heart. Visuals are shockingly realistic and beyond compare. Robert Webb's production design is a character unto itself. Bright colors and cheery music are a perfect counterpoint to the horrific action taking place in the claustrophobic setting. Byrne's team fires on all cylinders, crafting a modern horror story that has cult classic written all over it, in blood.

Most of all, though, this is a tour de force for the young Samuel. It's too bad they don't have Oscars for "Best at Pain Endurance." His performance in "The Loved Ones" gives new meaning to the term "tortured actor."

It's no surprise that Sean Byrne's relentlessly blood-soaked The Loved Ones won the Cadillac People's Choice Award at TIFF's midnight screening. The young Australian writer/director has since been hard-pressed for free time as many in Hollywood have been vying for his attention.

Since the film's premiere in Toronto, Byrne has been making frequent trips to LA and has been invited to speak with top execs. On this particular trip, Byrne's schedule has been tightly booked from morning until night on every single day thus far, including weekends.

For those who haven't seen The Loved Ones, it is an indie-horror treat. Let's just say, if Carrie from "Carrie" and Jigsaw from "Saw" "wanted to play a game," this film would be the perfect compromise between their approaches. What results is an anti-John-Hughes film that offers a cynical, frightening re-imagining of a high-school prom. The Loved Ones

The film benefits from a cast which is in full-tune with its director. And unlike many horror films today, Byrne's even has something to say. The film's bizarre title provokes us to think about the consequences of unrequited love and, more importantly, the real victims. Of course life would be easier if anyone we fell in love with immediately felt the same way. But in The Loved Ones, love is played as more of a cruel game for all characters.

It may be a bit unusual for American moviegoers to see a horror film carried by actors who speak with Australian accents. Although Peter Jackson was able to earn instant cult-status with his blood-splasher Dead Alive through similar New Zealand accents. Jackson and Byrne already share some in common.

Like Jackson, Byrne seems to be fascinated with shock-horror, fantasy, and even the supernatural. There is also an indie feel to Byrne's work reminiscent of Jackson's earlier low-budget films. So long as the young and talented Byrne is making movies, he just might have to get used to spending more time in Hollywood than at home.

www.filmcrusade.com

On the surface, The Loved Ones may appear like just another teen horror flick involving a little bit of crazy, a little bit of sex, and a ton of violence. While it does certainly have all those things, The Loved Ones takes every horror element, and pushes it to wonderfully disturbing new heights. Completely over the top in every way, this film is both a top notch horror flick, and something you won't soon forget.

The plot of the film is something that may seem familiar. We have Brent, the good-looking popular guy who turns down Lola, the outsider, for the prom. Unbeknownst to Brent, Lola is a psychopath and decides to kidnap Brent and create her own prom. Things quickly escalate and get bloody. And weird.

Filmed and released in Australia in 2009, The Loved Ones had a very difficult time getting distribution in the states, even though it was considered a darling of the festivals and was well received by fans and critics. Fortunately, Paramount's micro-budget label Insurge picked up the film and set it for a June 1st theatrical release.

The Loved Ones is not your typical horror movie. Yes, it has all the horror movie tropes, and yet it excels in the areas most horror films falter. First time writer/director Sean Byrne was able to create something that drips with style, and has the substance to back it. With some very rich and disturbing imagery and interesting characters, this is a treat for genre fans.

The character of Brent (Xavier Samuel), who becomes hapless victim, is an atypical version of a horror protagonist. First, he's a guy, something that is not usual for the slasher film, and second, he has a backstory. In the early moments of the film, we get to know this character, and his difficult past. We see the inner-turmoil he's dealing with, and we are shown right off the bat, that he's not a bad guy. Normally, in these types of films (Misery comes to mind), the kidnap victim was a jerk, and may have deserved some type of punishment. That wasn't the case in this film, and because of that, the empathy one feels for Brent becomes greater.

Although Brent may be the main character of the film, as with most horror movies, the villain is always the most interesting part. Robin McLeavy plays Lola, a teenage girl who's twisted and sadistic tendencies know no bounds. She's pure evil and seems to have a penchant for power tools. Think Kathy Bates from Misery meets Leatherface. McLeavy plays the part very well, and does an excellent job portraying a teenage psychopath.

While it wouldn't necessarily be considered torture-porn, The Loved Ones is not for the faint of heart. The levels of violence and bloodshed are through the roof, and there are multiple cringe-worthy moments. It only take a few minutes to get the blood to start flowing and once it does, better get a raincoat.

It doesn't redefine the genre, and it's rough around the edges, but The Loved Ones is still a shining example of how to make a good horror movie. It may have taken several years to get to the states but don't let that dissuade you. It's crazy, it's bizarre, and it's a must see for genre fans.

Adam FilmPulse.net

Fun outback horror ride

Plausible geeky characters and a fun way to pass some time.

Annoys me that the main protagonist looks about 30 and is supposed to be at school but hey . . . .

The Loved Ones is written and directed by Sean Byrne and stars Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeavy and John Brumpton. An Australian horror, the plot sees Brent Mitchell (Samuel) kill his father in a car accident. Stricken with grief he attempts to get on with his life aided by his girlfriend Holly (Victoria Thaine). But when the quietest girl in school, Lola Stone (McLeavy), asks him to the prom and he says no, he finds that he is suddenly the prom king star of a very different sort of party....

Kinda sick, kinda twisted, but an utterly compelling Aussie blood letting exercise that transcends torture porn whilst revelling in a sick sense of humour. With wry observations on teen angst and meditations on grief, loneliness, alienation and forbidden desires, Sean Byrne's film isn't out to solely shock the audience. With an evidently small budget to work from, Byrne has kept things tight and minimalist, this aids the film considerably, adding a sort of realism to the characters before it goes into overdrive as Brent (Samuel superb) finds that politely turning down Lola's (McLeavy a wonderfully monstrous creation) request has opened up (literally) a new world of pain. There's a misstep of a subplot involving another fumbling Goth couple actually going to the real prom, it serves no purpose other than to up the horny angst quota, but this is mostly slick/sick stuff. Backed by a kicking soundtrack, that's headed by the reoccurring Kasey Chambers hit single "Not Pretty Enough", itself creepy personified, The Loved Ones is highly recommended to horror fans who like a bit of torture in their diets. 8/10

Lola is denied her request by Brent to go to the school dance. So she kidnaps Brent. Once you get into her home the horror is more than just visual. She has daddy issues. It is disturbing how close they are. Norma and Norman Bates level almost. Very graphic and gory at points. Nice to see the torture of a male teen vs the amount of women in horror movies.

What a ride! Just when I think it can't get worse for the victim, there's more pain just ahead. I'm on the edge of my seat the entire second half of the film looking for the redemption, the escape, the retribution. O M G, does it ever end? Forget zombies, this bitch does it live.

Daddy Dearest is another possible title. I was looking for the incest and the director does a deft job of keeping it 'just right there' without actually becoming... or does he? We see the setup; you can taste the realization. You almost have it in your grasp, but wait...

OK, so the first half is just denouement filler but it gets so much better. This film could have used some American (or maybe Japanese) cinematography and tons more budget yet it still pulls it off. Excellent film work closer to the end setting up the visual struggles that dialog can't.

Overall I would say this film is the little train that could. "I think I can, I think I can..." And then it does. Enjoy.

I'd heard good things about THE LOVED ONES, and I was looking forward to seeing it: it promised a level of Antipodean nastiness on par with the quietly disturbing WOLF CREEK, another opportunity for the Australians to get one over on Hollywood. Sadly, it turns out to be a quite awful movie, almost descending to the level of amateur filmmaking on more than one occasion. This is derivative bunkum that offers a few nice establishing shots of the outback, but that's about it.

The small-scale storyline is about a crazy girl whose offer to accompany her chosen partner to the prom is rejected, leading to a rampage of revenge. It sounds ridiculous, and CARRIE this ain't: THE LOVED ONES is content to emulate rather than innovate and has little to do with reality. In the end, it turns out to be nothing more than a HOSTEL-inspired, strapped-to-a-chair torture flick. It's totally unbelievable with it, especially in regards to how much punishment a body can undergo while still functioning normally.

The plotting is so thin on the ground that there are loads of unnecessary scenes to make the movie longer: endless, needless sex scenes, dull dialogue, and a totally extraneous sub-plot involving a goth girl attending the prom that's just there to pad things out another twenty minutes. Sure, there are flashes of interest – the usual bizarre rural families (see STORM WARNING for a similar, better movie) for whom craziness is a way of life, some outrageous dinner table scenes (c.f. BRAINDEAD), and John Brumpton's character, who belongs in a better movie. But for the most part, THE LOVED ONES is a total turn-off.

Brent Mitchell kills his father in a car accident after avoiding a bloody guy in the middle of the road. Six months later, he is haunted into a danger-seeking weed-smoking haze. He is attending the school dance with girlfriend Holly and gently turns down the awkward Lola Stone. His schlubby friend Jamie asks out hot girl with attitude Mia Valentine. Lola's father kidnaps Brent. Lola throws a disturbing private End of School Dance in their den with her father and the lobotomized Bright Eyes. Brent's mother Carla and Holly suspect foulplay while Jamie goes out with Mia.

It's bloody. It's torture. It's teen melodrama. Robin McLeavy has a great insanity. The story does meander a bit. I'm not sure if Jamie and Mia are that directly connected to the action but their date is a good break from the torture. Overall, it's a good bloody time.

I watched this film because my parents put it on. Thought they don't always choose my cup of tea, this choice was frankly bizarre.

This film was classed as horror but it's just gratuitous gore than doesn't really scare. The psychopathic Lola is just too ridiculous, and her supposedly scary taunting gets boring very quickly. There are several scenes that go on for far too long, and are punctuated by a poorly put together alternate story that is only very loosely linked to the rest of the 'plot'. Speaking of which, the scenes just seem to 'happen', with no build up, suspense or back-story.

I'm struggling to think of any positives. I could probably say that the comic relief isn't too horrendous.

I would advise strongly against this film.