Locusts

Glad I hung in there from the slow start. Well worth it. Well done my Aussie cousins.

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

Or the adventures of a tenderfoot in the outback. I expected far more from this Aussie film. Far more. At first, I thought it would be some kind of STRAW DOGS scheme, at least more or less, where a well educated man from the big city fighting against local rednecks. Actually, it is, but not as I imagined. We can however appreciate the character, from the typical soft tenderfoot to a tougher one But it is not Dustin Hoffman in STRAW DOGS, nor Jack Lemmon in COWBOY. That remains a good thriller drama, very well acted, well made, but with a predictable and run of the mill ending. Most of the film is saved by the magnificent settings, the Australian landscape is always the main, lead character, the trademark of Australian film industry.

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.