The Pact

About twenty years ago, Steven Spielberg said that Sigrid Thornton was the most beautiful woman in the world. She still is! I was mesmerized by her looks in The Pact. She's now in her early forties but she still has those fantastic eyes and great face. In The Pact she plays a mum on the run trying to protect her daughter. This film kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The guy chasing Sigrid and her daughter is one scary dude. He's played by Robert Mammone who by the way is a member of Russel Crowe's band 30 Odd Foot of Grunt. Robert and Russell met filming the "The Crossing" about 15 years ago which movie trivia buffs will know was also the same film that starred Russell's now wife Danielle Spencer! Anyway, The Pact is a well made film with great performances and some lovely scenery, especially in the farm scenes. But be warned. It's scary!

Train surfing...the opening sequence summons up memories of teenage thrills long past. A group of young thrill seekers, agree to meet again in 15 years and 'do it again'. A strong cast led by Australia's legendary Sigrid Thornton, delves into human psyche and dreams abandoned. Peter O'Brien also brings experience as the lonely farmer as the story opens up in to a form of psychological thriller. The stand out performance is from Robert Mammone who plays the 'is he dead or isn't he' character of Wilga. The final climactic scene aboard the train could have been stronger but given the limited budget, still manages to satisfy. An indie flick for sure but nonetheless provides a good 90 minutes of Aussie film making entertainment.

There are a lot of "woman in danger" flicks around but this one is really different and really enjoyable. But scary! It is fast paced with a very interesting and relentless villain. Robert Mammone is just great as Wilga. We are not sure if he is really alive or a ghost of some kind and that really adds to the scariness. Susan Tuttle is a woman who had the misfortune to team up with the wrong guy a long time ago when they used to go train surfing. When he comes back into her life insisting that she honor a promise made 15 years earlier, she has to go on the run with her daughter and their little dog. The producers have done a great job in matching the two actresses who play Susan Tuttle. The gorgeous (well, my husband thinks she's gorgeous!) young Saskia Burmeister plays the teenage Susan and the exquisite beauty Sigrid Thornton plays the older Susan. Sigrid is already a big star and I predict Saskia will be huge after "Hating Alison Ashley." What I really loved about The Pact was that I could imagine myself in Susan's position and wonder if I would have had the courage to do what she did. All the actors are really good and I especially got the hots for Peter O'Brien! It is a lot of years since I saw him in The Flying Doctors but he is still a spunk!!! He is great in this and it shows what a sensitive actor he is. I was holding my husband's hand the whole time through The Pact because I was so on edge. This is what a thriller should be. Fast paced and scary.

It's action meets thriller meets psychological drama meets ten turns flat out on a roller coaster ride. And not for a moment does the pace of The Pact dwindle. Whilst traditional in its wallpapered love story of boy meets girl, boy helps girl, boy loves girl scenario, it's the series of events - many of them totally unpredictable - that bring two fabulous Australian actors (Sigrid Thornton and Peter O'Brien) together that makes this movie the heart-stopper that it is. Imagine being in a terrifying rape situation, only to have a guy who unknown to you has been living in your roof suddenly drop through the ceiling to save you. Now do you get what I mean? Get it, watch it. It's fine Australian screen writing and fine Australian acting. You'll be glad you did.

When you have a great cast lead by Australia's best Sigrid Thornton acting out a good story, it must be a winner. Action and drama but not using the wis bang computer graphics that tend sometimes to detract from real action believability. I really enjoyed this movie for many reasons and it's good to see an Australian product that will stand up in any country in the world. First class, don't miss it. Mike