A Cidade Maldita

The notion that a parcel of land-- as opposed to a house, a man-made object or a person's family bloodline-- can become permanently and irreversibly tainted with supernatural evil as a result of gruesome tragedies that occur there is a recurring theme in horror from New Zealand, where good farmland is precious. This N. Z. production starts out like just another of the many TEXAS CHAINSAW ripoffs but then gradually develops its scenario into something startlingly original, interesting and spooky. Two college-age buddies, a shy, serious-minded one and a goofy wisecracking one, head into the backwoods on a camping trip hoping to catch up on their friendship and just generally get their heads together. One of the guys is depressed because his girlfriend just dumped him for not liking Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS movies. They have a chance meeting with two cute girls whose clothes and hairstyles appear about 20 years out of date. Far from civilization or familiar surroundings, they witness a murder and suddenly find themselves being pursued by a gang of ignorant backwoods goons armed with rifles and led by the killer. This might sound like the same sort of thing you've seen a thousand times before, but THE LOCALS has a uniquely eerie feel. The story becomes less predictable as it advances into dreamlike confusion over exactly what has happened to whom, and when. That's not to say that just anything can happen, however. The plot actually sticks to its own logic enough to make sense if you're paying attention. There are some great and odd-looking special effects, excellent acting, appropriately witty dialogue and a simple but very clever storyline that sets the movie apart from all the typically cheap and uninspired crazy-rednecks-chasing-city-folks-in-the-woods movies spawned by the success of TEXAS CHAINSAW. The killers appear as violent and threatening without ever lapsing into camp parody and the bloody killings here carry more of a sense of tragedy and emotional loss than in most stalker films. And it's nice to see a film of this type that goes beyond simply presenting a series of murders and actually goes to the trouble to tell a real story. The leader of the murderous "locals" is played by the actor who was Professor Challenger on the short-lived ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S THE LOST WORLD TV series. If you like backwoods horror tales, THE LOCALS is one to look for.

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!

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.

If Hollywood had made this movie (and smoothed out some hitches that presumably came with a low budget) the critics may well have been raving about it.

In many ways it could have been another 'The Others'.

Most of the acting is quite acceptable for a low budget horror movie; the photography is very well done and the script itself is ambitious and doesn't miss by much, which is saying something. Some of the foreshadowing is top notch.

Either way well worth watching and miles ahead of so much Hollywood horror pap!

As ghost stories go this was relatively original and will be appreciated by those looking for something different.

Two friends hit the road for a surfing trip and decide to take a short-cut when night falls to speed up their journey.On their way they meet a couple of girls with a fast car and are invited to a party.In the following car race,the guys crash their car and go looking for help.They approach a farmhouse but as they look in the window,they see someone being murdered.Now the friends are on the run from the locals who want to kill them."The Locals" is a major disappointment.The film plays like the cross of "Deliverance" and "The Sixth Sense",but as an avid horror fan I found it dull and suspenseless.The locals are neither scary nor menacing.The photography is good and there are some creepy locations,but the absence of suspense is hard to forgive.The director shows some potential,so hopefully his next horror project will be more intense than unexciting "The Locals".5 out of 10.