The Second

Great Aussie landscape and actors in a European-esque complex emotional mystery. Would fit well between some of the more in an international field. Something that stands out and above from the regular slew of usual horrors and self-deprecating comedies that normally find their way to screen. And well handled by the stellar cast who all have many moments to shine

Not much positive to say, except that the landscapes were often stunning.

A well crafted and well scripted, character driven 3 piece, that does away with the well worn Aussie stereotypes, to create a drama/thriller with tension, intrigue and sexual tension, that keeps the audience guessing until it's final resolution, with great performances - including a standout from Rachael Blake. The film is also wonderful to look at, with location and landscape well supported by beautiful production and costume design and cinematography with a moody European sensibility. An impressive work from director Mairi Cameron.

The first minute of this film made me dislike the central character. I persevered with the movie for another hour feeling that it had possibility. Once the gore started it totally lost me. The plot is confused and silly. The characters are all one dimensional and unlikable. Don't waste 90 minutes of your life on this nonsense.

Rachael Blake plays a novelist who's extremely pleased with herself and makes a point of being either sour or enigmatic or both simultaneously. She and her publisher (Vince Colossimo) visit her country mansion so she can write her second novel without distractions. He seems extremely dim - for a publisher. But that's handy because all she seems to want from him is sex, or to be able to humiliate him. Nothing much happens for the first half hour. Except we meet the standard menacing local bloke in a flannelette shirt, and there are flashes of past somethings - very brief, too brief to stimulate much anticipation. Then the novelist's fun-loving besty (Susie Porter) turns up, and larger hints are made about the dark secret of their past, but not much happens that you don't expect will happen. A triangle develops, the dark secret is gradually revealed, but are the "shocking" scenes we see part of the novel being written, or are they really happening? I didn't care. This is one of those 20 minute stories that are chopped up into 90 minute jigsaw puzzles in the hope that you won't notice that not much is going on. As far as interesting characters or story are concerned, "The Second" woefully neglects its audience.