American Happy Day

Whoever wrote the last review simply doesn't get the film.

While there's a happy-go-lucky veneer to everything, like the surfing, the sex and "larrikin" behaviour (wild young lads basically), that's mostly on the surface. The scenery is actually far from cheery... in fact, it is used on some occasions in ways that could have been straight out of "Twin Peaks" (especially the shots of the sun rising over the sea), if it wasn't for the climate. The menacing Bush (no pun intended) is a common feature in Aussie films, perhaps too much so.

As for "slurred slang", this is how Australians speak. Sorry! There is only one part where I couldn't make it out, which is a rude remark Boo makes to a girl in a greasy burger joint. If Americans really need subtitles to work out Australian dialogue, I suggest they go and study the language at night class.

Mel Gibson is indeed wrongly touted as the star of the film on the packaging, but he is by no means a "very minor role", in fact he is one of the group of four young men on whom the action is centred, and who witnesses (and keeps quiet about) certain things which are integral to the plot.

Also the last reviewer is wrong about it being set in the seventies - it was made then, but from the title sequence, and the music which gets played it's clearly meant to be the sixties! So, I reckon the film has its flaws, but it's an interesting piece - if only to see Mel in his "introducing" role.

Viewers won't miss much of the 'Summer City' ('Reign of Fear' for us Yanks) plot if they fastforward to the last forty minutes of this movie, as much of the movie is just filled with scenes that look like minute preparation for a string of Mentos commercials. The ample cheery scenery and happy 70s romp music seem very contradictory to the thriller mood. Add to the mix a indiscernable audio (not that the dialogue matters much, anyways) and slurred slang, it is a pretty boring movie.

Four friends--I'm not sure if they're supposed to be teenagers (none of them look younger than 25, but there's some scenes where they look like they're at a school dance)-- take a road trip to kick back, hit the pubs, and go surfing. Tension builds among the group between Sandy, a quiet young man who is angered by the obnoxious, womanizing Boo who seduces a teenaged girl while on their trip in one of his usual one night stands. Meanwhile, the girl's psychotic dad is also looking for Boo out of revenge for what he did to his daughter. Boo is in for a major wake up call. This is essentially the only substance of the film, a very simple story with no major drama or action, and even a let down ending.

Despite Mel Gibson being heralded as the star of the movie, his named marqueed in large letters, he is pretty inconsequential to the movie, and has a very minor role.

What could've been more like a version of "Deliverance," turned out to be a very boring movie that suffers from many faults as far as story and production values.

Everyone has to start somewhere and this was where Mel started. Plot is alright,the acting quality is variable, certainly John Jarrett, Steve Bisley (and Mel) have done better but I found the movie entertaining and watchable - just don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.

Summer City in itself isn't so great, but it's fully worth watching to see stellar Mel in superb form even in his first professional outing, just like he was a class act in his first outing as director in The Man Without A Face, though 16 years more tremendously developed ('77-'93) in his craft. If you fast forward through most of the parts without Mel you won't miss much. Funny how for a supposedly minor part all the "stars" sought out his special character Scollop as if for validation. Already, even without the title, he was the star in his first appearance, and as selfless as ever. What a tremendous guy!

With all due respect to the previous reviewer, Mel Gibson is not the star of this 1977 Australian drama, sometimes known as "Coast of Terror." He is, however, very good in his film debut as Scollop, one of four young men on a weekend jaunt set sometime during the early 60's, judging by all the long surfboards and rock music of the era. The real stars are John Jarrat as Sandy, a quiet, introspective young man who is shortly to be married, and Steve Bisley as Boo, whose only focus in life seems to be having a good time, including a brief fling with Sandy's intended. It is the contrast of these two characters and the events that lead to the violent, tragic climax that make the film worth a view.

This is a very low budget film that suffers quite a bit from poor sound recording and inconsistent editing. The poor sound, coupled with very thick Australian accents will prompt American viewers to ask "What did he say?" throughout the film. On the plus side, the acting is very good for a low budget film and the Australian locales really add authenticity.

In addition to Gibson, this was also Bisley's film debut. They would re-team for George Miller's first "Mad Max" film as fellow police officers. In the United States, their Australian accents were dubbed into "American."