L'esprit du mal

This film is easily some of BMX Bandits star John Ley's best work. His part as the detective trying to catch the astral travelling killer is played with the skill of an acting genius. The plot is thin, to say the least, but you can't go past a low quality Australian movie like this. The slender plot is sure to provide a few laughs (it's not supposed to be a comedy!), as are those ridiculous black eyes...

One evening I wanted to watch with my two friends the film "Scream" but we had borrowed the wrong one and the lady had given "Out of the Body" to us. So we watched it and we almost just laughed. The whole film is so stupid that I can't really explain it. At the beginning a woman is hanging in the air or when the man is at the psychiatrist's and suddenly opens his eyes and starts to scream it is so strange and silly that you just can laugh. WARNING: Don't watch this film!!!

An invisible force is killing prominent women in Sydney, leaving them sans their eyes. David is a twitchy musician who has visions of the victims whenever he's asleep, usually right before they're attacked. Wondering why he's seeing this, David attempts to warn several women of the danger as well as find out who or what is behind the killings.

From cult director Brian Trenchard-Smith, this film is a complete and utter blast. The story isn't always the most coherent, but the film is fun from beginning to end. The lead is quite the dope too, never missing an opportunity to make himself look like the #1 suspect. He even gets involved in some bedtime cat fu. Anyway, the first kill scene is pretty out there, and I liked the use of lighting at the TV reporter's house... reminiscent of Argento's Inferno.

I wouldn't say this is a good film, but as far as entertainment goes, it delivers in spades.

When David Gaze (Mark Hembrow) falls asleep his spirit leaves his body to go on astral jaunts around town during which he witnesses a series of murders.

Australian B-movie/exploitation director Brian Trenchard-Smith might not be a true cinematic auteur, but I've never been disappointed by his work as far as pure entertainment goes. Out of the Body is admittedly a very silly effort, and one that careens wildly out of control in its final act, but it certainly isn't boring, and as far as I am concerned that is more than half the battle won.

With numerous supernatural murders, a sex scene that turns into a nightmare, the brutal slaying of an innocent pet cat, a possessed car, and an outrageously over-the-top performance from its star, quite how anyone can feel short-changed by this film is completely beyond my comprehension. Trenchard's direction isn't without style either, the out of body sequences making great use of strong coloured lighting and smooth POV camera-work.

In fact, the film is worth a watch just to witness Gaze waking from one of his nightmarish astral journeys to find himself throttling the cat—it's absolutely hilarious!

Probably the last thing the world needed in 1989 was another misogynistic slasher with a supernatural twist. Luckily, this one is directed by Aussie veteran and workaholic Brian Trenchard-Smith! His name doesn't necessarily guarantee good cinema, but at least you can rest assured it'll be entertaining, action-packed, gory and unhinged! Everyone who saw "Blood Camp Thatcher", "Dead-End Drive In", or "Night of the Demons II" knows what I'm talking about.

Stylish, prominent women are brutally getting murdered in Sydney, but it's clear from the very first kill the culprit isn't human. Weirdo David Gaze is somehow linked to the murders, because he witnesses the crimes when his mind leaves his body whilst sleeping. It's a paranormal concept called astral projection, ... or something. David is also clumsy and unsubtle enough to draw all suspicion towards him, because he knows half of the victims and stalks the other half.

Not a whole lot in "Out of the Body" makes any sense, to be honest. The overall plot is far too insane to take seriously, and the supernatural elements constantly undercut the tension. The kills are excellent, though, notably the nasty first murder in a back alley, and the grisly murder of the TV anchorwoman in her own house.