Jack Be Nimble

"Jack Be Nimble" is a strange and unpleasant movie, the result of an unsuccessful attempt to mix a whimsical gothic horror story with down-and-dirty social realism. The movie doesn't manage any atmosphere or scares and thus fails as horror, gothic or otherwise. Its attempts at realism also fail, with one-note performances and the constant incursion of the story's supernatural elements, which don't mesh with the real locations and lack of style on offer.

The plot: a brother and sister are orphaned and split up when the sister is adopted first. She is adopted into a loving family, but the boy ends up being abused by sadistic foster parents, and spooked by their four daughters, who materialise over him and watch him sleep. He eventually escapes when he uses his mind control abilities with a machine he made in metal work to get his revenge, and then goes off to find his sister. She shacks up with the legendary character actor Bruno Lawrence, in what I believe may have been his last film appearance. Their relationship - a young girl with a much older man - is too "real" for this material, like the theme of abusive foster parents. There are ways for the supernatural fiction genre to deal with distressing, real-world issues, but this movie doesn't find them.

The main character is played by pre-surgery Alexis Arquette. I didn't realise he wasn't Kiwi, so he must have nailed the accent. He's kind of weird looking, though, like a Calvin Klein model with acromegaly. He reminds me of Rondo Hatton.

The movie was just such an awkward mix - and quite unpleasant in places - that I wasn't able to focus on it for long. It didn't make much sense and I don't think I wanted it to. I probably should have bailed out early.

Part fairy tale part violent retribution cruelty rears its ugly head here from the start and doesn't let up it's unrelenting death grip until the final frame. Jack and Nora are two siblings who become separated due to the negligence of their parents and discover they both possess psychic skills which they proceed to apply to their situations. How they put their abilities to the test is connected to their home environments and each other in complete contrast. Poetically filmed in new Zealand this is a very interesting and dark little tale where everything goes desperately wrong. It's gruesome but beautiful all at once, highly recommended!.

I recently watched the New Zealand film 🇳🇿 Jack Be Nimble (1993) on Shudder. The story follows a brother and sister abandoned by their parents, forced to rely on each other to survive. Eventually, they are adopted into separate families and endure various forms of neglect and abuse. Desperate to reunite, they finally find each other-but when they do, all hell breaks loose for everyone in their path... including their biological parents.

Directed by Garth Maxwell (When Love Comes Along), the film stars Alexis Arquette (Pulp Fiction), Sarah Smuts-Kennedy (This Is Not a Love Story), Elizabeth Hawthorne (30 Days of Night), and Tony Barry (Goodbye Pork Pie).

This movie exceeded my expectations. The writing and acting are top-notch, and the depth of the characters, along with their internal struggles, feels raw and authentic. The film effectively sets up its circumstances, making the emotional turmoil palpable in every scene. Alexis Arquette is phenomenal as Jack, delivering a haunting and intense performance, while Sarah Smuts-Kennedy also shines in a strong supporting role. The sibling bond is deeply felt, as is the weight of their trauma-making it clear this rollercoaster ride won't end well.

In conclusion, Jack Be Nimble is a unique blend of serial killer thriller and Bonnie and Clyde-style chaos, packed with authenticity and intensity from start to finish. I really liked it and would rate it an 8/10.

i like Australian and newzeeland film making in general,but this one is at least as outstanding as "once we were warriors"(not that you could compare these two goodies...) sound,light and camera are really stunning and well balanced.

i really like the performances of all the actors,too! arquette is more than convincing in giving an carping asshole-until it comes out WHY he's acting like this all the time and won't be let alone! this film is a sensual experience,don't miss it!! a shame,that this director did not produce one "real",feauture-length movie since than. this was are more than promising afford, but today, i think he only directs c-class TV-crap like "xenia"(?) and similar low-quality stuff.

This is a slick, weird film about a guy who gets gruesome revenge on his abusive family and sets out to find his sister. I thought it was okay, and Leonard Maltin gave it a good review, but you will need to see it to get your own opinion. Watch for New Zealand actor Bruno Lawrence as Teddy. ** 1/2 out of ****