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PURGE, an Australian sci-fi film directed by David King and distributed by Troma Entertainment, is one of those rare productions that is truly só unusual in its story and visual flair that it's virtually impossible to compare it to any film. At best, one can see slight parallels here and there with films such as Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, George Lucas' debut THX1138 and Andrew Niccol's Gattaca. But that's it, for PURGE has it's own, unique quality.

Made with a minimum of means, but a maximum of talent and resourcefulness, PURGE is set in a parallel universe where people are artificially created by genetic engineering companies and programmed for certain roles in life. To fail to assume the role you've been bred for is to become what is called a Stray and be treated worse than a criminal. These outcasts are therefore condemned to lead an underground life.The androgynous leader of a group of Strays, Peta (Meda Royall), wants to make an end to all the suppression by deprogramming people who've been altered by the state.

Intercut with visually arresting mock commercials, news reports and current affairs interviews, the fragmented story tells of the trials and tribulations of a young woman, Layla (Sarah Breen). She is unable to assume her preordained role as BDSM mistress-slave and forced to join Peta's organization. But Layla is a harder nut to crack than Peta had ever thought, resulting in several tense moments and – stunningly choreographed – fights between the two. This all culminates in a mesmerizing and incontestably surprising finale that you absolutely could not have seen coming.

What is also admirable is the fact that in spite of a profound hearing impairment, King not only wrote, produced and directed the film, but also served as production designer, sound designer and editor, did additional cinematography and even created some of the visual effects. And all this has been done in a way that enhances the bizarre, out of this world and sometimes genuinely unsettling look of this film. Yes, King is without a shadow of a doubt a multi-talent to look out for!

A unique, stylish, unusual and intriguing cyberpunk drama and thriller, as well as a cult classic in the making – that's in brief what PURGE is. I can highly recommend it to anyone who'd like to step into a completely different world!

In this gripping British mix of drama and thriller, a man is dragged into the back of a van by a couple of balaclava clad kidnappers and gets handcuffed. He's being accused of a gruesome crime that, according to them, was committed when he was a child. The shocked man, who's on his way to his wedding, keeps denying this. In real time, we get to witness the ordeal he goes through. Finally, the shocking truth is revealed.

Victims is a film that grabs you by the throat from the very first instant and regularly hits you like a sledge hammer. It's presented from the perspective of one of the hijackers, who's filming everything – more or less in the vein of films like The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield and REC. Victims, however, is completely unlike any of those pictures. Victims first and foremost is an intense, grisly realistic, mind-blowing psychological drama that explores the darkest caverns of human nature – on both sides.

What makes it extra compelling and atypical is that it has a twist: about halfway, the story takes a very surprising turn. When that occurred, I almost fell off my seat! (I was already sitting on the edge of it.)

The fact that this film was made with a minimum of means, no big names and a very small crew goes to show that you don't necessarily need a mega budget, major stars or hundreds of crew members to make a solid, memorable film. Director David Bryant and his people prove that when you're creative and resourceful, you can establish the most amazing things. Having talent helps, too, of course – and that's what these makers have in abundance.

If you want to see something truly different for a change and are open to the subject matter, watch Victims. I'm confident you'll find it refreshing.

I watched this great, unconventional vampire movie at the 26th Brussels International Film Festival (27 March - 8 April 2008). After having seen numerous typical vampire flicks with all the clichés involved, it was truly refreshing to see one with a different approach - a philosophical approach no less, with references to the work of Nietzsche.

Sure, the protagonists X and Z still need to drink blood to survive, but in contrast to most vampires in cinematic history, they have something very human about them. Thus, you easily develop a connection with them. These two souls look more like "different" kind of human beings than like the cold, insensitive creatures that vampires practically always are.

X and Z are outsiders who live on the edge, struggling with both their condition and the society they're condemned to being part of. They are portrayed with appropriate modesty by genuine revelation Vanessa de Largie and first-time (!) actor Alex Spears.

Although there are scenes in which blood is being shed, the emphasis hasn't been laid on gore, action or cheap thrills. No, it dwells far more on exploring the difficult times the two main characters go through and creating an intense, moody atmosphere.

I'm not surprised this movie won three awards at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, for A Nocturne is truly an impressive piece of craftsmanship. If you are at a festival where it is screened, catch it! This is one not to be missed.