Australia often conjures thoughts of bright beaches, blistering sand, and warm sunlight. Kurzel's first feature film takes place in Australia, chills twice in it's title, and amps frigidity to a cold conclusion.
Based on a true story, special effects portray appropriately unflinching violence in key with this film's themes of sicko-vigilantism and predatory sex. The occasional, ill-advised closeup threatens the films thematic integrity, but, otherwise, the film appears serious and honest.
More like Mystic River than I Spit on Your Grave, this can be included in the genre of rape-revenge. This work stands apart from glorified rape-revenge by making the main character as unwilling in the act of murder as he is in being raped. This leaves the film justly devoid of happiness. With a shot that pays homage to Irreversable, this movie aims high for brutal observations. It sinks a bulls eye just fine.
Viewers who prefer violence left to the imagination would do just as well to re-watch Mystic River, but, those of us who appreciate essays on themes of human hideousness straight-up shouldn't skip this one.
Based on a true story, special effects portray appropriately unflinching violence in key with this film's themes of sicko-vigilantism and predatory sex. The occasional, ill-advised closeup threatens the films thematic integrity, but, otherwise, the film appears serious and honest.
More like Mystic River than I Spit on Your Grave, this can be included in the genre of rape-revenge. This work stands apart from glorified rape-revenge by making the main character as unwilling in the act of murder as he is in being raped. This leaves the film justly devoid of happiness. With a shot that pays homage to Irreversable, this movie aims high for brutal observations. It sinks a bulls eye just fine.
Viewers who prefer violence left to the imagination would do just as well to re-watch Mystic River, but, those of us who appreciate essays on themes of human hideousness straight-up shouldn't skip this one.
