Jinga and MVD Entertainment are pleased to announce the US release of Steven Spiel’s supernatural horror NAZI UNDEAD starring Andy McPhee (Wolf Creek) and Georgia Chara who recently won Best Actress at Fantasporto. NAZI UNDEAD is available from July 28th on DVD, Blu-Ray and all digital platforms.
NAZI UNDEAD is a nightmarish horror about a young American couple who venture into the heartland of Germany for a romantic holiday. Things take a sinister turn when they encounter the ghost of a Nazi SS Officer at an isolated farmhouse thrusting them into a vortex of horror.
“It’s a time looping supernatural thriller for fans of Triangle, Timecrimes and the House At The End Of Time” said Jinga’s CEO Julian Richards “It Pays homage to modern horror tropes while still pulling off something fresh and exciting”
Stan has today announced that the contemporary four-part psychological thriller The Deceived will premiere 4 August only on Stan, the same day as the U.K. –with new episodes weekly.
Written by Lisa McGee (Derry Girls, Being Human, The White Queen) and Tobias Beer and produced by New Pictures, the production house behind The Missing and Catherine The Great, the four-part drama was filmed in Northern Ireland and Cambridge.
A compelling, sinister narrative of lust, manipulation and betrayal, The Deceived follows English student Ophelia (Emily Reid, Belgravia, Curfew), who falls in love with her married lecturer, seeing in him all the answers to her needs. When their affair is interrupted by a shocking and tragic death, Ophelia finds herself trapped in a world where she can no longer trust her own mind.
Emmett J. Scanlan (Gangs of London, Peaky Blinders, Butterfly, The Fall) plays the timelessly attractive and charismatic English lecturer Dr Michael Callaghan; Catherine Walker (Shetland, Versailles) plays his wife Roisin, a successful, award-winning fiction writer; Eleanor Methven (Little Women) plays Roisin’s devoted and sometimes overbearing mother Mary Mulvery; Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls) is Michael’s father Hugh fighting the oncoming tide of dementia; Shelley Conn (Liar) plays Roisin’s best friend Ruth, intelligent and loyal; Dempsey Bovell (Patrick Melrose) plays Matthew, Michael’s confidante and biggest admirer, and Normal People star Paul Mescal is Sean McKeough, a local builder who becomes Ophelia’s confidante.
The Deceived is directed by Chloë Thomas (Harlots, Victoria), produced by Imogen O’Sullivan and executive produced by Charlie Hampton (The Spanish Princess), Charlie Pattinson (Catherine the Great, The Missing), Lisa McGee and Tobias Beer.
The Deceived premieres 4 August only on Stan, same day as the U.K. – with new episodes weekly.
Good news for Aussie motor sport fans: Stan has announced that the new documentary feature film Brabham will be available exclusively on Stan from Friday 7 August. A brilliant new account of a racing dynasty and the price of immortality, Brabham reveals both the making of an icon and a son’s quest to overcome conflict and fulfil a legacy.
Exposing the media’s role in creating sporting myths, Brabham tells a David and Goliath tale of a homegrown hero pitted against the giants of Ferrari, Lotus and Maserati. Jack Brabham remains the only person to have won the F1 Driver’s and Constructor’s Championships in his own car. Greatness, however, comes at a cost – the strain between Jack and his youngest son David portrays two generations of men determined to define themselves on their own terms. The challenges of family legacy and the determination to see the Brabham name reborn are key drivers to this dynastic drama, as the Brabham marque stands poised to challenge international motor sport once more.
“The story of Jack Brabham is not simply a tale about what it takes to get to the top of the game, in this case motor racing, it is an unflinching personal account of the tenacity and engineering prowess it took to turn, what was considered a fanciful dream, into reality,” says director and co-writer, Ákos Armont.
“Our aim has been to deliver an insightful examination, warts and all, of how Sir Jack managed to defy the odds and emerge as one of the great innovators of his generation and one of the most celebrated Formula One drivers in history.”
Featured in the documentary are never-before seen interviews with some of the world’s greatest motor sport legends and heritage racing personalities including; Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, John Surtees, Bernie Ecclestone, Ron Dennis, Mark Webber, David Brabham and the surviving members of Sir Jack’ s 1966 Championship winning team. The frank insights and revelations of these participants offers a fresh look at the Brabham legacy and the birth of modern Formula One.
Taking the audience on a rollicking adventure of brazen youth, ingenuity and daring through depression era Australia, into London’s swinging 60s and on to the aftermath of the excesses of speed in the ‘deadly 70s’; the film follows one of the greatest stories of sporting success the world has ever known while ultimately asking the audience to consider the often fraught relationships between fathers and sons, the cost of fame and how the media creates sporting mythologies.
Brabham is directed by Ákos Armont (Aurora Films) who also co-wrote both the film and Harpers Collins companion book Brabham: The Untold story of Formula One along with renowned motoring author, Tony Davis. Armont and Antony Waddington (The Eye of the Storm) also co-produced, with Jonathan Shteinman acting as Executive Producer. Brabham was produced in association with Heckler and with the support of foundation partners the Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Racing Drivers Club.
Summary: An older couple’s friendship grows as they meet each day to walk their dogs.
Year: 2020
Australian Cinema Release Date: 20th July 2020
Thailand Cinema Release Date: TBA
Australian VOD Release Date: TBA
Country: UK
Director: Paul Morrison
Screenwriter: Paul Morrison
Cast: Graham Cole (Jimmy), Bob Goody (George), Dave Johns (Dave), Marsha Millar (Marsha), Oliver Powell (Saul), Natalie Simpson (Donna), Vivienne Soan (Chaplin), Alison Steadman (Fern)
Running Time: 102 mins
Classification: M (Australia)
OUR 23 WALKS REVIEWS & RATINGS:
Dave Griffiths’ 23 Walks Review:
From the outside 23 Walks looks like it is going to be a run-of-the-mill romance between two older member of our society. How looks can be deceiving though. Scratch under the surface of 23 Walks and you discover a brilliantly written film that packs quite a punch as it explores social topics that many other films would shy away from.
The film centres around David (Dave Johns – I, Daniel Blake) and Fern (Alison Steadman – Pride & Prejudice) who innocently meet while walking their two dogs on the moors near their homes. At first Fern is stand-offish with David but as the two begin to meet each day and walk together they become closer friends. The fact that they both have secrets that they keep from each other has the potential to de-rail their friendship though as things come out into the open.
Even a brief read of the synopsis of 23 Walks makes it feel like a film that we have all seen a million times over. The key to getting the best out of the film though is to go into the cinemas knowing nothing about the twists and turns that the film takes as David and Fern’s friendship begins on its journey. It is hard to imagine but if you don’t know what those twists are then this film rides with you with the energy of a suspense rather than a drama.
The power of this film comes completely from the screenplay of director/writer Paul Morrison (Little Ashes). Writing like this is a rarity in films these days. The dialogue between David and Fern at times seems so natural that you would swear that is has been ad-libbed rather than scripted, while the many turns that the plot takes are in no way sign-posted. The result is that as an audience you get the shock and emotional slap that the characters endure as the surprise is revealed to them.
Much like Dave Johns previous film I, Daniel Blake this is a film that explores some pretty deep topics. From looking at what happens when somebody in public housing is ‘moved on’ by the council through to what happens when family members disagree with their aging parents getting involved in a relationship. This film goes deep but never bogs itself down by trying to preach and falling into the trap of getting political. Often a film involving older members of society will also try to portray them in a ‘perfect’ light, 23 Walks never does this – in fact it does the complete opposite and exposes both David and Fern as having emotional hang-ups that make them far from perfect.
As a filmmaker Morrison also knows the power of the expression ‘less means more.’ Scenes such as Fern’s ex getting angry when he realises that Dave has stayed over or Dave’s daughter telling him off over his relationship with Fern stick with you as the film goes on, but Morrison knows that in order for that to happen he doesn’t have to repeat the does ten times throughout the film. Instead the one time it happens is so brilliantly written that it hits the mark and stays there.
The great script also allows Dave Johns and Alison Steadman the chance to shine. Grouped together with his performance in I,Daniel Blake Johns shows that he is a likable actor who is afraid to take on confronting roles – one again he deserves to win awards for his work here, anything else is just wrong. Likewise Steadman was born to play Fern. She plays her uneasiness to a tee and like John makes her character likable to the audience despite her flaws. Together the two pull off two of the best performances you will see in cinema this year.
Thought-provoking, dramatic and at times intense 23 Walks is the perfect example of why you shouldn’t judge a film before watching. The film comes from one of the best screenplays of 2020 and gives its two leads the opportunity to pull off some sensational performances.
Hardin will always be… Hardin. But is he really the deep, thoughtful guy Tessa fell madly in love with— or has he been a stranger all along? She wishes she could walk away. It’s just not that easy. Not with the memory of the passionate nights they spent together. Still, Tessa’s not sure she can endure one more broken promise. She’s focused on her studies and just starting an exciting new internship at Vance Publishing. She’s also being pursued by Trevor, a handsome new co-worker who is exactly the kind of guy she should be with. Hardin knows he made a mistake, possibly the biggest one of his life. He wants to right his wrongs and overcome his demons. He’s not going to lose Tessa without a fight. But can he change? Will he change… for love? AFTER WE COLLIDED… Life will never be the same.
AFTER WE COLLIDED is directed by Roger Kumble and stars Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Dylan Sprouse, Shane Paul McGhie, Louise Lombard, Candice King and Charlie Weber.
AFTER WE COLLIDED releases in Australia in theatres on September 10, 2020.
Summary: The owner of a luxurious resort invites a group of people to spend time at the resort and live out their ultimate fantasies with horrific results.
Year: 2020
Australian Cinema Release Date: 13th February 2020
Thailand Cinema Release Date: 2nd July 2020
Australian VOD Release Date: 3rd June 2020
Country: USA
Director: Jeff Wadlow
Screenwriter: Jeff Wadlow, Jillian Jacobs, Christopher Roach
Cast: Jeriya Benn (Lila), Kim Coates (Devil Face), Joshua Diaz (Alejandro), Portia Doubleday (Sloane Maddison), Evan Evagora (Nick Taylor), Parisa Fitz-Henley (Julia), Lucy Hale (Melanie Cole), Ryan Hansen (J.D. Weaver), Robbie Jones (Allen Chambers), Goran D. Kleut (Valet Milton), Andrew Lees (Will), Edmund Lembke-Hogan (Himoff), Josh McConville (Sarge), Charlotte McKinney (Chastity), Michael Pena (Mr. Roarke), Maggie Q (Gwen Olsen), Josh Randall (Valet Chester), Ian Roberts (Dr. Torture), Michael Rooker (Damon), Nick Slater (Greg), Austin Stowell (Patrick Sullivan), Mike Vogel (Lieutenant Sullivan), Mark Weinhandl (Pig Face), Tane Williams-Accra (Fischer), Jimmy O. Yang (Brax Weaver)
Running Time: 109 mins
Classification: M (Australia)
OUR FANTASY ISLAND REVIEWS & RATINGS:
Dave Griffiths’ Fantasy Island Review:
It is always a weird feeling when you like a film that other people seem to dislike. You always feel like you want to defend the film to the hilt, but the same time you can’t help but wonder if you are horribly wrong. The best way to look at it is that you like what you like and as long as you like it it doesn’t really matter what others think.
This whole scenario recently happened with me when it came to Blumhouse Productions re-working of Fantasy Island. Now I am not going to sit here and say that it is film of the year or one of the best horror films ever made, but if you’re looking for a horror film that will entertain you for a couple of hours then this is a film that will not disappoint.
For anyone who watched the original Fantasy Island television series the concept here may be a little strange. Fantasy Island never traditionally had a horror feel to it, but here director Jeff Wadlow (Truth or Dare) and his team give the story a warm welcome into the Blumhouse horror universe.
The film centres around the mystical island run by Mr Roarke (Michael Pena – Ant-Man). It is an island where people go to live out their fantasies and the latest group to have arrived includes jaded youngster Melanie Cole (Lucy Hale – Pretty Little Liars) who dreams about getting revenge on those who bullied her at school and two brothers Patrick Sullivan (Austin Stowell – Whiplash) and Brax Weaver (Jimmy O. Yang – Crazy Rich Asians) who dream of living the life of the rich and famous.
It is here where the film first runs into its major hurdle. See that list of characters above could have almost filled this page. Aside from the ones I have already mentioned there is Maggie Q (Divergent), a wannabe solider who wants to learn about his father and a crazy man who seems to appear out of nowhere but wants to warn everybody about the dangers of the island… and even then that isn’t everyone. Yes the problem here is that there are just way too many characters in this film, at times it even becomes difficult to try and keep track of who is where.
What is a shame is that when the film keeps to its horror roots it is ten time the film it is when it tries to do things a little bit differently. There are scenes that depict Melanie getting revenge on a High School bully that is reminiscent of a Saw movie and it times like that when the film works its best. When Fantasy Island sticks to the basics and remains a simple film about an island where people’s fantasies quickly become nightmares it is a film that captivates its audience and draws it in. However, when the film tries to get too smart and interweave stories while bringing in a convoluted supernatural plotline that I still can’t get my head around it trips itself up and becomes a film that is simply trying too hard.
If the film had kept to the storylines involving Melanie, Patrick and Brax it would have been an absolutely brilliant horror film. Those are the storylines that you end up being drawn to the most and seeing those fantasies become nightmares for those involved is more than enough to have the audience wondering whether Mr. Roarke has a hidden sinister, psychopathic side or if something supernatural is at work. The rest of the story threads that the writers have tried to infuse into the film are just unnecessary overkill.
Also enhancing the film are some of the acting performances at hand. Michael Pena is perfectly cast as Mr. Roarke and for all those naysayers out there who were taking swipes at the film before it was even released no he is not playing a character that is meant to represent Tattoo, the role made famous by Herve Villechaize in the original television series.
Also shining in their roles are Austin Stowell and Jimmy O. Yang who bring their A-Games to a film that you wouldn’t expect it in. As actors they are put through a true wringer of emotions as at times they become the comedic relief for the film but then at other times they are called to do some action sequences and moments of horror as well. It is a well-rounded acting performance that you certainly don’t expect in a film like this.
Last but not least there is the amazing performance of Lucy Hale. Grouped together with her performance in Truth Or Dare Hale is now rightfully considered one of the best up-and-coming actresses in Hollywood. Like some of her co-stars here she is put through a range of emotions of this film and clearly shows why she is only a few steps away from becoming an A-Lister.
Fantasy Island does have some major weaknesses but there are times throughout the film where it is a genuine popcorn horror that has the ability to entertain its audience. While one of the weaker Blumhouse films from recent years it is still certainly a film that is worth a look.
Average Subculture Rating:
IMDB Rating:
Other Subculture Entertainment Fantasy Island Reviews:
Summary: A group of immortal mercenaries discover a new recruit just as they find themselves being ‘hunted’.
Year: 2020
Australian Cinema Release Date: TBA
Thailand Cinema Release Date: TBA
Australian VOD Release Date: 10th July 2020
Country: USA
Director: Gina Prince-Blythewood
Screenwriter: Greg Rucka
Cast: Joey Anash (Keane), Peter Brooke (Sergeant Wright), Simon Chandler (Father Sykes), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Copley), Majid Essaidi (Sadeq), Tuncay Gunes (Nelson), Steve Healey (David Eves), Aanya Hirdaramani (Savatt), Jordan Holland (Ashton), Natacha Karam (Dizzy), Marwan Kenzari (Joe), Kiki Layne (Nile), Anamaria Marinca (Dr. Meta Kozak), Luca Marinelli (Nicky), Harry Melling (Merrick), Van Veronica Ngo (Quynh), Shala Nyx (Gita), Olivia Ross (Celeste), Matthias Schoenaerts (Booker), Orlando Seale (Jean-Pierre), Charlize Theron (Andy), Mette Towley (Jordan), Micheal Ward (Lykon), Andrei Zayats (Andrei)
Running Time: 125 mins
Classification: MA15+ (Australia)
OUR THE OLD GUARD REVIEWS & RATINGS:
Dave Griffiths’ The Old Guard Review:
One of the winners out of the worldwide cinema lockdown has been streaming service Netflix. Many may have expected the service to sit back and simply count their cash as more and more people took up memberships to alleviate the lockdown boredom. Instead Netflix have decided to use this period to flex its creative muscle and once again show Hollywood that they well and truly ready to swim in the big pool now.
Of course last year the streaming platform showed that when it came to serious cinema they were well and truly in the fight when they created and released the Oscar nominated films The Irishman and Marriage Story. Then earlier this year Netflix showed it was ready to enter the blockbuster market when it released Extraction starring one of the world’s most recognisable actors, Chris Hemsworth. Now they show that was no fluke by dropping another popcorn-worthy blockbuster The Old Guard with Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road).
There is really only one way to describe The Old Guard – a thinking person’s blockbuster. Based on a four-part graphic novel series The Old Guard centres around a group of immortal mercenaries led by Andy (Theron). While the group are eagerly trying to find the whereabouts of a new ‘immortal’ Nile (KiKi Layne – If Beale Street Could Talk) they also realise that their latest mission, tasked to them by Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years A Slave), was a set-up designed to bring them out into the open. It is there that mystery begins – who is Copley working for and why does it seem that he wants them captured?
It is a pretty basic plotline but together director Gina Prince-Blythewood (The Secret Life Of Bees) and screenwriter Greg Rucka (Whiteout) have managed to create an action-thriller that goes a little bit deeper than many would have expected.
Of course you have your action scenes. And while they may lack the visual brilliance of the ones in Extraction they are more than serviceable as Theron lays waste to enemy after enemy. But where The Old Guard trumps many other films in the action genre is when its plot takes it into deep themes such as how difficult it is to live with immortality, someone facing the fact that they are going to die sooner rather later and the ethical debate of whether medical science can really ever go too far. You could also possibly argue that another major ethically dilemma raised in the film is whether the owners of pharmaceutical companies are really in the business for their consumer’s health and well-being or whether or not it is all about the mighty buck. Yes, as you can see The Old Guard does indeed raise some pretty spicy and thought-provoking questions.
The Old Guard does work as a stand-alone film you do feel that a few scenes have been included to try and kick-start this as a franchise. While Andy’s flashback memories are a great way to show how she has suffered due to persecution and her immortality over the years they also serve as a way to introduce other characters you feel will return in the sequels.
Luckily that doesn’t distract too much from what works in this film. Casting wise Theron and the actors in her crew work remarkably well. The film also showcases the talents of Kiki Layne who seems to embrace the chance to play a character torn between who she can trust while trying to get her head around a world that she never knew existed. Fans of the Harry Potter franchise will also get a pleasant surprise when they get to see Harry Melling, who portrayed Dudley in the Potter-verse, turn up as the film’s Bond-like villain.
Of course The Old Guard is not going to reach the lofty award-winning heights of its stable-mates The Irishman and Marriage Story. Aimed at a different audience this is a film that will enjoyed by those who enjoy comic-book movies while showing the cinematic world that streaming services can now hire big name stars and place them in movies that can really pack a punch.
Average Subculture Rating:
IMDB Rating:
Other Subculture Entertainment The Old Guard Reviews:
Summary: A twe;ve-year-old boy finds a way to communicate with his dog. While the Government hunts him down for his technology he decides to use his dog’s simple thoughts to help repair the relationship between his parents.
Year: 2020
Australian Cinema Release Date: TBA
Thailand Cinema Release Date: TBA
Australian VOD Release Date: 9th July 2020
Country: UK, China, USA
Director: Gil Junger
Screenwriter: Gil Junger
Cast: Dillon Ahlf (Brayden), Gralen Bryant Banks (Principal Harris), Gabriel Bateman (Oliver), Sean Boyd (Hunter), Bryan Callen (Agent Callen), Lena Clark (Mrs. McClelland), Josh Duhamel (Lukas), Jason Edwards (Mr. McClelland), Megan Fox (Ellen), Lara Grice (Ms. Shackley), Mason Guccione (Rodney), Neo Hooo (Xiao), Madison Horcher (Sophie), Billy 4 Johnson (Nicholas), Julia Jones (Agent Munoz), Will Junger (Will), Zoe Lazar (Debbie), Youngjian Lin (Shen), Janet Montgomery (Bridget), Kunal Nayyar (Mr. Mills), Marnette Patterson (Cindy), David Rayden (Rockford), Jannette Sepwa (Jason), Todd Stashwick (Henry (voice)), Izaac Wang (Li)
Running Time: 91 mins
Classification: PG (Australia)
OUR THINK LIKE A DOG REVIEWS & RATINGS:
Dave Griffiths’ Think Like A Dog Review:
For a long time family films were a dull, boring affair that seemed at times to not even work for kids. Sure you had those that marked a generation like Frozen but few were entertaining or mature enough to provide any entertainment for the adults that were forced to watch them with their kids. The 2020 cinematic year seems to have bucked that trend though with films like Spies In Disguise, Sonic The Hedgehog and My Spy offering something for kids and adults alike. Now we can add another film to that list – Think Like A Dog.
To be honest we should have expected the film to have a certain winning formula. After all it is written and directed by Gil Junger, a man who may not be a house-hold name but has worked on some of television’s most popular comedies over the years including Dharma & Greg and Ellen. Then there is the fact that the film stars Hollywood A-Listers Josh Duhamel (Safe Haven) and Meagan Fox (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) star in the film – gone are the days when star’s managers let them make mistakes like The Pacifier. Through in child actor Gabriel Bateman who did amazing things in Child’s Play and Lights Out and you can certainly see why this film should work. The best thing is it does.
Bateman plays Oliver a twelve-year-old prodigy whose science experiments stun those around him. At school he is excelling, while of course trying to attract the attention of his class-mate Sophie (Madison Horcher – Adventures In Babysitting), but he is not so smooth when it comes to inter-acting with the opposite sex. He also faces stresses with his home life as it becomes more and more obvious that his Mum (Fox) and Dad (Duhamel) are heading for divorce.
But then his latest experiment doesn’t go the way he planned and he finds himself being able to communicate with his dog. Together the duo come up with a way to help try and keep Oliver’s parents together but they soon find themselves in trouble when a tech-billionaire known as Mr Mills (Kunal Nayyar – The Big Bang Theory) wants the technology for himself and they inevitably attract the attention of the US Government.
While the film does have star power the key to this film working is the A-Grade screenplay from Gil Junger. The film works because its script captures the magic that made films and television shows like The Wonder Years and Spy Kids work so well for families. Junger knows that when it comes to writing for families you can’t make things cheesy, no matter how ridiculous the storyline is, and it is okay to tackle topics that kids maybe facing in real life.
While it would be really easy to dismiss Think Like A Dog as ‘just’ a talking dog movie, the film goes a lot deeper than that. In modern society a parent’s imminent separation is something that a lot of children will face. Here Junger explores the situation through the eyes of a child yet doesn’t suger-coat it either.
Likewise with the humour of the film. There is humour in the film but it never becomes that cheesy type of humour that has made so many family films unwatchable over the years. Junger seems to find the right mix – he makes the Government Agents bubbling and comedic without ever making them a complete joke. The same when it comes to the film’s nemesis. It would have been really easy for Mr. Mills to have been written as a Jim Carrey bad guy especially considering he was being played by a television comedy star. Instead making Millls a believable character makes his actions even more sinister, especially when he is trying to lure the kids into his trap.
So much comes together and works well for Think Like A Dog to be such a good family film. Gabriel Bateman acts well beyond his years, Duhamel and Fox put in mature performances that just show they need to be taken seriously as actors while Kunal Nayyar takes a huge step up and shows that he has a future outside of Big Bang Theory. However, the very special ingredient here is an amazing screenplay that allows this film to work for family members of all ages.
Average Subculture Rating:
IMDB Rating:
Other Subculture Entertainment Think Like A Dog Reviews:
Summary: A middle-aged lawyer lands the case of his life but at the same time his life around him is falling apart… then comes the blackmail.
Year: 2020
Australian Cinema Release Date: TBA
Thailand Cinema Release Date: TBA
Australian VOD Release Date: 1st July 2020
Country: Australia
Director: Dan Jones
Screenwriter: Dan Jones
Cast: Lauren Bailey (Gloria), Danielle Butlin (Jess), Erica Chestnut (Imogen), Kevin Dee (Ron), Tim Fensham (Jake), Peter Forster (George), Francis Greenslade (Shawn), Rowan Howard (Jerry), Janet Watson Kruse (Judge Truman)
Running Time: 76 mins
Classification: TBC
OUR OUT OF ORDER REVIEWS & RATINGS:
Dave Griffiths’ Out Of Order Review:
A character can make or break a film. It is something that our lecturers frequently told us at film school but it’s something that any film lover will learn very early on as the amount of films they watch grows. I’m not talking about iconic characters like John Rambo or The Terminator. I’m talking more about those films that would be easily forgettable if it wasn’t for a character that stuck in your mind long after the credits rolled.
For me that list has always consisted of characters like Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man or Kenny Rossmore in We’re The Millers. Now I am adding Ron from Out Of Order to that list.
Ron (Kevin Dee – Underbelly) is the kind of man that life never gives a break to. He is lawyer who is good at his job and is largely respected by his colleagues. But at the same time he is ignored by his wife, Gloria (Lauren Bailey – Before I Go) and in general has his life made harder by ‘idiots’ like his colleague Jerry (Rowan Howard – Holding The Man) who holds onto far out theories such as the moon was blown up during, as he puts it ‘one of the wars,’ in order to get rid of werewolves.
Then there is the fact that in modern times Ron finds that he can’t even assume that his dog identifies as a dog. Yes, the world is an infuriating place and now Ron finds himself in the middle of a case of the lifetime just as somebody begins to blackmail him.
Why Ron works as a character is because he is the kind of character an audience will find themselves ‘barracking’ for throughout the film. He is likable and has a certain quirkiness to him that is further enhanced by the fact that director/screenwriter Dan Jones (The Chase) has made him well-rounded rather than the two-dimensional clichéd characters that often litter modern day indie films.
As a character Ron is brought to life brilliantly by Kevin Dee who Out Of Order reveals to be one of Australia’s best under-rated actors. Together with Rowan Howard Dee delivers some truly memorable scenes and the duo are well aided by a witty and intelligent script that not only contains some great one liners but also keeps the audience guessing to what is going to happen next.
The inclusion of blackmail while Ron is working on his intense case works to make the film more suspenseful and to his credit Jones never reveals anything to the audience that will sign-post the films finale. The result is a film that maintains your interest throughout while not forgetting to make you laugh a few times as the story plays out. A script that actually manages to mix comedy and drama the way Out Of Order does is certainly very, very rare.
Out Of Order shows just how great indie cinema can be. Not only does the film reveal the acting talents of Kevin Dee but also unveils the filmmaking talents of Dan Jones – a director/screenwriter that I really hope we see a lot more work from in the future. The film’s dark comedy element never makes you cringe and the film itself is the breath of fresh air we all need in this crazy world.
Average Subculture Rating:
IMDB Rating: TBA
Other Subculture Entertainment Out Of Order Reviews:
Summary: A medium witnesses a murder in a vision and then suddenly finds herself a target for the killer.
Year: 1989
Australian Cinema Release Date: TBA
Thailand Cinema Release Date: TBA
Australian VOD Release Date: 1st July 2020
Country: UK
Director: Mike Hodges
Screenwriter: Mike Hodges
Cast: Georgia Allen (Mrs. Jamais), Rosanna Arquette (Martha Travis), Helen Baldwin (Eva Callow), John Bennes (Ted Silas), Joyce Leigh Bowden (Nurse Shelly), William Brown (Hal Faber), Tate Gardner (Larry Harley), Ed Grady (Editor, Geoff McBain), Corbin Gurkin (Cindy Harley), Mert Hatfield (MikeBraddon), Rebecca Riley Hogan (Mrs. Anderson), Tom Hulce (Gary Wallace), Kay Joiner (Mrs. Prior), Mark Joy (Lloyd Harley), Olek Krupa (Tom Kuron), Wallace Merck (Officer Monroe), Brenda Mitchell (Mrs. Dupont), Linda Pierce (Mary Kuron), Mary Ratliff (Eunice Dole), Jason Robards (Walter Travis), Ron Rosenthal (Lieutenant Irving Weinberg), Jerry Rushing (Bud Orwell), Judy Simpson (Rachel Sachs), Dandy Stevenson (Mrs Koestler), Christina Taylor (Lilly Harley), Jeffrey Taylor (Mike Harley), Marty Terry (Mrs. Adams), Jon Thompson (Jack Callow), Darla N. Warner (Shirley Harley), Rick Warner (Editor, Jay Chatwin), Princess Wilson (Mrs. Kimbler)
Running Time: 103 mins
Classification: TBC
OUR BLACK RAINBOW REVIEWS & RATINGS:
Dave Griffiths’ Black Rainbow Review:
Black Rainbow is perhaps one of the most under-rated films in cinematic history. I’m not sure how it took me nearly forty years to discover this film – but somehow it did and for that I feel kind of guilty. While Get Carter and Flash Gordon are two of the most talked about films from director Mike Hodges but one viewing of his thriller Black Rainbow and you may be re-considering what is his best film.
The film centres around a young medium named Martha Travis (Rosanna Arquette – Pulp Fiction) who during a ‘show’ one night sees the future murder of a man whose wife is in the audience. When the murder does happen as Martha describes it a young investigative reporter, Gary Wallace (Tom Hulce – Amadeus) begins to investigate and while getting close to Martha learns that she knows the identity of the killer.
As he investigates the case he learns that Martha is under the control of her alcoholic and loud father, Walter (Jason Robards – All The President’s Men). The tension mounts as Gary’s editor doesn’t believe the Martha story, Martha’s visions get more intense and there is a killer on the loose that knows she needs to be silenced.
Where Black Rainbow works as a film is the way that it mixes genres so well. Mike Hodges’ screenplay allows the film to be part thriller and part super-natural horror, while the dialogue driven scenes bring a more dramatic style to the fore. Many films fail when they try to mix so many different genres together but here Hodges’ does it so well that as the film changes its tone it is absolutely seamless. Funnily enough it is so seamless that at times you forget that the whole medium side to the film takes it into the supernatural realm.
It is the script that makes Black Rainbow so special though. For young screenwriters this is the perfect screenplay to show how suspense and tension can life a film. As you watch the film you realise that each plot point raises the stakes for Martha and Gary all throughout the film but Hodges never signposts these points and they often come as a complete shock to the audience… the way a thriller should. Likewise Hodges never allows the supernatural element to become cringe-worthy or laughable, and instead they are some of the most intense parts of the movie.
That screenplay also allows for a brilliant acting performance from Rosanna Arquette. Arquette is brilliant in Black Rainbow and it is strange that her performance never garnished her more award wins than it did. Her performance shines as she drifts from a virginal saint in front of her father to a lingerie-clad seductress around Gary. Yes, just like the film itself Arquette’s performance is so under-rated it is not funny.
If you have never seen Black Rainbow then go out and see it right now. This is one of those brilliant under-rated films that every film lover should have seen but so few have. With an amazing screenplay and a stunning performance by Rosanna Arquette this should be on everybody’s watch list.
Average Subculture Rating:
IMDB Rating:
Other Subculture Entertainment Black Rainbow Reviews:
