Incident at Raven's Gate (1988)

[Mofo Rising]

"I don't want to hurt you. I want to be your friend."

I want to say at the start that I blame everything wrong with this film on dean, our resident Australian.

First off, this is a well-made film, and it does manage to create an atmosphere well beyond it's low budget. But...

Well, it is very atmospheric. It really does nail this eerie feel, which is great. Unfortunately it has a lot of other factors which detract from that.

The idea is that something weird is happening in the outback, and there's a framing story that indicates that is a government conspiracy involving extraterrestrial visitors.

Here's at least two problems with the film. The first is that it contains that character who absolutely refuses to acknowledge the weirdness of what is going on. To be fair, he has reasons. His brother is sleeping with his wife, but that trope where one guy ignores the horribleness of what is going on to further the story just sucks.

Secondly, there's a weird other subplot about a police officer obsessed with a woman (who that same brother is also sleeping with) that has nothing to do with the rest of the movie. Why is it in the movie? There's no payoff, story-wise.

My say? It's alright. It's an almost competent low-budget Australian affair. But it's also not all that good. (Like I said, blame dean.)

[Jack]

I vaguely remember seeing that a while back.  I enjoyed the thing with the cop just because it was so random and weird.  Can't remember too much else about it though.  I'll have to check it out again, I see it's still on Netflix streaming under the name Encounter at Raven's Gate.  Guess they couldn't decide if it was more of an incident vs. an encounter 

[claws]

I sort of enjoyed this one, but I also hated the video presentation back in rental days. This movie was shot in scope (2.35:1) and the cropping/zooming was more than obvious and very annoying. I'd love to re-watch if they ever release it to Blu-ray in proper widescreen.

[Trevor]

But it's also not all that good. (Like I said, blame dean.)

 

Blaming Dean for this film is like blaming me for Nukie, Space Mutiny and / or Laser Mission.  

Errmmm..... I guess you COULD blame me for those three because I know most of the people that worked on them. 

[Mofo Rising]

But it's also not all that good. (Like I said, blame dean.)

 

Blaming Dean for this film is like blaming me for Nukie, Space Mutiny and / or Laser Mission.  

Errmmm..... I guess you COULD blame me for those three because I know most of the people that worked on them. 

Well, Trevor, I didn't before, but now I totally blame you for those movies.

How do you live with yourself?

[Trevor]

Well, Trevor, I didn't before, but now I totally blame you for those movies.

How do you live with yourself?

 

Dunno. 

[spongekryst]

Space Mutiny? Really? Awesome!  

Nukie, however...you...monster. 

[ulthar]

 (Like I said, blame dean.)

Okay.

dean, it's YOUR fault.

 

[dean]

Since I torture my friends with my movie choices normally, I may as well take the blame for this one torturing you too.   




I've never heard of this film, though I do enjoy Rolf De Heer's movies normally. [He is a wacky guy]

Just to stick the boot in a bit further, if you get a chance, provided I haven't burnt you completely, check out Bad Boy Bubby. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXZ4u2ZVWOc
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Probably one of his better 'ozploitation' efforts, especially considering the low budget nature.


I should add that he does make proper films, and his film 'The Tracker' was widely praised by critics as a pretty great film.  I just prefer his weird films more because I'm a masochist.

[the tracker trailer is below]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IV3LvS_M6M
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[Trevor]

Space Mutiny? Really? Awesome!  

I know the director, the producers, the cinematographer and several of the actors personally, including James Ryan.

Nukie, however...you...monster. 

I know one of the producers, the director and the guy who supplied the buckets of snot for the film. 

[ulthar]

the guy who supplied the buckets of snot for the film. 

You "know" that guy, huh...yeah...I hear what you are sayin'

How long does it take to save up a bucket of snot, anyway? 

[Trevor]

How long does it take to save up a bucket of snot, anyway? 

Not too long: Add some deposits from my undies and you're home free. 

[ulthar]

Add some deposits from my undies

Something I never thought I'd have to read on here...   


 

[Trevor]

Add some deposits from my undies

Something I never thought I'd have to read on here...   


 

 

I should just add that those deposits don't earn any interest, either in profit or any interest from their owner in washing them. 

[Mofo Rising]

I've never heard of this film, though I do enjoy Rolf De Heer's movies normally. [He is a wacky guy]

Just to stick the boot in a bit further, if you get a chance, provided I haven't burnt you completely, check out Bad Boy Bubby.

I've actually seen Bad Boy Bubby. Overall, I'd say I liked it, but I don't think it entirely successful in what it was trying to convey. Certainly not for the squeamish.

Note, I'm not panning Incident. In many ways it's rather good. Imagine The X-Files if it took place in 1980s Australia with a much lower budget. It's certainly very earnest in its approach to making its weirdness sustained and viable. I think it if it didn't commit some of the storytelling sins I mentioned in my original post, it could very well have been a classic of good, low-budget sci-fi.