I guess this question is mainly directed towards our Australian friends Dean and Rombles, but anyone can answer. I want your opinion on what the best Australian movie ever made is. I'm mainly asking Dean and Rombles here because they live there and because unlike us, they can see their homeland's films on a regular basis.
This is of course assuming that Australian films are being shown regularly in their own theaters. I'm aware that America is the predominant leader in international distribution and exhibition and that throughout the world the demand for American films is the highest, so I'll have to assume that Australian films get some time and space to be shown in their own country. What are some of those films?
Do you guys get good current films year after year or do they all seem to be either good or bad. What are some of the latest good films that were made in, directed by, and starring Australians? What is the best of all time? Dean, I know you like Mad Max and that your school parking garage is even famous for being in the movie. What else do you like?
In your cinema classes, Dean, were you upset that, aside from Dark City (1998), there were no Australian films? Everything seemed to lean heavily towards French, German, and American cinema, with exceptions for Von Trier, Niel Jordan, and Cronenberg. Did your universitry offer an 'Australian' film course?
Anyways, I'm getting off subject. What is the best Australian film ever made?
I have not seen many Australian flicks, but one I have seen and really enjoyed is
One Night Stand (1984) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087844/)
To me, the story was engaging and the ending, while not quite depressing, focused the story. If you like the Midnight Oil, the concert footage alone is worth a look. I saw it once years ago, and it just stuck with me as one of those films I'd like to see again some day.
MAD MAX is without a doubt the best Australian film ever.
Another one I liked was MAD DOG MORGAN (1976) (http://imdb.com/title/tt0074836/) starring Dennis Hopper who plays an outlaw in 1800's Australia. You can find it on DVD cheap.
Caught this one on TV a couple years ago. It's called SKIPPY (1966) (http://imdb.com/title/tt0060025/) and it's about a Kangaroo and he is kinda like Lassie, Flipper, or Gently Ben were he helps out those in trouble. The episode I saw was a riot.
Scott Wrote:
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> MAD MAX is without a doubt the best Australian
> film ever.
>
Of COURSE!! How could I forget Max, Toecutter and that supercharged V-8?
{hits head against wall before getting shot by Odinn}
There is another last man on earth type film from Australia that was made in the 80's, but I can't remember the name of it. I remember there was some kind of large receiving dish science center on the box cover. Don't even remember why he was the last one on earth. It was about the late 80's. Not sure though.
I agree. Mad Max is one of my favorites.
I've never seen Mad Dog Morgan, but another really good Aussie "western" is Ned Kelly (1970) starring Mick jagger in the title role.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0066130/
Another one I've always liked is Attack Force Z (1982), a WWII action flick starring Sam Neill & Mel Gibson.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0083591/
I just checked some sites and the new movie Wolf Creek (2005) was done in Australia with Australian actors and director.
Mad Max? Pshh. Where's Crocodile Dundee?
Hmmmmm are you talking best good movie, or best bad movie?
A few that I loved that come to mind (And to make it interesting I won't specify which category they each come into!).....
Hercules Returns
Picnic At Hanging Rock
Dogs In Space
Chopper
Body Melt (see Andrew's review)
Undead (not enough Australian Zombie movies!)
Pandemonium
Malcolm
Idiot Box
Dirty Deeds
Babe
They're A Wierd Mob
The Dish
Muriel's Wedding
Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert
Romper Stomper
Young Einstein
The Cars That Ate Paris
Running On Empty
Houseboat Horror (!)
The Bank
Don's Party
Patrick
Not that I have seen it yet, but the scary thing about Wolf Creek is that the story in the movie is very similar to the details of an actual murder trial which has just concluded. The fact that such a disturbing movie can be so close to being a true story is rather terrifying.
I'm with Rombles when it comes to Chopper, Romper Stomper and Undead. All of those are great films.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Reckless Kelly (1993) as the high point of Australian cinema......
ulthar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Scott Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > MAD MAX is without a doubt the best
> Australian
> > film ever.
> >
>
> Of COURSE!! How could I forget Max, Toecutter and
> that supercharged V-8?
>
> {hits head against wall before getting shot by
> Odinn}
Obviously, I agree with this one. I'm also voting for Undead as that was quite a fun and visual movie.
Haha, Reckless Kelly! Actually, I think I will mention that one later.
Anyway, I guess it all depends on the sort of film you are into really.
The Australian film industry is really up and down, and whilst Aussie films do get distribution in cinemas, most of the time however [especially for the 'good' classy ones] they get shown only at selected cinemas instead of across the board like most other films. Also there is the issue of funding, with many big budget Australian films being financed partially from overseas, so it really depends on how you classify it [for example the recent Ned Kelly film with Heath Ledger had alot of overseas investment, I think.] Also I'm not too sure whether Dark City is classed as an Australian film as such along these lines as well [but it's great, there's no denying that!]
That being said, I'm not exactly a constant Australian film watcher, though there are some good ones out there: it just, depends on what you like! I have been getting into more of the recent releases.
Boy, I'm going to crap on here for a while, since there's quite a few great films out there, so be prepared I guess...
Anyways, yes Scottie, I'm a little annoyed we didn't watch more Australian films [though I did see a few more in other classes that I haven't mentioned yet] and that I didn't do an Australian Cinema and TV subject at uni [they did run one, it just clashed with some other subjects so I couldn't do it.]
Here's the subject description from the uni website for interests sake: "This subject explores the relationship between national identity and international film culture and specifically questions how filmic structures operate in Australian cinema to produce identities which have both local and international resonance. Students will examine the success of films such as Crocodile Dundee and Mad Max within the context of mass culture; The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Dallas Doll, and The Sum of Us within the context of queer theory; Romper Stomper within a context of teen films; and Strictly Ballroom within questions of multiculturalism and ethnicity. The representation of race will form an additional focus of study. The films of Australian directors working in Hollywood such as Gillian Armstrong and Baz Luhrman will also form an area of study."
It sounded interesting, especially those on race, but unfortunately I couldn't fit it in. Anyway I'll list off a few good films; though I am by no means the best person to talk to about this stuff [I don't have too good a grasp on many of the older Australian Cinema classics]
Rombles has a pretty good list of classic Australian Films, and a fair share of silly ones as well. I mean really, Yahoo Serious!?!?! Who I consider The Australian Carrot Top? Maybe not classed as 'best filmmaker ever' but certainly Reckless Kelly is a bit of fun! I'll mention a few that Rombles already has, but I'll try not to go over too many of the same ones, especially those he listed that I haven't seen yet.
Ok let's see [deep breath]:
Mad Max and its crappy sequels are lots of B-grade fun. As you well know.
I also really like Undead. Yes, not enough Australian zombie films!
So is Wolf Creek (http://www.badmovies.org/bbs/read.php?2,97397,97397#msg-97397) which I found a lot of fun, and well made thriller [and as Rombles mentioned, one of the cases the movie was based on recently finished, with a guilty verdict too mind you]
Romper Stomper (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105275/) is a great film with Russell Crowe, about skinheads and such.
I've heard good things about The Rage In Placid Lake (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305999/) though I haven't seen it myself.
In terms of popular Australian films, one is The Castle (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118826/), which is good, but maybe doesn't appeal that well to an international audience. It is a very 'Aussie' film. Though I've heard it didn't go too bad in the UK so who knows really.
Another film by the same makers of the Castle that I enjoyed [and actually went to see at the cinemas by myself] was The Dish (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0205873/) with Sam Neil about Australia's part in the Lunar Landing. Not as out and out funny as the Castle, but it was a good film nonetheless.
Other popular [as in mainstream] Australian films include Muriel’s Wedding (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110598/) [which I found ok, but many others liked]
Crocodile Dundee and its sequel are ok, but stay the hell away from number three. I hate the series, however, for the fact that it's probably one of the most recognizably Australian films out in the international market [but as a movie itself, it's ok!]
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109045/) is interesting fun, with Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce in it, as two of three cross dressing performers who trek across the Australian outback.
Strictly Ballroom (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105488/) is another romantic film which is fairly popular, by Baz Lurhmann of Moulin Rouge.
Those sorts of films above are, in a sense, regular Australian staples when it comes to films that many Australians have seen, though there are plenty of brilliant Australian films which haven't had such a widespread audience.
Recently there has been an upswing in the cinema industry [or at least that's what they all like to tell us] with the market seeming to be occupied with quality lowish budget serious dramas, targeted at what I like to call the 'Rivoli Crowd' [basically for the chardonnay 'classy movies' set] Not that there's anything wrong with quality dramas, but I'm personally a little annoyed that the gory low budget horror films haven't taken off quite like these films:
Recent films like The Proposition (http://www.badmovies.org/bbs/read.php?2,97257,97257#msg-97257) and The Tracker (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212132/)are great, Australian westerns/period pieces. The Proposition is nice and violent in parts too [though not in that 'hey cool, lets all shout and woop because that guy got his head blown off' way.] The Tracker is an excellent film about an aboriginal tracker helping find another aboriginal who has supposedly killed a white woman. Great film which touches on Australia's racist roots, and both the Proposition and the Tracker have great soundtracks [though many have said that some of the songs should have been cut from the Tracker.]
Some others that have been well received are Look Both Ways (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382806/) which won quite a few awards. I haven't seen it personally so I don't really know how it is specifically, though it is rated 8/10 on imdb [though not really with that many votes overall]
Lantana (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259393/) is another acclaimed Australian film: 'A must see for mature realists into serious drama.' according to one reviewer at imdb.
Alexandra's Project (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338706/) is another recent film I saw not long ago which I enjoyed. It's about a man who comes home on his birthday to find a video tape made by his wife in the house [no one else is around] and the 'shocking' things that happen as he watches this video. I was engrossed by it as well, and Alexandra is pretty harsh to her husband in these videos so it makes for good viewing.
I've heard great things about The Bank (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241223/) Which Rombles mentioned, though I haven't seen it.
A Japanese Story (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304229/) is another critically acclaimed Australian film, and yes another drama/love story [though no, I haven't seen it.]
Rabbit Proof Fence (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252444/) is a great film which was nominated for a Golden Globe and touches on the issue of the Stolen Generation and is about the true story of three aboriginal girls escaping from the domestic life they were forced into, and trying to get home.
There's also a genre of Australian films which basically are the stupid larrikin comedies, and those trying to be like American Pie and such. Many are made by famous/semi famous Australian comedians. Many are terrible, and can never be classed as Best Australian Flick, but still, there's a few entertaining gems that are good for a laugh at the least.
If you want stupid, silly fart jokes and such, and know a bit about Australian culture and history, the film 'Ned' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338280/) is great. Like Reckless Kelly, Ned is a parody about infamous Australian bushranger Ned Kelly, though it's complete and utter low budget rubbish the film is hilarious, with no sense of realism at all [not that you care] and a hell of a lot of stupid jokes that are just fantastic. My friends and I quote it often, and it's definitely up there on my favourite Aussie films list.
One film which pretty much started the larrikin comedies was 'The Adventures of Barry Mckenzie' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068173/) which is 'the shameless saga of a young Aussie in Pommyland,' and as such is a classic Australian comedy, though I'm not too sure how many people my age actually know about it.
There's also the action-type crime films of which there are a few good ones.
Dirty Deeds (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280605/) is good [I enjoyed it] but I wouldn't go so far as to say best Australian flick. It has John Goodman and Bryan Brown in it, and basically centres on some Gangsters in the 60s or something and has some Americans trying to move in on Australian turf and the trouble that comes from that.
Two Hands (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145547/), with Heath Ledger and Bryan Brown, is a great Australian film as well, basically a crime movie/love story.
Gettin' Square (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0341376/) is a great Australian heist film, with the excellent David Wenham [Faramir in Lord of the Rings] as a lovable criminal. This one also won many awards, which is good [I really liked this film]
Others films in general which deserve an honourable mention are Walkabout, Shine, Travelling North, Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, Breaker Morant, He Died with a Falafel in His Hand and They're a Wierd Mob.
But by far one of my favourite Australian films is Chopper (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221073/) starring Eric Bana in his first serious role. Based on the story of infamous criminal Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read. This film is fantastic, and Eric Bana is great in it as well, especially considering his previous background was in comedy, not drama.
It's just brilliant how Bana went from this, A bogan called Poiter:
(http://dward.us/Files/Bryan/TEMP/2/fullfrontal06.jpg)
To this scary mutha:
(http://dward.us/Files/Bryan/TEMP/2/chopper04.jpg)
It's great to see actors mix things up a bit, and although opinions about his style and skill is different now, at the time it was truly a big difference in Eric Bana's style of acting. Also the film itself is well put together, which is also important, highly reccomended!
Anyway I better leave it at that, or my brain will explode. There's a hell of a lot of great films I left out, either due to me not having seen them, or just because I couldn't remember them off the top of my head, so if I missed any great ones, oops!
I also hope this gives you a vague idea of how the cinema industry is going in Australia, in terms of what sort of films are being produced here, and which ones are gaining critical acclaim, despite not very incredible box office success. Also, sorry for the length of this, and I'm sorry, I know there's a bit of additional reading to get the proper information on many of these films, since I didn't really explain the films properly and just added on a link to imdb or what-have-you, in most cases.
"Mad Max and its crappy sequels[/u][/i] are lots of B-grade fun."
WHAT?!?!?!?! I seem to recall only one crappy sequel. You can't possibly be referring to MM II (Road Warrior) as a crappy sequel, could you? Road Warrior is THE greatest film EVER made!
I will certainly say that Beyond Thunderdome was an unfunny joke and I cannot even consider it as part of the Max movies.
I love the Mad Max films, and since Mad Max III was the one I had most access to when I was younger [and also the first Mad Max film I saw] it has a nice safe spot in my heart. Mad Max II, of course, is an excellent film.
That still doesn't mean that they aren't crappy, as in B-grade [especially the crappiness, or should I say, silliness of having Tina Turner in Beyond the Thunderdome!]
But ok, I take your point!
Scott Wrote:
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> There is another last man on earth type film from
> Australia that was made in the 80's, but I can't
> remember the name of it. I remember there was some
> kind of large receiving dish science center on the
> box cover. Don't even remember why he was the last
> one on earth. It was about the late 80's. Not sure
> though.
That sounds like The Quite Earth. A man wakes up one morning only to find no one around and he believes he is the only person left, but eventually he finds two others and they try to find out what happend.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089869/
Another Australian fav is Gallipoli.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/
Dean, I was just messing with you. It's fairly well known here (I believe) that Road Warrior is my favorite film and I just had to defend it.
An odd point to all of this is that I can no linger stand Mel Gibson as a person. So now I am caught between my dislike of him and my love of this film. Life is hell.
Here's a short list of the ones I like:
Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Hugo Weaving is one ugly-ass chick and Terence Stamp does too (his character is actually a transexual
Muriel's Wedding - My wife and I quite enjoyed this one
Proof - I posted about this one before. Very good early work of Russell Crowe and Hugo Weaving.
Thanks Herodotus. THE QUIET EARTH is the one. You have lived up to your namesake this day.
As a fellow Aussie, I'd have to nominate Houseboat Horror as the best Bad Movie!!! It's incredibly bad, shot on tape in the late 1980's & was trying to cash in on the slasher films from the early 80's! (yep us Aussies are real quick in cashing in on movie trends).
Also there was another Aussie slasher film released in about 1990 called Blood Moon - shot in Queensland. The only memorable thing about it was the producers adopted the old William Castle gimmick of having a "fright break" just before the climax... a title card came up on screen offering the audience a full refund if they wanted to leave the cinema due to the horrific nature of the film (or something like that)... if you chose this option you'd have to stand in "chicken corner" which was set up in the lobby. For the record, my friends & I were the only 3 people in the cinema & decided to stay to watch the very questionable & tame climax. Dean - this was at the Belgrave Cameo theatre btw)
But with out doubt the best Aussie film of recent years would be The Proposition. Stunning cinematography, superb performances & very violent. And it features the most number of flies in a motion picture in living memory!!! Highly recomended!
As for Wolf Creek, its very over rated. (For fellow Aussies - it looks like a 90 minute TAC commercial.) And its full of horror cliches. Though John Jarrat, as usual, is very good!
Mitch - Buddy - Maaaate! Someone else that knows Houseboat Horror! I'm glad I am not the only one! What a fantastic piece of crap that movie is - I loved it!
After reading Dean's post, I figured that maybe I should do some explaining as well. So back to my original reply:
Rombles Wrote:
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> Hmmmmm are you talking best good movie, or best
> bad movie?
>
> A few that I loved that come to mind (And to make
> it interesting I won't specify which category they
> each come into!).....
>
> Hercules Returns - This was written (and voiced) by Des Mangan, who used to host the cult movies on SBS TV here in Australia. He has exactly the same sense of humour as I do - every movie that he introduced and raved about, I loved. The ones he wasn't so keen on, I didn't like as much. Scary really. This movie is basically a bunch of people re-voicing an Italian print of an old Hercules movie - adding innuendo and cracking me up while doing so. Personally 10/10 from me, but it isn't what I would call a classical "good" movie.
> Picnic At Hanging Rock - Chilling, eerie, creepy. Based (I believe) on a true story, certainly a real place - about the unsolved disappearance of a group of girls in the 30's (?). Early Peter Weir movie, will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up (and try to slink out the door) - Another 10/10 from me, but definately a "good" movie - does not belong on this site in any way.
> Dogs In Space - Michael Hutchence (INXS singer) as a drug-f@#%ed singer in a punk band in Melbourne in the late 70's/early 80's. Based on the real experiences of the director, Richard Lowenstein. Lots of very quotable lines - my 7 year old son quotes it despite not having seen it (and will not see it for a long time yet!). Proves that drugs are bad for you. Leonard Maltin's book ranks it as a "Bomb" - I give it 8/10.
> Chopper - What Dean said.
> Body Melt (see Andrew's review) - Bad and I loved it.
> Undead (not enough Australian Zombie movies!) Requires no explanation if you have seen it. If you haven't, see it!
> Pandemonium - Weird. Very weird. Think Rocky Horror Picture Show (and maybe it's sequel, Shock Treatment) on bad drugs. And then some more worse drugs. Doesn't mean I don't love it though. Between 4-8/10, depending on my mood.
> Malcolm - hilarious movie about a tram-obsessed gadget-building simpleton who teams up with a couple of crooks. I think it won the AFI award for Best Film in about 1986 or whenever it was - the fantastic art direction (by my aunt!) was no doubt a big factor in that! "Good" movie - 9/10.
> Idiot Box - couple of young losers stuff up their lives. 7/10.
> Dirty Deeds - what Dean said, again.
> Babe - talking pig movie, good for the kids. Still fun. 8/10.
> They're A Weird Mob - based on the book about an Italian migrant trying to fit into Australian society in the 50's and 60's. Funny and charming. 8/10.
> The Dish - what Dean said. Extremely "Good" movie - 9.5/10.
> Muriel's Wedding - Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths - both now known to Americans - as a couple of "uncool" girls, one of whom is desperate to get married, whatever the cost. Warning though - contains Abba songs. Still good, though. 9/10.
> Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert - see several other posts in this thread. 8/10.
> Romper Stomper - disturbing movie about skin-heads in Melbourne. I didn't like seeing what was happening on screen, happening in places I was familiar with. If I didn't know the area, it probably wouldn't have bothered me as much. Not sure what I would personally rate this one, but I would definately recommend it to anyone interested in Australian movies.
> Young Einstein - Yahoo Serious (the guys name!) plays young Albert as a Tasmanian apple farmer turned genius. Invents Rock And Roll along the way. Inspired lunacy from the man also responsible for the gems "Reckless Kelly" (updating the Ned Kelly story - Sort of) and "Mr Accident" (I won't even try to describe this one!). 7/10.
> The Cars That Ate Paris - I didn't like this as much as I was told I should have. Still good though - should be watched at least once.
> Running On Empty - I was actually thinking of a movie called "Midnight Spares" when I put this one on the list - but I like both!
> Houseboat Horror (!) Heh, heh, heh. Be warned.
> The Bank - clever movie about David Wenham figuring out a way to screw the banks - and I'm sure everyone would support him in that goal. 8/10
> Don's Party - movie about a very specific time in Australian history - Election night after the sacking of the Prime Minister in 1975. 7/10.
> Patrick - psychological thriller, about a telekinetic man in a coma. Spooky. 7/10.
Hope this helps.
Des Mangan wrote Hercules Returns? I'm going to have to keep an eye out for that one then, since I also like his sense of humour [remember when he used to commentate over Eurovision?] and I still have some cult movies on tape, recorded from sbs lying around here somewhere, in which he did the intros for them.
Oh and hi Mitch! It's a shame not as many cinemas have William Castle-style scare tactics anymore. Won't anybody make a horror film with electric buzzers insterted into the seats of the cinema please??
Whilst Wolf Creek may be a bit over-rated, I still highly reccomend it. Sure, it's not perfect and yes at times does look like a TAC ad, but that's not really a problem for me; it's just great having a good Australian thriller, with an excellent 'killer' performance from John Jarrat.
As for Houseboat Horror, I'll have to look out for that one as well, Australia needs more crappy B-movies!
Houseboat horror is extremely hard to track down. Years ago, maybe in about 1992 the old Fountain Flicks video store in Carnegie (Victoria Australia) had a copy of it, so maybe try there. It's the video store near the railway crossing - might be a Video Easy now. What am I thinking???? Do Video stores still carry VHS???
Over the years I've worked with many of the "stars" from Houseboat Horror. Alan Dale, Gavan Wood, John Michael Howson & Brian Mannix (well he did the music) have all crossed my path... I just regret not getting them to sign a Houseboat Horror poster or something - that would be worth a mint now!!! ;-)
Rombles, lets not forgot respected producer/writer/cinematographer David Parker directed Hercules Returns - a film he usually ignores on his credit list!
And if we're talking about Bad Aussie films - it would be rude & disrespectful not to mention the films of John Lamond. Particularly Pacific Banana & Sky Pirates (a really bad Indiana Jones rip off starring the late John Hargreaves)
I completely forgot to mention a film from the 80's called The Year My Voice Broke - produced by George Miller. It's by no means a Bad film, but a true classic Aussie coming of age film, filled with drama, melancholy & humour. Highly recommended!
Forgive me folks...my brain isn't firing on all cylinders due to the silly season!!! How could I have neglected to mention possibly the best BAD Aussie film of all time...
THE TIME GUARDIAN
Made in 1987, The Time Guardian was trying to cash in on the sci fi boom created by Star Wars - except it was about 10 years too late! The producers even imported Carrie Fisher to play the female lead opposite Tom Burlinson. I still remember reading the articles in TV Week which made a big deal of the fact that this was the very first Aussie film to have motion control photography & highly detailed miniatures (which were all quite lame BTW).
As for other Aussie B films, lets not forget…
Razorback (a killer pig in the outback)
The Howling 3 (a terrible follow up to a horrible sequel)
Dark Age (a killer crocodile film starring John Jarratt).
And keep an eye out for Rogue â€" Greg McLeans follow up to Wolf Creek about a killer croc currently shooting in Victoria. (again starring John Jarratt)
I've seen Razorback. It was decent. I really liked the scenery (Australian outback of course), but some things were just hokey about it. I should go find it and see it again along with some of the ones from these great lists of films. Three cheers for this board!
Hip Hip- Horray!
Hip Hip- Horray!
Hip Hip- Horray!
Mitch - was Pacific Banana the one where a couple of guys convince their sick father (? older male relative) that he is on a round-the-world trip, when he has actually not left the house?
Thought of a couple more.... Outback Vampires - good bad movie, starring John Doyle - better known as Roy Slaven from Roy & HG.
and.....
"Cut". I can't believe I forgot this one! Molly Ringwald and Kylie Minogue (briefly!) in a slasher movie - made here in Adelaide. And I didn't even go and declare my adoration for Molly while she was here :-( I bought this ex-rental on VHS for $1 a couple of weeks ago!
I haven't seen 'Cut,' yet for some odd reason I do have the soundtrack.
What's it like?
I've mentioned a couple of these ones before, but they are worth mentioning again:
- Bloodmoon. A slasher flick set in a remote Australian high school, where the students are killed one by one by a sadistic nutcase. Razor wire nooses and axes are used to varying effect. One rather neat scene involves a couple of teenagers getting it on in the woods, at the school prom. There's a nice bit of boobage while the hapless guy gets whacked by the killer.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096954/
- Kadaicha. I only barely remember this, as I saw it on late-night television in the early 90's. I recall a group of teenagers finding some kind of cursed Aboriginal artifact, and they suffer horrible deaths along the way. Not a bad movie at all from a teen horror perspective; I might see if I can get it on DVD somehow. It also gets uniqueness points for being Australian.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095423/
- Death In Brunswick. Sam Neill stars in this local comedy made in about 1991. He plays a wimpy guy who works in a pizza parlour, which is hooked up with the local crime gang. I don't remember that much of this movie, even though I saw it in the cinema with my girlfriend at the time - come to think of it, that's probably why I don't remember that much of it. Notable scenes include Sam Neill getting 'revenge' on the crime gang by making them pizza and embedding it with cockroaches, and an absolutely wild scene where a dessicated corpse in a coffin is stomped to dust to make room to hide a body! You have to see that to believe it! The entire cinema went into a kind of spasmodic laughter and shock at that scene.
Brunswick is a suburb in Melbourne that was kind of rough in past years, but is now quite a trendy place with a lot of pubs, cafe's, live bands and clothing shops.
And in a weird coincidence, Zoe Carides is in both Kadaicha and Death in Brunswick.
Edit: come to think of it, I remember the posters to Razorback. Weren't they of a demonic pig with glowing red eyes charging towards the viewer? Never saw that one - I wonder if it's still around?
~Archivist~
dean Wrote:
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> > I haven't seen 'Cut,' yet for some odd reason I
> do have the soundtrack.
>
> What's it like?
>
Wellllllll Molly Ringwald is in it, so I am kinda biased. Yeah, I loved it. But I think that even normal people (to the extent that such a thing exists, particularly on this forum!) would enjoy it too!
Mitch McAfee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Houseboat horror is extremely hard to track down.
> Years ago, maybe in about 1992 the old Fountain
> Flicks video store in Carnegie (Victoria
> Australia) had a copy of it, so maybe try there.
> It's the video store near the railway crossing -
> might be a Video Easy now. What am I thinking????
> Do Video stores still carry VHS???
Some do, especially the 'independent' stores that have been around for a long time. You have to be careful of those tapes, though, because they can be so full of dirt that they clog up your machine.
> I completely forgot to mention a film from the
> 80's called The Year My Voice Broke - produced by
> George Miller. It's by no means a Bad film, but a
> true classic Aussie coming of age film, filled
> with drama, melancholy & humour. Highly
> recommended!
Also see the sequel to TYMVB, called 'Flirting' (1991). It stars Noah Taylor, with Thandie Newton and Nicole Kidman! Naomi Watts is supposed to be in there somewhere as well. That's three actresses who went on to much bigger things, but then there's poor Noah. Wonder what happened to him?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101898/
And speaking of Nicole Kidman, last year I managed to pick up a super cheap copy of one of her very early movies, called BMX Bandits! She plays one of three kids on BMX bikes, cruising around and foiling a bunch of criminals. This movie was made in the early 80's, on the wave of BMX mania. There's a lot of (now almost tame and normal) stunt cycling, which was very exciting back in those days, I can tell you! It's great as a kid's movie, and worth a look even if you're seeing it for the first time now.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085204/
~Archivist~
Hi.
Most have already been mentioned. Year My Voice Broke is my favourite film.
But onto the Bad ones ...
Sky Pirates - "I don't believe in curses." Johnny H at his finest! Directed by Colin Egglestone.
Outback Vampires - Bargearse and Rampaging Roy Slaven in one third of his 1987 screamaganza. Again, directed by Egglestone!
Contagion - Rampaging again!
Rock'n'roll Cowboys - Yep, Slaven.
Kadaicha - its like a bad version of 'The Dreaming'
The Dreaming - its like a bad version of 'Kadaicha'
Lady Stay Dead - Chard Hayward (!!!).
Pacific Banana - Worth it for the title song alone.
Coda - Penny Cook in her best movie since ... The Dreaming ...
Dust Off The Wings - with Kate Ceberano!
Holidays On The River Yarra - with nobody!
S.N.A.K. - The only one of these I couldn't actually finish watching.
Lets Get Skase - well I guess its not too bad, really.
Body Melt - great to see its got a gig on the video shelf down the road here ... in California!!!
Bloodmoon - Before bagging this too much, note that many mainstream horrors these days are pretty much EVEN POORER versions of this general premise.
Bloodlust - plenty of scary stuff, mainly direction, props, cast, crew, fact anybody wanted to do it ...
Oh and the Carnegie video store next to the Railway Line on Koornang is umm a Blockbuster I think ... it doesn't have Houseboat Horror anymore ... they sold off HEAPS of VHS in the late 1990s/early 2000s ... I live in Carnegie when not over here in the states. I found Houseboat Horror once, think it was the Elwood Video Ezy ... but Video Ezy have all been offloading their VHS for years now.
Cheers,
Kev