Midnight madness

MIDNIGHT MADNESS

TIFF 2009

REVIEW OF THE LOVED ONES
Dir: Sean BYRNE
Cast Xavier Samuel as Brent, Richard Wilson as Sac ,Robin McLeavy as Lola

Jessica McNamee as Mia, Victoria Thaine as Holly, John Brumpton as Eric

By sharp tongue 1 aka PAH





Boiling Hot Water will boil your brain according to Lola played by Robin McLeavy Psycho chick or Pretty in Pink gone bad.
The Great Horror flick written and directed by Sean Byrne Australia knows how to do Horror right.
The loved ones has all the elements of a good horror film it's been a long time since I've had to close my
eyes and Plug my ears so the sound could not penetrate into my conscious thoughts. The story is about Brent young teenager who has lost his father in a car accident. He is like Humpty Dumpty and his girlfriend Holly played by Victoria Thaine seems to be the only loved one to put him back together. Only problem is Lola and her twisted father can we say Electra complex to the extreme or Hitchcock Psycho reversed instead of Norman Bates and his mother we have Lola and over indulgent father.

In order to avoid a ghostly figure in the road, high school senior Brent Mitchell wraps his car around a tree, killing his father. Constantly confronted by his mother's emotional collapse after the accident, Brent escapes into a marijuana fueled world of loud metal music to block the pain and guilt. Dejected and out of sorts, he has a shot at happiness with his girlfriend Holly, a grounded, caring girl with drop dead good looks, a dream date for the high school prom. But his plans are thwarted by a disturbing series of events that take place under a mirrored disco ball, involving pink satin, glitter, syringes, nails, power drills and a secret admirer. Brent has become the prom king at a macabre, sadistic event where he is the entertainment. Written by Anonymous

This Horror is character driven by great use of music and colour for the girls, black for Goth Mia , Pastel for Holly and Hot pink for loo loo Lola. The references that is used in this film is as follows Evil dead, Carrie, Texas chainsaw massacre, Psycho , Misery, Pretty in Pink obscure

1969 horror flick staring Donald Pleasence called Wake & Fright and The Loved Ones by Evelyn Waugh ok I'm stretching that one a bit.

The Cinematography by Simon Chapman is as much part of the film bringing in the landscape of Australia and drilling long shots or too tight close up shots that added to the thrill of the Scare to the audience. The pacing on each extricating moment of the film takes a sling shot affect on the psyche of all involved.

Comparison Jennifer'S Body had the witty dialogue of Diabolo Cody but it's use of music either was over powering in its awfulness maybe because all involved does not really know the Genre of Horror. Sean Byrnes the loved ones knows how to use the music and one particular song sung by Lola brings back memories of stuck in the middle of you Alla Quentin Tarantino Reservoir dogs. A spoiler alert The twist in the Plot with Serial killer family theme abounds in this film, play close attention to the first 10 minutes of the film and see how the story all unfolds in the Loved Ones. Where French Martyrs was nihilistic in its message and film the Loved ones comes off as an action thriller with out the pretension that Horror films is making a statement it should not be making. Fans should go out to see this film right away.

During the Q & A at the premier of the opening film the cast crew and Producer came up on stage and talk about the experience of making the film and thank goodness the audience did not ask unintelligent questions? All who came on the stage Holly, Brent, Mia Producer Michael Boughen brought the funny to the scary, especially Sean Byrne who did some great research when choosing horrific scenes his attention to detail reference serial killer Dalmer, who Knew Jeffrey Dalmer used Power drills on his victims ?

To all who want to make a horror film follow the path of Sean Byrne know the genre, do your research and go low budget, the quality is in the final product and The Loved ones does not disappoint I've been restored in my faith for the horror genre damn that film was good.

The movie has Australian feel to it but since it takes place in Australia it should not matter the themes are universally translated world wide.I love to escape or travel to different parts of the world.

By Pah