Loved Ones, The (2009) (1st viewing) d. Byrne, Sean (Australia)
Long-haired metalhead Xavier Samuel, traumatized by the violent death of his father, spends his final high school days in a haze of reefer smoke and tender embraces of trying-to-be-patient girlfriend Victoria Thaine. Little does he guess that his affections are the crown which malevolent wallflower Robin McLeavy aspires to wear…by any means necessary. Superb gore effects – some explicit, some implied – accent a wealth of fine performances, with McLeavy and perverted pater John Brumpton taking top marks while the quaintly comic mispairing of loveable loser Richard Wilson and goth hottie Jessica McNamee perfectly offsets the madness. Since its triumphant debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2009, this wickedly twisted “John Hughes meets torture porn” treat from Down Under has been laboring to find its way Stateside. After a semi-successful TUGG release this summer, whereby fans lobbied to have the film screened in their communities, U.S. horror geeks will finally be able to check out the candy colored carnage for themselves. (Paramount has announced a BR/DVD release date of Sept 11.) Highly recommended.
LOVE this film, glad you also enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what the hold-up was on this one - I think the filmmakers themselves were holding out for the best distrib deal they could get. Granted, it got them a (limited) theatrical release, but MAN, long time to wait. Well worth it though.
ReplyDeleteI adored this one, have been recommending it to everyone I know since I first saw it a few months ago. THE LOVED ONES is my favorite horror film of the last couple years, hands down.
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