Film: The Loved Ones
By Amy Macpherson • Aug 11th, 2009 • Section: Film
The Loved Ones
The Loved Ones
Melbourne International Film Festival
Greater Union Cinema – 30 July & 7 August
In a packed cinema, this evening’s thrill-seeking audience is cautioned to “shut your eyes” or “block your ears.” We are assured we “won’t fall asleep in this one”. A warning to be heeded, The Loved Ones will simultaneously disgust and amaze you. Get ready for a sexy, gory, scary rollercoaster ride of fast-paced sequences that don’t let up.
We are introduced to tortured teen soul Brent who crashed the car killing his father some months before. His home life is in tatters with his mother, pale and ghost-like, hovering in the doorway as he pumps heavy metal. At school Lola approaches Brent and breathlessly asks him to the school dance. He declines and we meet Holly, his girlfriend, in the car sex scene. The first jump of the film comes as the camera flicks to the window and Lola is there, watching murderously.
Set in a country town, Brent escapes his house to rock-climb, clutching his razor-sharp dog tag necklace. His iPod inhibits his and the viewers’ senses and it comes as a shock when a man appears behind him. With only a short struggle, Brent is over-powered and dragged away.
He regains consciousness to find himself in a tuxedo, tied to a chair with Lola, her father Eric and ‘Bright Eyes’ peering at him. There is a disco ball eerily turning, a banner strung up pronouncing Lola’s Prom and the party food is a stomach-turning combination of chicken with a glass of milk. The party takes a turn for the gruesome as Lola and Eric utilise power tools to entertain their bound guest.
The soundtrack is excellent, adding to the mood and satire and giving insight into the characters via their musical choices. Brent channels heavy metal while Lola we associate with the ironic choice of Kasey Chambers “Not Pretty Enough”.
Seeing The Loved Ones I am reminded of Stephen King’s 1976 horror film Carrie, which also deals with misunderstood girl on Prom night. While the two films share plot similarities they are worlds apart. The Loved Ones is not your typical horror movie – it falls within the genre however disobeys many of the conventions and could better be described as a cross-genre comedy/thriller. The bizarre and gory party is balanced with two sub plots of comic relief and drama as the audience is transported violently between the three with no chance to catch a breath.
Robin McLeavy (48 Shades) is relentless as Lola, a seductively sadistic dominatrix in a pink, satin Prom dress and heels. Outstanding performances also by Xavier Samuel (due to appear in the third Twilight movie) as Brent and John Brumpton (Last Ride, Romper Stomper) as Lola’s psychotic father Eric. Directed by Sean Bryne with cinematography by Simon Chapman, the film premiered at MIFF and will be screened next at Toronto International Film Festival.
The Loved Ones is an experience that will cause you a lot of tension, some anxiety, may make you want to throw your guts up, and will certainly quash any thoughts of moving to a country town. The visual, and auditory assault is totally worth it. This is an exceptional testament to Australian film.
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here here, great film – interested to see how the masses take to it, great performances all round, let not forget Jess Macnamee for being funny and hot, Richard Wilson for being incredibly amusing and stoned and Victoria Thaine for being one of Australias great unsung acting talents – surely a star in the making….
roll on the film release!
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