Storm Warning (2007)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Jamie Blanks

Writer:

Everett De Roche (written by)

Release Date:

17 January 2008 (Russia)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Survival Can Be Murder

Plot:

A yuppie couple lost in a swamp seek refuge at an isolated farmhouse only to discover they've jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Beautiful Woman | Killer

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Nadia Farès	...	Pia
Robert Taylor	...	Rob
David Lyons	...	Jimmy
Mathew Wilkinson	...	Brett
John Brumpton	...	Poppy
Jonathan Oldham	...	Red Tracksuit Guy
Puss	...	Honky - Dog

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody horror violence, terror, gore, language, some sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:R | Germany:Not Rated (uncut version) | UK:18 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Finland:K-18 (self applied) | Germany:(Banned) (SPIO/JK) (cut) | Germany:18 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Central City Studios, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Resolution Independent

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Long Weekend (2008)

Menacing and entertaining

This is a very effective low budget offering from the Southern hemisphere.

The plot is pretty simple, revolving around a yuppie couple who stumble upon a backwoods family who take them prisoner. What elevates this film above similar tales is the sheer sense of menace and relentless vulnerability that is created, and also the sheer energy and inventiveness with which the captors are depicted.

Personally, I felt very uncomfortable throughout and I empathised with the couple who had somehow got themselves into so much trouble. The woman, who to make matters worse is French, is under constant threat of rape. I felt particularly sorry for her lawyer boyfriend who is helplessly out of his depth and fully aware that he is unable to defend her.

However, she is made of pretty stern stuff and when her boyfriend is incapacitated by the savage yokels they have encountered she takes matters into her own hands and begins the fight back.

This protracted turning of the tables takes up the final third of the film and is handled with great energy and and enthusiasm. Some old-school booby traps are employed against one of the villains whilst she has another trick up her, ahem, sleeve which really has to be seen to be believed.

Without giving too much away, I found the eventual structure of this film quite fascinating and original, but for the casual viewer alike this film really delivers. There is plenty of atmosphere, humour, set-piece carnage and thrills for everyone and the hyped up soundtrack keeps things moving along nicely.