Acolytes (2008)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Jon Hewitt

Writers:

Shayne Armstrong (writer) and
Shane Krause (writer) ...

Release Date:

25 March 2009 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Nothing stays buried forever.

Plot:

Three teenagers blackmail a serial killer.

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Teenager | One Word Title | Tied Up While Barefoot | Bare Chested Male

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Danny Baldwin	...	Detective 2
Holly Baldwin	...	Tanya Lee
Harley Bennick	...	Young James
Michael Dorman	...	Gary Parker
Sue Dwyer	...	Ma Parker
Joel Edgerton	...	Ian Wright
Sebastian Gregory	...	Mark
Bella Heathcote	...	Petra
Todd Levi	...	Detective 1
Hanna Mangan Lawrence	...	Chasely
Belinda McClory	...	Kay Wright
Joshua Payne	...	James
Anthony Phelan	...	Tanya Lee's Dad
Leigh Prewecki	...	Baby Wright
Ryan Sheldrake	...	Young Mark

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | UK:18 | France:-16 | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Queensland, Australia

Company:

Stewart and Wall Entertainment

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Jon Hewitt's little low-budget Aussie horror / thriller 'Acolytes' had a strong base to work with as it focused on two teenage boys Mark and James who were physically abused when youngsters by a psychotic bully, Gary and he still happens to be on the scene. By chance Mark discovers a fresh grave in the woods and witnesses the culprit leaving in their 4WD. Thinking maybe its drugs or cash. Himself, James and his girlfriend Chasely head back the next day to unearth it, but discover a body. Still wanting revenge on Gary, they decide to find the whereabouts of the serial killer and secretly blackmail them into killing Gary, or they'll go to the cops. The opportunity might be worth the risk, but they soon find out it won't be all that easy.

Director Hewitt sets up a deceitfully macabre and hauntingly slick serial killer film… well the serial killer element can almost be seen as the tool for the story's progression because the central piece could be labelled more so the relationship between the three broodingly angst, but damaged teenagers who really succumb to a lack judgement. The sound idea is made up of many possibilities, but the ambitious narrative does become a bit of jumble losing shape with its jaded editing techniques and jerky flashback sequences. I was getting a little confused with the incoherent shifts in the story's developments, but soon after the film had finished the pieces did eventually come together, despite the contrived occurrences for these things to actually work. It's visually atmospheric style was very similar of the enigmatically uncanny 2003 Australian horror 'Lost Things'. Just like that film, the pacing is purposely slow-going (too casual or artsy for some) and keeping a downbeat frown throughout, but remains psychologically gripping with its metaphorical undercurrents and pessimistic tone. After the ponderous set-up, it storms up moments of suspense and explicit brutality, by transcending in to a game of survival when those who thought they were in control find out they bit off more than what they could chew… or did they? When it erupts there's a real dark edge leading to a dangerously murderous impulse revealing a little more than we first thought. While it's not a perfect balance and feels rushed, it's intriguing to how it eventually goes on to play out. Nonetheless watching the two alternative endings on the DVD, I actually preferred those two takes over the original theatrical choice.

The dialogues are fairly sparse and if so quite straight forward, with it concentrating on its moody styling to invoke the emotional pull. Truthfully most of the characters that enter the frame (the main players) isn't particularly likable and can be said to be unpleasant or obnoxious. This however doesn't hamper any of the performances. Sebastian Gregory, Joshua Payne and Hanna Mangan-Lawrence provide good, honest portrayals of the teenagers who find they are in over their heads. Joel Edgerton emits a plausible intensity and uneasiness from his casually creepy facade as the suburban serial killer. Michael Dorman gives a capable turn as the crazily violent bully.

Rich locations (filmed in Queensland) are made to great use, where the authentically stunning backdrops have the outskirts of suburbia intrusively entering the forlorn wilderness. Hewitt really does cement a constant eeriness to when the scenes hit the chilling woodlands because of the clinically sharp photography (as there's plenty of excellent imagery captured) and distinctively howling score. However there are some generic inclusions involving unnerving sound effects and clichéd jump scares.