I'm no huge Quentin Tarantino fan but I do share his affinity with Australian cinema, so when I learned this long forgotten film was at the top of his list, my curiosity won over.
Compared by Tarantino to one of my all time favourites, The Shining, Next of Kin meanders far too long without much semblance of a point or plot line. Certain scenes and characters elicit a well constructed sense of dread, albeit for too long the elements remain frustratingly obtuse.
Ironically, John Jarrett of menacing Wolf Creek fame, is the only person involved in this outback haunted horror flick to carve a successful career in the industry, yet here he plays one of the film's least threatening characters as the ex boyfriend of the central protagonist who inherits a creepy old folks' home. Her demeanour evokes comparisons to The Shining's Wendy Torrance as evil forces finally come to the fore.
Kudos for the attempt to achieve something unique to the Australian cinematic pantheon. One just wonders whether more capable hands might have seen this oddly interesting film find the consistency to warrant comparison to Kubrick.
That said, Next of Kin is worth a look and actually played better on second viewing.
Compared by Tarantino to one of my all time favourites, The Shining, Next of Kin meanders far too long without much semblance of a point or plot line. Certain scenes and characters elicit a well constructed sense of dread, albeit for too long the elements remain frustratingly obtuse.
Ironically, John Jarrett of menacing Wolf Creek fame, is the only person involved in this outback haunted horror flick to carve a successful career in the industry, yet here he plays one of the film's least threatening characters as the ex boyfriend of the central protagonist who inherits a creepy old folks' home. Her demeanour evokes comparisons to The Shining's Wendy Torrance as evil forces finally come to the fore.
Kudos for the attempt to achieve something unique to the Australian cinematic pantheon. One just wonders whether more capable hands might have seen this oddly interesting film find the consistency to warrant comparison to Kubrick.
That said, Next of Kin is worth a look and actually played better on second viewing.