Starring: Damon Herriman, Angus Sampson, Anna McGahan
Director: Cameron and Colin Cairnes
Rated: R
Reg (Damon Herriman) and Lindsay (Angus Sampson) run an organic fertilizer business utilizing road kill. The pressure to produce the best possible blend with the highest levels of potassium has caused the Morgan bros to utilize another ingredient, fresh human bodies. Much to the good fortune of the Morgan brothers and to the chagrin of three concert goers with a broken down car, who made the mistake of asking the wrong small business owner for a ride.
Brothers Cameron and Colin Cairns deliver an unexpected gem in this horror/comedy, their feature length directorial debut. I don’t know what it is about Australians but they have a wicked sense of humor and go for it every chance they get. The two are not creating a new genre in fact it’s a formula utilized since Texas chainsaw in the 70′s, having city slickers get stuck in a situation with some demented rural types. Where they succeed is their spin on the villains, the Morgan brothers are not so much homicidal maniacs but two people that found themselves in a cant turn back situation. They are just trying to get their product to their customers.
On the opposite side you have Sophie (Anna McGahan), James (Oliver Ackland) and Wesley (Jamie Kristian). James wants to propose to Sophie who is having second thoughts on their relationship primarily due to seeing Wesley on the side. Meanwhile Wesley is trying to navigate the situation after he just dropped some acid. Sophie holds the film together playing the city girl with the country upbringing, it would be a surprise if Anna McGahan doesn’t become a big star.
What sets the film apart is the infusion of dark comedy, the outrageous situations as well as the locations. The utilization of the real world fairy land is fantastic, it’s hard to believe it’s a real place, it’s the perfect setting to hunt down an escaped Wesley. Reg is great as the brother who wants to get out of Leslie’s giant shadow while Leslie is a larger than life character with his Amish beard and dry ambition.
There is more than enough gore and dark laughs to go around not to mention the catchiest jingle ever played in film. Morgan’s organics, they will get your garden growing great. You just don’t want to be part of their special blend.
Grade – 90
