Long Weekend Review
This is an Australian film that has pretty much gone unnoticed for those outside of its home country until Synapse Films gave it a DVD release here in the US a couple years back. I personally didn’t discover it until news of a US remake broke out earlier this year. Considered “creepy” by many, I thought the film was incredibly slow paced and rather dull in certain scenes, but for the most part managed to keep my interest and delivered an ending I was quite pleased with. I can see how some would find it creepy, with the fact that the couple find themselves in a situation that could happen to any adventure-seeking vacationer, and given that we don’t know whether it’s the couple or nature that causes their downfall.
The premise is simple — a bickering married couple decide to camp at a relatively unknown beach, where they encounter strange happenings with nature and a couple near-death mishaps, all foreshadowing their possible demise. Despite the numerous hints that their negligence towards the environment (littering, killing animals, chopping down a tree) will eventually get the better of them, they stay the full weekend, but at what cost? Slow-paced from beginning to end, the film keeps the viewer watching with its use of excellent character development between our two leads. Aside from a couple close calls with death (the wife nearly got a bolt to the neck after a bow accidently goes off), and a few strange incidents with critters, not a whole lot happens in the film aside from a lot of arguing, shooting aimlessly, drinking beer, and swimming.
Although I didn’t find the movie at all “creepy”, it did have some eerie scenes, like all the strange noises they’d hear (especially at night), the rotting carcass of a dead creature from the sea that somehow inches its way closer to the couple, and lastly a mysterious van that turns up on the beach, but is later discovered in the ocean. What’s the meaning behind it all? is nature really out to get them? These are likely questions asked while viewing the flick, and we’re never really given a clear answer.
OVERALL
Slow-paced from the start to the credits, the film definitely won’t appeal to everyone. Although I found it to be dull at times, it proved to be an overall interesting watch, and delivered a nice ending. Watch at your own risk.
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