Australia's Best Movie Magazine

Film reviews

The Vow

A saccharine and paint-by-numbers slice of romance, which is largely boosted by the appeal of its two leads.

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (3D)

The under-utilised 3D adds little to this prequel, which only serves as a sore reminder of the brilliance of the original films.

Any Questions For Ben?

The talented bunch of actors ably cut through the surface gloss, but it’s tough to remain invested in the plight of the self-absorbed lead.

Shame

It starts off as brutal but arresting stuff, and the two lead performances are scorching, but disappointingly dissolves into a case of tragedy for the sake of tragedy.

search the site

Enter search term:

newsletter

Enter your email address below to receive the weekly Filmink newsletter

Enter search term:

The Horseman (Film)

by Sophie Watson | July 05, 2010 13:07 | Edited July 05, 2010 13:08

Repulsive and compelling, this intense and impressive revenge tale comes highly recommended for fans of the genre.

For a country renowned for its sunny, laidback nonchalance, Australia does a damn good job of making dark and poignant films. Even our stabs at comedy usually take on a murky quality. So when an Aussie filmmaker indulges in a narrative that is ruthless to begin with, audiences may be quick to assume that they're in for something spectacular. Moving into relatively new territory for Aussie cinema, writer/director Steven Kastrissios' debut film, The Horseman, is a vicious and gritty revenge tale.

 

Set in rural Queensland, the film follows Christian (exceptional newcomer Peter Marshall), a grief stricken father completely incapacitated by the drug and rape fuelled death of his teenage daughter, Jessica. Numb from the agony, Christian takes to self-harm just to "feel something", and embarks on a physical and emotional journey to avenge the death of his little girl.

 

During his quest, Christian picks up hitchhiker, Alice (Caroline Marohasy), an awkward eighteen-year-old with issues of her own. As the two make the journey to their destination, the horrific pieces of Jessica's death are revealed, sending Christian on a furiously violent struggle of retribution. Alice and Christian form an unlikely bond, and find themselves desperately trying to save each other in the film's mesmerising climax.

 

The Horseman is utterly repulsive and beautiful at the same time, shot skillfully with varying degrees of shutter-speed adding to the hazy depth of Christian's mental fracture. The film features a range of powerhouse performances, particularly that of Peter Marshall, who gives his character an intensely raw yet understated momentum. The Horseman is an impressive step away from your run-of-the-mill revenge flick, and for fans of this genre, it comes highly recommended.