By Travis Johnson
What is Australia’s best creature feature. Is it Razorback? Dark Age? The Howling III?* Whatever it is, it’s in for some competition, judging by the brand-spanking-new trailer for Red Billabong that just dropped.
Anyone who swung by the Red Billabong booth at Oz Comic-Con or Supanova has already gotten an eyeful of the film’s CGI beastie, which is provoked to bloody-handed violence when two brothers (Dan Ewing and Tim Pocock) dither over whether to donate their granddad’s massive bush block to the local Aborigines, who hold the land as sacred, or to cash out to some developers. The CGI-realised behemoth then starts carving its way through the supporting cast, and it’s on for young and old.
It looks like an ambitious splatter-fest, and writer/director Luke Sparke believes the monster is Australia’s first CGI main character. “I can’t recall a fully realized computer generated character as a ‘lead’ in an Australian film before. I don’t think it’s been attempted. Our VFX team will be working furiously all the way up to the cinema release. We also used so many practical effects, daring stunts and huge sets. There’s so much in the film that isn’t in the new trailer. There is still so much to reveal when you’re watching it!”
Co-starring Sophie Don, Jessica Green, Ben Chisholm, John Reynolds, Emily Joy, James Straiton, Felix Williamson and Gregory River, Red Billabong hits Australian theatres on August 25.
*It’s not The Howling III.
Looks like it’s going to be a locally made bloody ripper – I can’t wait!! Also written and directed by my 2nd cousin Luke Sparke who is going to be Australia’s next James Cameron – go get em Luke!!