Worth: $16.00
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Cast:
Kyal Scott, James Grace, Andrew Lowe, Maia Rose Michaels
Intro:
...this Aussie underdog boasts more than enough bite.
A group of errant youths drinking and carousing at a remote campground are stalked by a malevolent evil, and have to fight for their lives. No, this is not a reboot of Friday The 13th, or indeed of any of the kill-scene-check-list films that staggered around in its bloody, frivolous wake. This is Ashburn Waters, an Aussie take on the slasher genre that skitters in on a tiny budget and lots of independent spirit. The debut feature of David Pether, it thankfully avoids most of the ugly pitfalls of its US counterparts, cutting the gleeful sadism and instead injecting a little mysticism and a taste of the supernatural into proceedings.
Still stinging after a nasty relationship breakup, Brett (Kyal Scott) is convinced by his buddy Binns (Andrew Lowe) to join up with their old high school crew for a camping trip over the Easter weekend. Unfortunately, Brett’s bitchy, cheating ex, Scout (Jade Prechelt), is also coming along, with a new boyfriend in tow. The considerably sweeter Cassie (Maia Rose Michaels) provides a more pleasant distraction, but when the bodies start to mount up, romance is quickly put on the backburner.
Unlike many, many other directors who have tackled the slasher genre, writer/director David Pether knows that you’ve got to care at least a little bit about who gets killed, and sensibly makes his characters a fairly likeable lot, with Kyal Scott and Maia Rose Michaels particularly appealing in the lead roles. The identity of the stalking killer is also a refreshing change from the usual psychosexual knife wielder, and gives Ashburn Waters a real sense of difference. While the budget occasionally hurts, and the tone is a little uncertain, this Aussie underdog boasts more than enough bite.
Ashburn Waters will screen on February 4 in Melbourne and will be followed by a Q&A with writer/director David Pether. For all venue and ticketing information, click here.