KILLING GROUND

KILLING GROUND: D+

A disturbing film, relying solely upon shock value and a few gruesome deaths in order to keep its audience occupied. A few matches are lit, but no fire ever burns long enough to interest you in the characters beyond the simplicity of who you want to win and who you want to lose.

Whereas German seems psychopathic through nature, it hints that Chook was molded into the monster he became. German kills without hesitation. Chook has hesitation but as to why, it's never explained or even examined. It would have been interesting to see his back story or at least allude to it in some fashion. Instead we're given nothing.

There's also not much character development for protagonists either. Only a slight suggestion that in a time of crisis Sam is impulsive and reactive whereas Ian is analytical and reluctant. More so a subtle statement of a weak male and a strong female, be it political or sociological.

The ambiguity of the baby at this point was moot. In reality in the Australian outback, especially with hungry wild pigs around, a baby wouldn't have survived on its own. Not in that environment, not for that long. To even assume that it, now with injuries would continue to survive is preposterous. To leave the fate of the baby unknown and furthermore to not acknowledge it as a concern of our survivors is ridiculous. His safety was a biding priority. It would be the first thing on their mind.

The directing of the film was sloppy. The transitions between the here and now were done poorly. It was hard to tell present time from past time. Sometimes it was impossible.

Acting is the one area I'll give the film some credit. Not crazy about the mumbling ways in which they spoke to one another. It wasn't always easy to make out what they said. Yet, Harriet Dyer gave a good enough performance that she should be recognized for her efforts in a film that had nothing else going for it.

Damien Power wrote a shit script full of errors and problems, and somehow or another was able to direct it into something even worse than what he had written. I suppose in a way, that must be concluded as talent.

This movie sucked.