your favourite Australian horror films?

[Guillaume P]

my top 5!:

1: next of kin (tony Williams)
2: long week end (colin Eggleston)
3: harlequin (simon Wincer)
4: razorback (russell Mulcahy)
5: picnic at hanging rock (peter Weir)

[David Huber]

I always enjoyed THE LAST WAVE, although it may be difficult to watch now since the tsunami disaster.

[Jonathan Douglas]

Anyone seen Peter Weir's THE PLUMBER (1979) ? I read it's supposed to be a great psycho thriller. I'll go with PAHR as the best in Aussie horror, and the rare BACKSLIDING (1991) with Tim Roth is quite good too.

[Damian P]

VICIOUS! (1988) It's not really a horror film but it does carry elements of horror.
It's been years since I have seen it but I recall it being a good film with some strong brutality.

[Ed C]

The Long Weekend
Romper Stomper

[Aaron G]

The Boys
Ghosts of the civil dead - both these are more horrific than 'horror' ie: Blokes and monsters coming out of closets with knives and shit.
Body Melt (its total dreck, and is more 'camp' gore than horror, but sorta comes close)


and there's that 'Wolf Creek' film which seems to be setting the bar for 'Aussie' horror

sheeit..you guys have seen more Aussie horror s than me and I'm aussie (also coz most aren't even worst watching)

[Jesper Maintz]

Anyone seen Peter Weir's THE PLUMBER (1979) ? I read it's supposed to be a great psycho thriller.
I have the VHS of THE PLUMBER but didnt really like it, when I saw it some 10 years ago - it felt like the TV movie it was, and pretty boring as well...

Of course, my memory is a bit faded and it might be better than what I remember - isnt it included as a bonus on the THE CARS THAT ATE PARIS dvd?

[Paul Casey]

I have the VHS of THE PLUMBER but didnt really like it, when I saw it some 10 years ago - it felt like the TV movie it was, and pretty boring as well...

Of course, my memory is a bit faded and it might be better than what I remember - isnt it included as a bonus on the THE CARS THAT ATE PARIS dvd?

Yeah. I have the Cars/Paris dvd and The Plumber is on it. Cars is great, but The Plumber isn't as good. It's entertaining, but a little longish.

[Brett Evans]

Around the late 1970's-early 1980's producer Antony I. Ginnane was involved in a number of fairly good Australian made horror films. He often imported people like David Hemmings and Robert Powell to act or direct in some of them. The films I quite like from his stable are:

HARLEQUIN

SNAPSHOT

THIRST

PATRICK

TURKEY SHOOT (ESCAPE 2000)

DEAD KIDS

[Dusan S]

BODY MELT
UNDEAD
INTERVIEW (more thriller than horror movie)

[gordon_campers]

Razorback is a great bloody film, some great cinematography by Dean Semler

[Vincent Pereira]

I like VICIOUS too. I have it on VHS, I'd love to see this get a DVD release.

DEAD KIDS is not an "Australian horror film". For one thing, it was filmed in New Zealand. For another, it had an American writer, director, and cast. It was only filmed in NZ for financial reasons, so it doesn't even really qualify as a New Zealand film.

Vincent

[Eric A]

Gotta add my love for PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK. If any film can define the word atmosphere, this is it!

[Mike T]

Hmmm, from an Aussie...

THE LAST WAVE - coz it's creepy, has kadaicha men and is about the apocalypse
PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK - coz even though it's only a PG here, it still scares me
NEXT OF KIN - spooky, Argento-esque and a great score by Klaus Schulze
FRENCHMAN'S FARM - coz I come from smalltown rural Oz and ghost stories on farms wig me out; this is so scary I refuse to watch it again
THE LONG WEEKEND - one of the scariest films I've ever seen...period
ROAD GAMES - Great Richard Franklin flick with a cameo by Aussie stuntman extraordinaire Grant Page and some nasty stuff with meat trucks...
RAZORBACK - only in its uncut form though; rivettingly captures the desolation and unearthly qualities of the outback
HARLEQUIN - creepy, political and with a corker sting in the tail
THE HAUNTING OF HEWEY DOUWKER - made for TV scary from the late seventies; so frightening to watch as a child I never made it to the end! :eek:

I'm sure there's some others -- but that's all I can think of right now! I wish some enterprising Aussie filmmaker would do either a yowie, brownjack or dropbear film...they'd really clean up!

[Todd Bowman]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned DEAD CALM? Not exactly horror but one of the best suspense thrillers of the 80's

What about DEATH WARMED UP (1985)? It's been years since I've seen it but i remember thinking it was good, loopy fun. Was that an Australian or New Zealand production?

On the not-so-favortie side of things there was also the recent slasher film, CUT, but that wasn't particularly good. HOWLING III dealt with marsupial werewolves in Australia but I have no idea if that would be considered "Australian Horror."

[Mike T]

What about DEATH WARMED UP (1985)? It's been years since I've seen it but i remember thinking it was good, loopy fun. Was that an Australian or New Zealand production?

David Blyth's DEATH WARMED UP was a Kiwi flick. Under a layer of sickly green makeup, and fluorescent orange fright wig, the late, great Bruno Lawrence (of the cult NZ film THE QUIET EARTH) cameoed in that one. I'd love to see this film get a DVD release now, in this day and age, as it's an incredible favourite of mine; I'd love to see it restored, uncut and with the Dolby sound Blyth worked so hard at in post-production (on a limited budget, only to see it dumped for near every video release worldwide) reinstated. I wish we could lay claim to this film, but like too many great musicians from the islands (ala the Finn and Hunter brothers), alas...we cannot. :)

[Kristian R]

"You pissed on our van!"

[Todd Bowman]

One favorite I forgot from my previous post is Rolf de Heer's ENCOUNTER AT RAVEN'S GATE (1988). This would probably be classified as science fiction over horror but it's got a great sense of unease that lingers over the entire film and a somewhat PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK-esque vibe. I rented this back in the early 90's for 99-cents from the convenience store and to this day it's one of my most enjoyable blind DTV rentals. I would love to see this get a DVD release.

De Heer went on to make the cult film BAD BOY BUBBY before becoming more of an arthouse director.

[Max Page]

No one remembers it, but there was this neat little fhorror film from down under called Allison's Birthday with the lovely Joanna Samuels. Also Night The Prowler, another little seen gem.

[Mike T]

No one remembers it, but there was this neat little fhorror film from down under called Allison's Birthday with the lovely Joanna Samuels. Also Night The Prowler, another little seen gem.

Oh, I remember them...but then, I am an Aussie! :p

Talking of THE NIGHT, THE PROWLER (directed by ROCKY HORROR's Jim Sharman!), if you're region free you'll probably be pleased to see this...

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/778956

...coming out on R4 DVD very soon! :)

And for some impenetrable sleaze, you'd all be advised to locate the slasher/rape/horror abomination LADY STAY DEAD.

[Lee G]

I'm another person who has seen ALISONS BIRTHDAY and (unfortunately) LADY STAY DEAD.I think THIRST,THE LAST WAVE and ROAD GAMES are my favourite Aussie films.
Does anybody know if Inn Of The Damned was an Australian pic?

[Mike T]

Does anybody know if Inn Of The Damned was an Australian pic?

Yes, yes it was. Region free? This might interest you...

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/778256

...paired with the formerly "banned from television" telemovie NIGHT OF FEAR. :)

[Lee G]

Thanks Mike I might have to check this out.

[Guillaume P]

A remake of the excellent "Long week end" will be directed by Jamie Blanks and released in 2008... :rolleyes: :(

[Jack Criddle]

Was WOLF CREEK any good? Never got around to that one.

[Glenn JB]

I think most of them have already been mentioned, but I loved Night of Fear, and I've always had a thing for The Dreaming... for some reason...

[Jonathan Douglas]

ROAD GAMES director Richard Franklin died July 11.

[Matt A]

I think most of them have already been mentioned, but I loved Night of Fear, and I've always had a thing for The Dreaming... for some reason...

NIGHT OF FEAR is a great film. Loved the atmosphere.

[Jack J]

The Boys
Ghosts of the civil dead - both these are more horrific than 'horror' ie: Blokes and monsters coming out of closets with knives and shit.
Body Melt (its total dreck, and is more 'camp' gore than horror, but sorta comes close)

BODY MELT was certainly cheesy but I thought it was good fun. I used to listen to Philip Brophy's EEEK! on RRR every Sunday morning when I lived in Australia in the first half of the 90's. What's he up to these days?


Jack

[Adam A]

It's not my favorite, but I rather liked The Locals -2003-

[Xavier West]

I second Dead Calm. A young Nicole Kidman fresh off the masterpiece that was BMX Bandits starring in the best Aussie thriller there's been.

[Brett Evans]

ROAD GAMES director Richard Franklin died July 11.


Sad news. I didn't know until I read your post. He was a very talented director who didn't quite get the chances he deserved in Hollywood. He gives a nice commentary on ROAD GAMES about that film and his career in general.

[John White]

Not art but very enjoyable was Blood Camp Thatcher aka Turkey Shoot aka Escape 2000....

[Richard C]

I picked a Pre Cert of Thirst the other day at a car boot sale for 25p. It's an interesting take on vampirism but it doesn't all quite gel together though. I believe there's a US DVD of this film - is it good quality or just a VHS transfer? I wouldn't mind seeing someone remake this film and flesh out the script more.

[Mike T]

I saw this thread again today, and it reminded me of some low budget DTV Aussie horror flicks that were produced in the late eighties. They weren't favourites of mine by any stretch of the imagination, but they weren't bad for what they were (ie: low budget DTV Aussie horror flicks), so maybe they're worth mentioning on the off-chance people might be able to turn them up in hideaway places? To be honest, apart from a couple that saw VHS release in the UK on the Medusa label, I'm not sure if they ever made it beyond these shores! :o

Contagion (1987)
Kadaicha (1988) (aka, I think, Stones of Death)
The 13th Floor (1988)
Vicious! (1988) (released here, in truncated form, as To Make A Killing)
Out Of The Body (1989)

These little B-titles take in Aboriginal curses, ghostly possession, slashers, Last House On The Left style shenanigans and ESP/extrasensory themes. From memory, none were anything especially memorable, but they were noteworthy in a way since it's all too rare that Oz produces low budget exploitation/horror/genre titles for the domestic, and international, markets.

A wee cracker was Ron Way's Frenchman's Farm (1987), which is a nice ghost flick if you have any great fears about the isolation and remoteness of desolate rural environments -- it also plays on Aussie cultural folklore surrounding outback and bush properties, as there are a great many rural ghost tales in our history. Only hassle is, if people can find it, is that I believe it was released overseas in versions considerably leaner than the 101m original that was released DTV here.

Lastly, believe it or not, John Lamond (of Felicity fame) made a little slasher pic straight after that film, to cash in on the then burgeoning slasher craze. Nightmares (1980) is a CinemaScope slasher, with a far bit of skin, that revolves a young girl and the stage show she's rehearsing in, and the various gory ways in which her co-stars die. I remember it being a decent-enough watch, short and to the point, if not quite antipodean (I'd love to see someone release this and Tony Paterson's bizarre Centrespread one day -- but they're such niche films I can't imagine anyone who'd take the risk on releasing either of them...)

The majority of these are probably next to impossible to turn up, but I'm sure some enterprising people (or maybe even Fred and his exhaustive knowledge of home video) might offer some leads etc towards seeing these past oddities. :)

[Fred Adelman]

I saw this thread again today, and it reminded me of some low budget DTV Aussie horror flicks that were produced in the late eighties. They weren't favourites of mine by any stretch of the imagination, but they weren't bad for what they were (ie: low budget DTV Aussie horror flicks), so maybe they're worth mentioning on the off-chance people might be able to turn them up in hideaway places? To be honest, apart from a couple that saw VHS release in the UK on the Medusa label, I'm not sure if they ever made it beyond these shores! :o

Contagion (1987)
Kadaicha (1988) (aka, I think, Stones of Death)
The 13th Floor (1988)
Vicious! (1988) (released here, in truncated form, as To Make A Killing)
Out Of The Body (1989)

These little B-titles take in Aboriginal curses, ghostly possession, slashers, Last House On The Left style shenanigans and ESP/extrasensory themes. From memory, none were anything especially memorable, but they were noteworthy in a way since it's all too rare that Oz produces low budget exploitation/horror/genre titles for the domestic, and international, markets.

A wee cracker was Ron Way's Frenchman's Farm (1987), which is a nice ghost flick if you have any great fears about the isolation and remoteness of desolate rural environments -- it also plays on Aussie cultural folklore surrounding outback and bush properties, as there are a great many rural ghost tales in our history. Only hassle is, if people can find it, is that I believe it was released overseas in versions considerably leaner than the 101m original that was released DTV here.

Lastly, believe it or not, John Lamond (of Felicity fame) made a little slasher pic straight after that film, to cash in on the then burgeoning slasher craze. Nightmares (1980) is a CinemaScope slasher, with a far bit of skin, that revolves a young girl and the stage show she's rehearsing in, and the various gory ways in which her co-stars die. I remember it being a decent-enough watch, short and to the point, if not quite antipodean (I'd love to see someone release this and Tony Paterson's bizarre Centrespread one day -- but they're such niche films I can't imagine anyone who'd take the risk on releasing either of them...)

The majority of these are probably next to impossible to turn up, but I'm sure some enterprising people (or maybe even Fred and his exhaustive knowledge of home video) might offer some leads etc towards seeing these past oddities. :)

I have most of the films Mike talks about in this post. A lot of Australian horror films were released in the States by Sony on VHS. Magnum released FRENCHMAN'S FARM on VHS. Most of them are very good thrillers that stand up today.

Here's some video art:

[Fred Adelman]

.......but my favorite Australian horror film is NEXT OF KIN. This one has enough atmosphere for ten films and is scary as hell. Something about a killer at an old age home that scares the hell out of me.

Knock it off with the "old man" jokes! :D

Here's the VHS art for it. Virgin Vision use to release a lot of Australian films on VHS to the States, too:

[Guillaume P]

.......but my favorite Australian horror film is NEXT OF KIN. This one has enough atmosphere for ten films and is scary as hell. Something about a killer at an old age home that scares the hell out of me.

Knock it off with the "old man" jokes! :D

Here's the VHS art for it. Virgin Vision use to release a lot of Australian films on VHS to the States, too:

This is one of my favorite films and i'm so glad that it is now available on dvd (R4 Australian dvd!)...the direction is fabulous,the cinematography is wonderful,the soundtrack is amazing and Jackie Kerin delivers a fine lead performance...a great and sadly forgotten "horror" movie...a shame that Tony Williams hasn't directed films since "Next of kin"! :(

My old thread about the movie... ;) :

http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12285

[Paul W.]

I also very much like NIGHTMARES (STAGEFRIGHT as it was released in the U.S.). Lots of great characters here - from the various actors and actresses, stage crew, and of course, the acid-tongued director, and the even more acidic critic. Fun dialogue, insistent musical score, interesting theater dynamics and atmosphere, as well as some solid kills and skin. I like this better the the more popular Soavi STAGE FRIGHT.

I just received and watched LADY STAY DEAD and its not bad. Interesting atmosphere in that it takes place at an Australian beach mansion. Gets off to a very soothing start with Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' set to scenes of the sunset, house and the pretty actress-singer going for a skindip. Lovely. The gardener, Mason, is a bit more interesting than these obsessed psychoss usually are. He's quick with a quip and employs various means for his thrills. Very cool fishtank drowning scene - thankfully it takes place not in Mason's 10-gallon aquarium but rather in the 55-gallon ornamental goldfish tank. OK suspense and kills.

Another movie is INNOCENT PREY. Actually it may be an American flick or perhaps a co-production. It takes place both in the U.S. and Australia with both American and Australian actors. PJ Soles and Martin Balsam star. Decent thrills and story.

[Aaron G]

did anyone see BLOODLUST, I never saw it , but remember it getting some sort of local hype here in Melbourne during the 'grunge years' of the early 90s..

There was also a film call STYGIAN that the dude who went on to make SAW did. I never got to see that, but heard it was pretty alright, apparently.

There's a fair bit indie/micro/horror films made in Australia these days, but I guess it's the same the world over, it's not as exotic or interesting as it once was, with alot of the films just being crappy Zombie/haha rubbish with in-jokes.

[Jonathan Douglas]

Next of Kin indeed is good, shades of Bava/Argento/Fulci all over this one. Just out on R4 DVD.

http://www.devoteddvd.com.au/shop/imageshow.php?products_id=24750

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G86rtofoTeE&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G86rtofoTeE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Clive Smith]

I just watched this last night. It's a terrific slow-burner and, as Guillaume mentioned earlier in the thread, is beautifully shot.

There's a scene towards the climax that REALLY had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck.

NOT REALLY SPOILERISH, but.....

For those that have seen the movie, it was the slow motion shot - also with slowed audio - looking down into the corridor from above as Jackie Kerin screams and runs towards the staircase.

[Jack J]

did anyone see BLOODLUST, I never saw it , but remember it getting some sort of local hype here in Melbourne during the 'grunge years' of the early 90s..

Yes, I saw it when it played at the Glasshouse (in Melbourne)! I've just had a look at their web-page and I'm not sure the Glasshouse even has a cinema anymore. Anyway, they had a tiny cinemas back then and I saw it on the last day it played in... uhh, 1992 I think. There were only 3 or 4 other people there. I thought it was a pretty cool, low budget, gory fun movie. Very entertaining. My girlfriend at the time bought me the video when it came out. I don't know if it ever had an Australian dvd release but it's out on dvd in Sweden! (I bought a copy last month!!). If you read the comments on IMDB some of the reviewers trash it and say it's crap. Obviously these dickheads don't realise it's a low-budget flick made by horror fans. The editor of "Fatal Visions" mag was in it.

Oh, and incidentally the people behind BLOODLUST tried to export it to the UK but it was rejected at costums and banned. When it screened at the Glasshouse there was a flyer that said: "Banned in England - now showing at the Glasshouse". When I put out my first fanzine in '94 I used that quotation and named my mag "Banned in Britain". :D
So, yes Aaron, if no one else saw it I did!


Jack

[Guillaume P]

There's a scene towards the climax that REALLY had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck.

NOT REALLY SPOILERISH, but.....

For those that have seen the movie, it was the slow motion shot - also with slowed audio - looking down into the corridor from above as Jackie Kerin screams and runs towards the staircase.

the use of slow motion in this scene is AWESOME!!!
it's a bit OTT,but it works soooo well...in fact the style is so masterful and brillant in this film!!
The film is a slow burner...it's very creepy,moody and slowly tensed up to the violent,abrupt,shocking finale!


There are so many shots and scenes that i love in this film!!


SPOILERS


-the opening credits
-the first slow motion...in fact the near ending of the film!;)
-Linda's dream with the "underwater" old man knocking on the window...creepy
-the "melting corridor" (Linda's blurred POV)
-the creepy drowned old man found in the bathtub...creepy make up,disturbing POV and use of music
-the sugar scene!!!
-one of the killer slowly opening the door behind Linda...Linda face to face with the hammer guy...CREEPY!!!!!!!
-the needle in the eye!!
-the exploding head of the truck guy!!!...you just see a glimpse of his head exploding,the editing is just perfect,lol...the exploding head fading to the sunrise...awesome!
-Linda and her boyfriend in the forest,i love the music,the steadycam shots,the creepy silhouette of the killer seen by Linda through the woods....sooo scary!
-Linda and her boyfriend swimming in the lake...i like the crane shot from above,the eerie,cool music...one of the few "peaceful" scenes of the film,lol!
-the fountain slowly "bleeding",the blood's reflections on Linda's face...great!
-the door slowly opened,dead Barney in his chair pushed towards Linda!!
-and the awesome scene when the frightened Linda is running through woods and country to search Barney...a very lyric scene,wonderfull shot and scored!

[Brendan M]

i';m pretty sure The Locals was a NZ film..

goddamn i can't believe anyone hasn't said MAURAUDERS yet! it's mark savage's first film and has a real Last house on the left style vibe to it. it i9s available in the Savage Sinema from downuinder box from Subversive

THE NIGHT, THE PROWLER was an interesting film but i dont think i could sit through it again..

LEONORA is another decent somewhat horror flick, actually its probably more of a supernatural Sexploitation that dabbles with a little bit of voodoo and the like. i am almost positive that the original AC/DC singer Dave Evans was in it as well

END PLAY is another film a lot of people seem to have forgotten about. i havent seen it in ages but from memory it owes a fair debt to stuff like Hitchcock and Giallo's