"Okay, so you're not wild about camping." - Peter
A suburban couple's camping trip becomes a nightmare.
Starring: John Hargreaves, Briony Behets, and Mother fuckin' Nature!
Link to IMDB
In hopes of reconnecting and repairing their crumbling marriage, Peter and Marcia have decided to go camping for the weekend on a remote beach. They're not in the jeep for more than a minute before the arguments and insults begin, and even the dog, Cricket, can sense the tension in the air.
Despite the fact that Marcia rather be at a hotel and Peter rather be alone, they actually start to smile and relax once they have their camp all in order... But their peace will be brief.
The couple seem to have a complete disrespect for the nature around them and they come across as self-absorbed jerks, leaving a small trail of destruction behind them. This and the constant arguing make both characters unlikable, but it feels realistic and appropriate for the story. I quickly felt a grinding suspense as the heavy atmosphere looms over the proceedings, promising that something terrible is coming.
Nature itself really becomes the third character here, as it impedes on every aspect of Peter and Marcia's daily activities. Not only do their relationship woes continue to embitter them, it seems that everywhere they look nature is attacking with annoyances or threats.
"You're not Tarzan and I'm certainly not Jane." - Marcia
When Peter shoots what he believes is a shark, a dead dugong washes ashore and its ugliness disturbs him and Marcia. As the weekend progresses, the dugong slowly gets closer to their camp despite Peter repeatedly shooting the body. Among all the stress and foreshadowing, this quiet lump adds another great layer of eeriness.
This is not a traditional "when nature attacks" type of movie, because the reasons why things occur are never explained. The ambiguity allows you to debate if mother nature is simply going about her own business or purposefully getting revenge. The focus is on Peter and Marcia's journey through a hell that they seem to have created for themselves, and nature just happens to be there to engulf them in suffering.
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| The dugong that refused to die |
How the themes are revealed and the story unfolds is delivered with a quality that is worthy of all the praise this movie gets. It will keep you guessing what could happen next as the characters begin to breakdown, and also leave you with the feeling that "It could happen to me."
Even though I wouldn't classify this as horror, it remains a chilling and unsettling movie.
(Avoid the 2008 remake at all costs.)
Be sure not to miss:
- Those are some huge beers.
- Cricket's one of the best dog actors I've seen in awhile.
- Possums enough!
Internet review:
"A must-see piece of Australian cinema." - Holliehorror
Should I watch it?
Highly recommended.
Where can I find it?
Links here.
Long Weekend gets...
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