Downriver is a bold and evocative piece of filmmaking; in part as the themes are indeed murky and the possibility that it end up being a torturous experience was alleviated by some deft casting, requisite top notch cinematography and a screenplay with plenty of undercurrents (pardon the pun).
With high profile real life murders of children having permeated the news and national psyche in recent years, Grant Scicula's debut feature as writer and director takes plenty of risks and in the main, pays off. The casting of Reef Ireland in the leading role is one of its best features. Ireland is racking up a considerable body of work on both the big and small screens. He has a great presence on film; he is attractive but not in a preppy, too perfect way. The actor gets to play quite a panoply of emotions as his character strives for self acceptance, healing and redemption. Sexuality plays a surprisingly large part in this narrative, another intrepid ingredient by the filmmaker in depicting some prickly content as several young men are in various relationships and graphic encounters which are played with a naturalism which will be welcomed by some, but i suspect not all audiences.
Kerry Fox really shines here as the protagonist's mother and it is great to see the actress get some substantial work to chew the scenery with. There is a wonderful humanity as well as a flawed character depicted here and again nice to see a contrasting supporting role; not a caricature or a convenient sounding board for other characters. Fox imbues her with loads of subtext; as the audience can only imagine what her life has been like. TV's 'Offspring' alumni Alicia Gardener has a guttural and moving cameo at the start of the film; quite heartbreaking and indelible as the rest of the movie rolls along. Tom Green is suitably toxic and creepy as the villain of the piece, but even he is afforded a scene or two that explains his actions; never excusing, but giving the audience a real insight into the psyche of such young men.
'Downriver' evoked 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' for me, as the beautiful but ultimately deadly river is a featured character in this film, as the bush and rocks were in that 1975 classic Australian feature. A sense of menace is established and never let up through this at times chilling story. Whilst a few of the performances are a little stilted, the underlying themes and mood of 'Downriver' make it a compelling cinematic experience and one that will remain (for better or worse) in the minds eye for years to come. It's that vivid!
With high profile real life murders of children having permeated the news and national psyche in recent years, Grant Scicula's debut feature as writer and director takes plenty of risks and in the main, pays off. The casting of Reef Ireland in the leading role is one of its best features. Ireland is racking up a considerable body of work on both the big and small screens. He has a great presence on film; he is attractive but not in a preppy, too perfect way. The actor gets to play quite a panoply of emotions as his character strives for self acceptance, healing and redemption. Sexuality plays a surprisingly large part in this narrative, another intrepid ingredient by the filmmaker in depicting some prickly content as several young men are in various relationships and graphic encounters which are played with a naturalism which will be welcomed by some, but i suspect not all audiences.
Kerry Fox really shines here as the protagonist's mother and it is great to see the actress get some substantial work to chew the scenery with. There is a wonderful humanity as well as a flawed character depicted here and again nice to see a contrasting supporting role; not a caricature or a convenient sounding board for other characters. Fox imbues her with loads of subtext; as the audience can only imagine what her life has been like. TV's 'Offspring' alumni Alicia Gardener has a guttural and moving cameo at the start of the film; quite heartbreaking and indelible as the rest of the movie rolls along. Tom Green is suitably toxic and creepy as the villain of the piece, but even he is afforded a scene or two that explains his actions; never excusing, but giving the audience a real insight into the psyche of such young men.
'Downriver' evoked 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' for me, as the beautiful but ultimately deadly river is a featured character in this film, as the bush and rocks were in that 1975 classic Australian feature. A sense of menace is established and never let up through this at times chilling story. Whilst a few of the performances are a little stilted, the underlying themes and mood of 'Downriver' make it a compelling cinematic experience and one that will remain (for better or worse) in the minds eye for years to come. It's that vivid!