What a terrific Night with MONSTER FEST at The Nova. THE COST is an extraordinary achievement and an important film. There have been significant Revenge thrillers in recent times. THE COST budget was tiny in comparison and should not suffer due to the lack of big names. The commitment of the Cast and Crew and all involved is to be congratulated as this is about the real complexities of Revenge, as the title states "THE COST" This is a totally believable story right down to one specific decision I will not spoil. What we would like to do in a film and what we would do in the real situation is the real difference in these films. THE COST is about the immediacy of the action, it's so real and believable, did I say that? Dialogue is kept to a minimum as who wants to chat in such a situation. The only real expression of joy is in flashback a voice of the past that has left it's mark. Once the plan is set in motion there's no going back, or is there? The characters make mistakes just we all do, even those who say "BULLSHIT that would never happen?" It does! And it's profound. There's little humour because this isn't funny, this is questioning everything we believe and even a tiny moment of reprieve just throws a massive spanner in the works. This film looks incredible, it's Australia and it looks like a big budget feature avoiding the go to casual grittiness often used in raw thrillers/horror films. Close ups allow us to read every emotion and feel the turmoil. The acting doesn't step beyond it leaps into the visceral complexities of the multi dimensional fears that slow burn then explode on screen. The build up, flash backs, brutal centre piece punctuated by real challenges, internal and external and the exhausting finale leaves you wondering "WHAT IF?" The soundtrack is superb a masterpiece of tension, it's a character reminiscent of John Carpenter's Halloween, The Fog etc, Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind The Shinning, Ennio Morricone The Thing and others. I was wowed by the look, the choice of costume, it's familiar and tells us about the people that inhabit them. A floral dress, a dark check flannel shirt, baggie ill fitting jeans, a much loved Hat and a jacket!!! Sent shivers down my back, it was lived in, from good times but now a battle jacket. The make up, so so real even too real. The sound effects, crisp, terrifying. The choice of locations, the Australian Bush although beautiful and familiar is foreboding and lonely and it always has a surprise in store. This is Hitchockian in feel, things don't always go to plan and just when you think it's done something else turns up, a quirk of human nature that sends things reeling out of control, if they ever were? This is tight smart movie making, we even question what we see or don't see through an unflinching lense, definitive direction, powerful, passionate acting and sharp fluid editing. I have purposefully avoided using names because everyone made this film and this is the wonder of so much of Australian film making and why WE as a country should see Our movies. Just remember to keep breathing. BLOODY BRILLIANT!!! Regards Glenn.
Review of The Cost
