As we stood in the lobby, the producers saw our grey hair and were very concerned that we understood that this was a very violent and confronting film (which we did, although we knew little else about the film beyond the posters).
This did make us uneasy and wondering what we had let ourselves in for, but in fact, there was no need to be concerned. The violence is really quite mild and this difference is actually the point of the film. The violence is all in the protagonists' heads: what they want to do to their hapless victim and have been planning to do for over three years is so vicious and debasing that when it finally becomes time to act, they just don't have the tools.
Many film-makers, including Alfred Hitchcock, have tried to demonstrate just how difficult it is for ordinary people to actually kill a person in cold blood (think of "Torn Curtain"). If these fellows had been able to get their hands on their sister/wife's murderer at the time, when their rage and grief was in full bloom, there would have been an awful mess. But now fifteen years have gone by, and their fury has cooled and become a heavy stone.
Perhaps what is missing from the violence in this film is the slow viciousness, the evil wish to cause pain for the sake of it - that pervades a film like "Reservoir Dogs", for instance. The boys try their hardest to maintain the rage, but the whimpering, pathetic figure now at their mercy instils only revulsion.
Even the way they had planned to finally do away with their victim was literally at arm's length. So even in the dreaming, they were ambivalent and could not let themselves imagine the reality of the sight, feel and smell of bleeding, of eye contact, of... death. From the start, their humanity was dragging them back.
But - and here is the real dilemma - having gone this far, what to do? Complete the job and become what they hate? Or to stop and face unthinkable consequences? Either way, there will be a Cost. What follows is at once inevitable, yet unexpected.
"The Cost" is beautifully written, shot and acted, with high production values and I can't find a flaw. The juxtaposition of the gorgeous Australian scenery with the ugly human drama taking place within it is brilliant. Every element that goes to making this film is of equal value and high standard. There are what seem like cliches, but these all seem to dissolve into the unexpected, and there are several really shocking surprises (none of which rely on gore to provide the shock).
Events seem to unfold at their own pace and we are allowed to follow the narrative without being hit over the head with clues about what to think, feel or understand. In that way, the audience is treated with true respect.
This is a really intelligent film.
This did make us uneasy and wondering what we had let ourselves in for, but in fact, there was no need to be concerned. The violence is really quite mild and this difference is actually the point of the film. The violence is all in the protagonists' heads: what they want to do to their hapless victim and have been planning to do for over three years is so vicious and debasing that when it finally becomes time to act, they just don't have the tools.
Many film-makers, including Alfred Hitchcock, have tried to demonstrate just how difficult it is for ordinary people to actually kill a person in cold blood (think of "Torn Curtain"). If these fellows had been able to get their hands on their sister/wife's murderer at the time, when their rage and grief was in full bloom, there would have been an awful mess. But now fifteen years have gone by, and their fury has cooled and become a heavy stone.
Perhaps what is missing from the violence in this film is the slow viciousness, the evil wish to cause pain for the sake of it - that pervades a film like "Reservoir Dogs", for instance. The boys try their hardest to maintain the rage, but the whimpering, pathetic figure now at their mercy instils only revulsion.
Even the way they had planned to finally do away with their victim was literally at arm's length. So even in the dreaming, they were ambivalent and could not let themselves imagine the reality of the sight, feel and smell of bleeding, of eye contact, of... death. From the start, their humanity was dragging them back.
But - and here is the real dilemma - having gone this far, what to do? Complete the job and become what they hate? Or to stop and face unthinkable consequences? Either way, there will be a Cost. What follows is at once inevitable, yet unexpected.
"The Cost" is beautifully written, shot and acted, with high production values and I can't find a flaw. The juxtaposition of the gorgeous Australian scenery with the ugly human drama taking place within it is brilliant. Every element that goes to making this film is of equal value and high standard. There are what seem like cliches, but these all seem to dissolve into the unexpected, and there are several really shocking surprises (none of which rely on gore to provide the shock).
Events seem to unfold at their own pace and we are allowed to follow the narrative without being hit over the head with clues about what to think, feel or understand. In that way, the audience is treated with true respect.
This is a really intelligent film.