The Boys (1998)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Rowan Woods

Writers:

Gordon Graham (play)
Stephen Sewell (writer)

Release Date:

7 May 1998 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Brett Sprague is a violent and psychopathic man, who is released on parole after serving a sentence for assault...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film | Based On Play

Awards:

10 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

David Wenham	...	Brett Sprague
Toni Collette	...	Michelle
Lynette Curran	...	Sandra Sprague
John Polson	...	Glenn Sprague
Anthony Hayes	...	Stevie Sprague
Jeanette Cronin	...	Jackie
Anna Lise Phillips	...	Nola (as Anna Lise)
Pete Smith	...	George (Abo)
Sal Sharah	...	Nick
Lawrence Woodward	...	Jailer
Peter Hehir	...	Graham Newman
Andrew Heys	...	Sparrow
Teo Gebert	...	Policeman
Anthony Kierann	...	Policeman
Stephen Leeder	...	Commissioner

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Arenafilm

Goofs:

Continuity: Around 30 minutes in, Stevie pulls a cigarette from a packet and sticks it in his mouth twice within a matter of seconds.

Movie Connections:

References Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

A scorching, infuriating landmark of a movie

The filmmakers of "The Boys" get so deep inside the blamings and self pity of humanity's monsters, you could almost miss the culpability of the ineffectual women who enable them to grow up into walking catastrophes. The events of this film, set off by the first day of parole for angry young headcase Brett Sprague, lead to a decision so horribly wrong-headed and repellent, that a suspended moment of nothing but a black screen is one of the most excruciating pregnant pauses in the history of films. Up to this point, there's a kitchen sink drama like almost no other (Gary Oldman's "Nil By Mouth" a close cousin, but not nearly as upsetting) and lacerating performances by the cast and crew - The sound designer gets a deserved opening credit.

It appears that this movie was well appreciated in Australia, but had an abortion of a release here in the US. Now that it's on video, it's one of the best lost gems you're likely to score this year.