The Locals (2003)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Greg Page

Writer:

Greg Page (writer)

Release Date:

2 October 2003 (New Zealand)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Two boys take a trip into the heartland of evil and meet . . . The Locals.

Plot:

Two best friends, Grant and Paul, hit the country road for a night of fun, but unfortunately take a short cut to their fate... where they meet the Locals.

Plot Keywords:

Country | Road Accident | Exploding Car | Stranded Motorist | Ghost

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

John Barker	...	Grant
Dwayne Cameron	...	Paul
Kate Elliott	...	Kelly
Aidee Walker	...	Lisa
Paul Glover	...	Martin
Peter McCauley	...	Bill
Dave Gibson	...	Nev
Glen Levy	...	Tone
Kayte Ferguson	...	Anna
Mark Kinghan	...	Driving Local
Max Auld	...	Baton Local
Bern Dell	...	Local Thug #1
Carl Goschmann	...	Local Thug #2
Rachael Niederer	...	Girl in Photo

Also Known As:

Dead People (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R13 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Essential Films

Trivia:

Pre-production took two years.

Quotes:

Kelly: Are you coming to the party?
Paul: Of course we're coming to the party.
Kelly: Then just head back that way, it's a left, and a right...
Lisa: Follow us, if you think you can keep up.

Movie Connections:

References The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Wonderful stuff!

I've just read a review that slags this baby off and there is no way that I can let that particularly misguided reviewer have the last word. he accuses Mew Zealanders of bigging the film up and criticises the use of lighting and the acting - wrong on all counts, boy! I'm a Brit and I have no particular reason to pretend that a film from New Zealand is good if it isn't. BUT THIS IS WONDERFUL STUFF!!! Low budget maybe, low key for sure - but the film takes its time allowing us to get to know our main characters (pretty clichéd characters but convincing and effective nevertheless. It builds up a spooky atmosphere, allows us to slowly realize that all is not well. The beautiful scenery of the daylight becomes a mysterious place of strange shadows at night. Here is where the lighting works so well. Yes, lots of areas are deliberately over lit - making central occurrences stand out starkly whilst blackness surrounds in a claustrophobic manner. The graveyard is eerily lit - standing like a beacon of badness amidst the shadows. The acting is fine - certainly far better than some of its amateur origins might suggest. I would recommend this film for anyone whether they be a horror fan or a student of film-making on a budget. New Zealand just showed big bucks Hollywood how to make something scary!