Out of the Blue (2006)

Director:

Robert Sarkies

Writers:

Bill O'Brien (book)
Robert Sarkies (writer)

Release Date:

12 October 2006 (New Zealand)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

From the last place on earth comes a true story of courage and survival.

Plot:

Based on the Aramoana Massacre that occurred on 13 November and 14 November 1990. Resident David Gray, an unemployed gun collector, went on a rampage in which 13 people were shot dead, before Gray himself was shot by police.

Awards:

6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Karl Urban	...	Nick Harvey
Matthew Sunderland	...	David Gray
Lois Lawn	...	Helen Dickson
Simon Ferry	...	Garry Holden
Tandi Wright	...	Julie-Anne Bryson
Paul Glover	...	Paul Knox
William Kircher	...	Stu Guthrie
Georgia Fabish	...	Chiquita Holden
Fayth Rasmussen	...	Stacey Percy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Timothy Bartlett	...	Jimmy Dickson
Tony Bishop	...	Ross Percy
Baxter Cannell	...	Dion Percy
Murray Davidson	...	Bank Manager
Dave Dudfield	...	AOS / ATS Officer
Nick Duval-Smith	...	Brian Wilson
Natalie Ellis	...	Dorothy Crimp
Fatu Ioane	...	Aleki Tali
Brenda Kendall	...	Garry Holden's Mother
Richard Knowles	...	Rene Aarsen
Thomas Lee-Batley	...	Leo Wilson
Finn Liddell	...	Jordan Harvey
Stuart Mathieson	...	Vic Crimp
Dra McKay	...	Heather Dickson
Steven Moore	...	Ron Braithwaite
Ryan O'Kane	...	Darren Buist
Patrick Paynter	...	Tim Jamieson
Bruce Phillips	...	Chris Cole
Vaughan Slinn	...	Russell Anderson
Phoebe Smith	...	Jenny Austin
Vanessa Stacey	...	Vanessa Percy
Claire Waldron	...	Fiona Harvey
Kerrie Waterworth	...	Bank Teller
Jacinta Wawatai	...	Rewa Bryson
Richard West	...	Warren Wilson
Michael Whalley	...	Darren Gibbs
Danaka Wheeler	...	Jasmine Holden
Ashley Wilson	...	Gunshop Owner

Also Known As:

Aramoana (New Zealand: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

103 min | Canada:100 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R15 | Germany:16 | Australia:MA | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Otago, New Zealand

Company:

Condor Films

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the town scene, a Chrysler PT Cruiser is clearly visible. This vehicle was manufactured from 2001.

Chilling and should be sought out

New Zealand docudrama about the massacre that occurred in Aramoana when an angry gun nut opened fire on his neighbors and severely reduced the population.

Slow to start, I thought that this was going to be a typical story of a shooting with its pleasant vistas and the get to know the participants set up scenes. However once things got going things spiral out in ways that they can only in real life. The violence, which we know is coming, is at first explosive and in its way out of left field. Then as the neighbors and soon to be targets attempt to figure out what the "fireworks" are things becoming darker as the random acts of violence begin to pick up. What do you do when a nut job begins to open fire? Here's the answer.

Though far from perfect, its a tad too clinical for my tastes, this film really packs a punch, especially in the final scenes where there are a few decidedly haunting images that not only drive home whats happened but also turns so of what we've seen on their ear (The swat team in slo mo).

I thought it was quite good. However I'm not particularly pleased with the Weinstein company who is its distributor. No ads for the film in New York. Sure you screened it for critics, but no add other than in the general ad for the IFC center where its playing. Clearly you don't want anyone to see it or know it existed.(I caught it on IFC on Demand cable service.) I only gave it a shot because I saw the title in the Time Out New York film reviews. Clearly they don't know what they are doing since here's a film they should promote but don't, yet other things like... Doogal...they promote like mad even thought it belongs in the bottom of a charnel house's fire pit.

If you get a chance to see it do so, its too good not to be seen.