Cactus (I) (2008)

A man is kidnapped from his city home in the quiet hours of the night and, the kidnapper, John Kelly, embarks on a journey into the Australian Outback towards the place where his hostage is... See full summary »

Director:

Jasmine Yuen Carrucan

Writer:

Jasmine Yuen Carrucan

Stars:

Travis McMahon, David Lyons, Bryan Brown

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Travis McMahon	...	John
David Lyons	...	Eli
Bryan Brown	...	Rosco
Shane Jacobson	...	Thommo
Zoe Tuckwell-Smith	...	Sammy
Daniel Krige	...	Mal
Celia Ireland	...	Vesna
Seymon Eckert	...	Katie
John Martin	...	Petrol Attendant
Steve Rodgers	...	Spuddo (voice)
Wayne Walker	...	Ute Driver
Cheyanne	...	Charlie Sparkles
Craig Bartlett	...	Radio Operator
Robert Whiteside	...	Bar Patron
Russell Hunt	...	Bar Patron

Storyline

A man is kidnapped from his city home in the quiet hours of the night and, the kidnapper, John Kelly, embarks on a journey into the Australian Outback towards the place where his hostage is due for delivery. As time and distance roll by, the strength and endurance of both men will be tested to the very end.

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Plot Keywords:

australian outback | rifle | spit in the face | gas station | shot in the back | 

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Taglines:

Choose the wrong road and you're...

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 2008 (Australia)

Filming Locations:

Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 1,150,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Open Space Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is considered an Ozploitation picture, an Australian exploitation movie.

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Goofs

The position of the fruit leather on the window changes between scenes.

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Quotes

Eli: What are you gonna do?
John: [He Ignores him and continues to duct tape Eli's hands]
Eli: What are you gonna do?
[More frustrated]
John: [Continuing to ignore him, he holds him down tighter]
Eli: What are you gonna do?
[Now yelling]
John: [Finally acknowledges him] Deliver you.

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Soundtracks

"Hot Potato"
Written by Murray Cook (as M. Cook), Jeff Fatt (as J. Fatt), Anthony Field (as A. Field),
Greg Page (as G. Page), and J. Field
Performed by The Wiggles

User Reviews

Involving and thought provoking

I found Cactus to be involving and thought provoking. I've read some reviews elsewhere online that said it wasn't fast paced enough; I think they were written by people looking for an action movie, and not prepared for what is basically a relationship drama, in which the painful trajectories the characters are on are revealed to the audience as they're revealed to each other.

I found it interesting that while both of the main characters were believable, the kidnapper ultimately was revealed to be more sympathetic (though both characters went through a transformation as the narrative developed.)

Re: the reviews online that claim too many elements were left unresolved, I understand but don't agree with their point. Cactus is not a movie that wraps things up into neat packets, neatly labeled, with a narrator summing up the meaning or "moral." The viewer is left to figure some (major) things out. If you like your movies all sewn up with neat explanations, it may be unsatisfying, but if you like relationship dramas that open up slowly, and leave you to ponder some things, I expect you'll like it.