Needle (2010)

A killer uses an 18th century machine with supernatural powers to terrorize students at a college.

Director:

John V. Soto

Writers:

Anthony Egan, John V. Soto

Stars:

Travis Fimmel, Ben Mendelsohn, Murray Bartlett

4 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Travis Fimmel	...	Marcus Rutherford
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Detective Meares
Murray Bartlett	...	Tony Martin
Michael Dorman	...	Ben Rutherford
Nathaniel Buzolic	...	Ryan
Jane Badler	...	Professor Banyon
John Jarratt	...	Paul the Coroner
Jessica Marais	...	Kandi
Tahyna MacManus	...	Mary Matthews (as Tahyna Tozzi)
Trilby Glover	...	Isabel Du Pont
Chanel Marriott	...	Lucy
Khan Chittenden	...	Jed
Malcolm Kennard	...	Detective Reddick
Luke Carroll	...	Nelson
Rebecca Chalon	...	University Student

Storyline

After the death of his father, archaeology student Ben Rutherford inherits an 18th century mechanical device known as "Le Vaudo Mort". At a college party he flaunts the machine in front of a group of his closest friends and later discovers that the machine has a sinister past and may harbor supernatural powers. After class he returns to his dorm room to find that the contraption has been stolen. One by one, Ben's friends begin to die in strange and horrific circumstances. Now he must reunite with his estranged half-brother, Marcus, a forensic photographer, and delve deeper into their father's past to work out who is behind the grisly murders. As the terror mounts and the clues seem to suggest the unthinkable, a surprising twist will reveal the true identity of the killer...

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Plot Keywords:

pain | australian science fiction | australian supernatural | australian horror | 

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Taglines:

Ten Suspects. Six Clues. One Killer...

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for bloody horror and violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 July 2011 (Turkey)

Also Known As:

Agujas

Filming Locations:

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$259,185

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmscope Entertainment

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Dirty Harry (1971)

User Reviews

The "Hardy Boys" vs. Revenge machine

Estranged brothers Ben and Marcus come together ( like the "Hardy Boys") to solve the systematic killing of Ben's school chums.

This movie is basically a "murder Mystery". The only thing that set's it apart from most is the method the murderer is using to off his victims. Let me say right here that I don't believe describing the murder weapon in some detail spoils anything for you (Boloxxxi NEVER spoils; not intentionally anyway). But if you believe it does, then STOP RIGHT THERE!!! Advance to the next reviewer and collect $200.00.

Made or acquired in the 1800's, the instrument of death is a "revenge" machine that operates on voodoo principles in that it uses a wax figure and photo of it's victims. It has a side drawer that holds a crank that is inserted in a special slot that "winds it up" or get's it going once these steps are taken: (1) A wax image or symbol is made of the victim; (2) blood is drawn from the avenger and poured into an ornate circular receptacle at the top; (3) a retractable viewer of some kind is pulled up from what looks like a "coin" or "card" slot and a small photo of the unlucky bastard --sorry, "victim" is placed in it and pushed back down into the machine; (4) a long needle is selected from a collection in a drawer of the machine to be heated and used with the wax figure (Positively fiendish, what?)

I liked this movie as a simple, solid murder mystery. So though I thought the revenge machine was an interesting take on the voodoo idea, the way it's victims died was not that interesting to me; that is to say, no more so than if a gun or knife were used. What was interesting to me was who was doing it and why. That is what kept me going. Before I saw the movie I thought it was going to be another of those typical young people horror films. You know; clueless, beer-guzzling, libido-driven, party loving teens getting knocked off one by one. I was surprised how straight forward this movie was played out as a murder mystery (sans a lot of "teen antics") with brothers Ben and Marcus playing detectives.

Finally, though not exceptional, this movie is a solid murder mystery from the perspective of young people around whom the story revolves; it is methodical and sober as Ben and Marcus try to get over their differences and solve the killings at the same time. So if you are looking for horror or want to be "horrified" this is not your movie. But if you want to be "mystified", it is (though you could stay home and achieve the same effect by going through some of the bills you owe). Love, Boloxxxi.