The first post FrightFest Friday Night Fright needed to be something special after last weekend’s horrific goodies. Sadly The Locals is anything but.
Starting out like your typical inbred locals terrorising some poor holidaymakers kind of movie it takes an unexpected turn at the midpoint becoming something altogether different. What it didn’t become though was any bloody good.
New Zealand has given us a few horror classics over the years, from early Peter Jackson to Jonathan King’s Black Sheep. Like anywhere else though it turns out its quota of tosh and this dull film falls squarely into that category. The direction lacks suspense, the writing features some risible dialogue and the acting is uninspired.
I could write more about this film but it’s not worth the effort. Even if you see this in a bargain bin (which is where I found mine) avoid it.
I pretty much agree with your opinions here, Ian – I reviewed it a few months ago when I started my own film journal blog. It’s not one of my better reviews, being an early one (!), but I likened The Locals to a nuts and bolts job comprised of ideas from other films – there’s nothing in the film to make it stand out as original or particularly worthwhile. I have, however, read some positive reviews from other people in the past so I conceded that my own opinion may have been misjudged. Glad someone else feels the same about this movie!
Just read your review Paul and you’re spot on when you say “competent direction, unusual but functional lighting, average acting, fairly good editing, etc., etc� this is a Mr Average movie and they’re not the kind that stay with you.
Too right – there are just too many movies to watch these days without wasting time on the mundane. It’s a good idea to check these things out for yourself though as you can always find yourself enjoying something that nobody else likes (that’s happened to me a few times!).