The movie depicts the massacre in Aramona, which occurred November 13, 1990. It shows the various actions and reactions to David Gray's relentless reign of terror as he prowled around his property and fired upon anyone who attempted to approach him or help those he attacked. The stories of the people involved are interconnected, but there is somewhat of an emphasis on the perpetrator. This focus may strike some viewers as odd, but it works due to the potent performance by Matthew Sunderland (who portrays David Gray). While many people outside of New Zealand may not know specifically about the events of the Aramoana massacre, the film will hit home in the way that it depicts ordinary people coping with extraordinary circumstances, a universal feeling that ultimately defines what it means to be human.

the realism employed. No one is portrayed as an over the top hero. Flawed actions are on display, but the story allows for the viewers to make their own decisions on what was done and if it was the best possible course of action. This sort of character development is a rare thing to see these days, especially in many American films. It's hard to tell if this was due to the script or the acting. I say it's the mark of a good film if you can't tell or it takes a lot of effort to suss it out.

that the US release of the movie gives Karl Urban top billing. While I feel he was solid as Nick Harvey, this was not his film. At all. I know that the US release does this because he is a name that people on this side of the Pacific will recognize. It still irks me especially when I know other American viewers recognize that the strongest performance was that of Matthew Sunderland.

watch the movie again, mostly because it's so visceral. On top of that, it actually got me to understand the meaning of tragedy. Though I am an American through and through, I felt like I understood the heartache of massacres from watching this film even though I grew up in the eras of Columbine and Virginia Tech. The restraint utilized in this film allowed me to explore the characters' emotions naturally without getting pushed in a particular direction. Multiple viewings allow me to think and rethink what each person felt and thought in the heat of the moment while at the same time just lulling me into watching the events unfold.

a lot of things. I felt sympathy for nearly every character at different points in the film. I also felt that this film should be considered required viewing by anyone wanting to make a movie about an event such as the Aramona massacre. The way this story is told is very different than many movies based on real life events and would definitely offer something new for those wanting to tell this sort of story through film.

it's an underrated but very well done movie. Plus if there's enough interest we'll see more movies from director Robert Sarkies. This film showed a lot of promise for this obscure director, and I would like to see more of what he can do. If I had unlimited funds, I'd contribute to his next project.

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Created Jan 10, 2010 at 12:03am • Submit your own review...