Though the pacing can drift over to the sluggish side at times, Next of Kin is a very effective Australian thriller that deftly makes use of the spooky retirement home setting to creep out the audience. Once the action packed finale rolls around, any pacing issues will be forgiven.
48 Reviews
Absolutely average
antide-4237611 September 2022
100% on Rotten Tomatoes? An absolute joke. This is bang average as a 'horror' movie. I genuinely can't believe some of the reviews on here that describe this as scary as hell because it quite simply isn't, not at all. The cinematography is good, I'll give you that, but the acting is nothing special apart from the Doctor and the story is actually boring.
Of course, judging a movie is down to the viewer but I genuinely can't get my head around the many glowing reviews for 'Next Of Kin'. Not a movie I would watch again. As for Rotten Tomatoes I am convinced that their ratings are meant to be a joke.
Of course, judging a movie is down to the viewer but I genuinely can't get my head around the many glowing reviews for 'Next Of Kin'. Not a movie I would watch again. As for Rotten Tomatoes I am convinced that their ratings are meant to be a joke.
Style over substance
jldowsing28 August 2021
I'm no huge Quentin Tarantino fan but I do share his affinity with Australian cinema, so when I learned this long forgotten film was at the top of his list, my curiosity won over.
Compared by Tarantino to one of my all time favourites, The Shining, Next of Kin meanders far too long without much semblance of a point or plot line. Certain scenes and characters elicit a well constructed sense of dread, albeit for too long the elements remain frustratingly obtuse.
Ironically, John Jarrett of menacing Wolf Creek fame, is the only person involved in this outback haunted horror flick to carve a successful career in the industry, yet here he plays one of the film's least threatening characters as the ex boyfriend of the central protagonist who inherits a creepy old folks' home. Her demeanour evokes comparisons to The Shining's Wendy Torrance as evil forces finally come to the fore.
Kudos for the attempt to achieve something unique to the Australian cinematic pantheon. One just wonders whether more capable hands might have seen this oddly interesting film find the consistency to warrant comparison to Kubrick.
That said, Next of Kin is worth a look and actually played better on second viewing.
Compared by Tarantino to one of my all time favourites, The Shining, Next of Kin meanders far too long without much semblance of a point or plot line. Certain scenes and characters elicit a well constructed sense of dread, albeit for too long the elements remain frustratingly obtuse.
Ironically, John Jarrett of menacing Wolf Creek fame, is the only person involved in this outback haunted horror flick to carve a successful career in the industry, yet here he plays one of the film's least threatening characters as the ex boyfriend of the central protagonist who inherits a creepy old folks' home. Her demeanour evokes comparisons to The Shining's Wendy Torrance as evil forces finally come to the fore.
Kudos for the attempt to achieve something unique to the Australian cinematic pantheon. One just wonders whether more capable hands might have seen this oddly interesting film find the consistency to warrant comparison to Kubrick.
That said, Next of Kin is worth a look and actually played better on second viewing.
Supreme suspense and stylish direction
Raidar12 May 2004
Despite popular belief, Next of Kin isn't really a regular stalk and slash flick. There isn't much of a death count and Tony Williams doesn't waste time with constant self references to other genre pieces. However, the plot resolves around a psychotic intruder that's murdering the inmates of an old people's home, although the deaths are sporadic enough (we only see one) to keep the heroine believing that they're actually accidents.
The things that lift Next of Kin above its contempararies is the superb, noteworthy direction and great atmosphere. It's beautifully photographed, with some instantly exquisite camera movements that add a supreme energy and sense of professionalism that's rarely found in slasher movies from New Zealand or Australia. In fact, such a notable level of craftsmanship is rarely seen in any category addition. There are plenty of credible shots, the best being the woodland scenes in which we see the mysterious menace lurking in the distance amongst the trees, barely recognisable. It's fairly well acted - although not superbly -, and it works well to set up a creepy suspense fuelled environment. When the nut-job reveals himself, there's some brilliant chases and a few surprises.
Like I said, don't expect slasher cliches by the dozen, but if you keep your options open, you'll find Next of Kin to be fairly rewarding. Worth a look...
The things that lift Next of Kin above its contempararies is the superb, noteworthy direction and great atmosphere. It's beautifully photographed, with some instantly exquisite camera movements that add a supreme energy and sense of professionalism that's rarely found in slasher movies from New Zealand or Australia. In fact, such a notable level of craftsmanship is rarely seen in any category addition. There are plenty of credible shots, the best being the woodland scenes in which we see the mysterious menace lurking in the distance amongst the trees, barely recognisable. It's fairly well acted - although not superbly -, and it works well to set up a creepy suspense fuelled environment. When the nut-job reveals himself, there's some brilliant chases and a few surprises.
Like I said, don't expect slasher cliches by the dozen, but if you keep your options open, you'll find Next of Kin to be fairly rewarding. Worth a look...
Underappreciated Aussie Thriller
jacobconnelly-4768114 November 2021
Linda returns home after her mother's death to look after the nursing home she ran out of her home and sees that the home's tenants are being murdered one by one. Who could be behind these brutal crimes and is Linda in danger?
Next of Kin does brooding atmosphere really well and many shots and sequences are nothing short of exceptional, but the pacing does dip a bit and the central mystery isn't quite as compelling as it should be which causes the film to drag more than it should. By the crazy finale, most of these faults will be forgiven as the film goes off the rails and delivers a whammy of a final act.
Next of Kin does brooding atmosphere really well and many shots and sequences are nothing short of exceptional, but the pacing does dip a bit and the central mystery isn't quite as compelling as it should be which causes the film to drag more than it should. By the crazy finale, most of these faults will be forgiven as the film goes off the rails and delivers a whammy of a final act.
Lesser Known Foreign Slasher
Reviews_of_the_Dead2 June 2019
This was a film that I never saw before, but I remember hearing podcasts talk about it being a big deal that it was finally released on Blu-ray. It was a one that I had confused with another film that my father owned that had the same title as well. I decided to view it as a part of a Movie Club for a podcast I listen to. The synopsis is in a rest home for the elderly people, a daughter reads her mother's diary. Soon events that are mentioned in the mother's diary begin to happen to the daughter.
We kick this off at first with Linda (Jacki Kerin) standing next to her truck. She is disheveled looking as well. It then cuts to her actually driving to this location. She goes inside and it is a diner. It is during this visit that she builds a structure with forks, something we will revisit again, and the owner informs her that her mother used to come in quite a bit.
It is then we learn her mother is deceased. She is trying to get all of her affairs in line finally and is staying at the nursing home her mother used to run. It is here that she starts to read her mother's diary. She has a good relationship with one of the residents, Lance (Charles McCallum), as well as a woman who has been working here since she was young, Connie (Gerda Nicolson). There is a doctor that comes to help out as well, Dr. Barton (Alex Scott).
As Linda is looking into things, it takes her up to the attic. It is there she finds a window open as it a storm is raging. She finds a ball as well that brings up memories. Connie comes up and tells her to mind the wires that are by the window as the floor is soaked. A van pulls up right as lightening strikes a tree, blocking the path with a large branch. Linda is upset a new resident has been accepted, because she is struggling to keep the place open. She is told they have to as they need the money. The woman is Mrs. Ryan (Bernadette Gibson) along her son, Lance (Charles McCallum).
Odd things start to happen at the nursing home. Events that Linda vaguely remembers as a child are starting to happen again. It is even eerier that the more she reads her mother's diary, there are even more coincidences. There are also deaths that are happening as well. She seeks solace with her boyfriend, Barney (John Jarratt). What is happening here? It is something supernatural or is one of those around her not who they seem to be.
After viewing this film, I have to saw that it is quite interesting. Australian, the country this is from, is one that I'm quite limited in my viewing of, but the ones I've seen have been really good. This film is interesting as it is slasher, but it doesn't feel like it at first. I will admit that I was a tad bit bored at first and it wasn't until Linda starts to really investigate the place that it picked up for me. I'm a sucker for research as it is something I tend to do a lot of when I get interested in something. Being able to connect on that level helps me.
This film also has an interesting setting. I'm not sure if it is outdated at the time this film came out, but it felt that way to me. The building and being a nursing home really builds up the suspense that this could be supernatural. The film's reveal I wasn't expecting, so that increased it for me. I'm a big fan of the concept of the sins of the family being revisited on the children for sure. It really brings everything full circle which I like.
Going from this concept of coming full circle, there is some really good writing here. There are little minor things we see that really play a big role later in the film, which if you know me, I'm a sucker for that. I don't want to point them out here to avoid spoiling them for you, but I will say to pay attention to the details.
I've already touched on the pacing a bit, but I think the film has problems getting going. It almost seems like they didn't really know how to start it. The film did meander through the first act and it wasn't until the start of the second that I was hooked. From there, I was engaged and wanted to know more. I liked the reveal and how the film ended. Going back to the beginning though, I don't like the first images we are getting, because it does loosen the tension for me a bit. I do think that overall the pacing is pretty solid.
To the acting of the film, I actually thought it was really good. Kerin is someone I don't think I've seen in anything else, but she really was this character for me. She comes off enough timid, but showing some strength that it works. I like the growth of the character as well when she becomes the final girl in the film. Jarratt is an actor that when I saw his name, I had to confirm it was who I thought he was. He plays one of my favorite on-screen villains in Wolf Creek. It was fun to see him as a young actor here and he did a solid job in his role as the boyfriend. I thought the rest of the cast did round out the film. Those at the reveal were really good as I didn't see the change in their character coming.
There weren't a lot of effects and one issue I had with the film was that many of the deaths were off-screen. I do think what we get on screen is done well and it is practical. A lot of that was due to the time period it was made, which probably explains why they did things off screen. I thought the blood looked fine. There is an exploding head later in the film that could tell was done with a prop, but I won't hold it against the film for the attempt. I do think the film is shot very well with some interesting angles. There is time it was disorienting and almost dreamlike.
Now with that said, this is a definitely a slasher I had never seen and glad that I did. This one does fall into the trap that many of them do, it had some issues getting into it, but once the investigation started, I was hooked. I liked some of the concepts this film uses, including the setting, revisiting the sins and things coming full circle. The acting I thought was pretty solid. The building of tension is good from the second act on. I would have liked to see more effects, but the ones we got were fine. The soundtrack didn't really stand out to me, but it also doesn't hurt the film. Overall I'd definitely say this film is above average and would recommend giving it a viewing.
We kick this off at first with Linda (Jacki Kerin) standing next to her truck. She is disheveled looking as well. It then cuts to her actually driving to this location. She goes inside and it is a diner. It is during this visit that she builds a structure with forks, something we will revisit again, and the owner informs her that her mother used to come in quite a bit.
It is then we learn her mother is deceased. She is trying to get all of her affairs in line finally and is staying at the nursing home her mother used to run. It is here that she starts to read her mother's diary. She has a good relationship with one of the residents, Lance (Charles McCallum), as well as a woman who has been working here since she was young, Connie (Gerda Nicolson). There is a doctor that comes to help out as well, Dr. Barton (Alex Scott).
As Linda is looking into things, it takes her up to the attic. It is there she finds a window open as it a storm is raging. She finds a ball as well that brings up memories. Connie comes up and tells her to mind the wires that are by the window as the floor is soaked. A van pulls up right as lightening strikes a tree, blocking the path with a large branch. Linda is upset a new resident has been accepted, because she is struggling to keep the place open. She is told they have to as they need the money. The woman is Mrs. Ryan (Bernadette Gibson) along her son, Lance (Charles McCallum).
Odd things start to happen at the nursing home. Events that Linda vaguely remembers as a child are starting to happen again. It is even eerier that the more she reads her mother's diary, there are even more coincidences. There are also deaths that are happening as well. She seeks solace with her boyfriend, Barney (John Jarratt). What is happening here? It is something supernatural or is one of those around her not who they seem to be.
After viewing this film, I have to saw that it is quite interesting. Australian, the country this is from, is one that I'm quite limited in my viewing of, but the ones I've seen have been really good. This film is interesting as it is slasher, but it doesn't feel like it at first. I will admit that I was a tad bit bored at first and it wasn't until Linda starts to really investigate the place that it picked up for me. I'm a sucker for research as it is something I tend to do a lot of when I get interested in something. Being able to connect on that level helps me.
This film also has an interesting setting. I'm not sure if it is outdated at the time this film came out, but it felt that way to me. The building and being a nursing home really builds up the suspense that this could be supernatural. The film's reveal I wasn't expecting, so that increased it for me. I'm a big fan of the concept of the sins of the family being revisited on the children for sure. It really brings everything full circle which I like.
Going from this concept of coming full circle, there is some really good writing here. There are little minor things we see that really play a big role later in the film, which if you know me, I'm a sucker for that. I don't want to point them out here to avoid spoiling them for you, but I will say to pay attention to the details.
I've already touched on the pacing a bit, but I think the film has problems getting going. It almost seems like they didn't really know how to start it. The film did meander through the first act and it wasn't until the start of the second that I was hooked. From there, I was engaged and wanted to know more. I liked the reveal and how the film ended. Going back to the beginning though, I don't like the first images we are getting, because it does loosen the tension for me a bit. I do think that overall the pacing is pretty solid.
To the acting of the film, I actually thought it was really good. Kerin is someone I don't think I've seen in anything else, but she really was this character for me. She comes off enough timid, but showing some strength that it works. I like the growth of the character as well when she becomes the final girl in the film. Jarratt is an actor that when I saw his name, I had to confirm it was who I thought he was. He plays one of my favorite on-screen villains in Wolf Creek. It was fun to see him as a young actor here and he did a solid job in his role as the boyfriend. I thought the rest of the cast did round out the film. Those at the reveal were really good as I didn't see the change in their character coming.
There weren't a lot of effects and one issue I had with the film was that many of the deaths were off-screen. I do think what we get on screen is done well and it is practical. A lot of that was due to the time period it was made, which probably explains why they did things off screen. I thought the blood looked fine. There is an exploding head later in the film that could tell was done with a prop, but I won't hold it against the film for the attempt. I do think the film is shot very well with some interesting angles. There is time it was disorienting and almost dreamlike.
Now with that said, this is a definitely a slasher I had never seen and glad that I did. This one does fall into the trap that many of them do, it had some issues getting into it, but once the investigation started, I was hooked. I liked some of the concepts this film uses, including the setting, revisiting the sins and things coming full circle. The acting I thought was pretty solid. The building of tension is good from the second act on. I would have liked to see more effects, but the ones we got were fine. The soundtrack didn't really stand out to me, but it also doesn't hurt the film. Overall I'd definitely say this film is above average and would recommend giving it a viewing.
Superior horror film
Billiam-42 October 2021
Strewth mate, that was hard going!
BA_Harrison2 April 2021
Linda (Jacki Kerin) inherits her late mother's estate: a sprawling house that operates as a rest home for old codgers. Full of shadowy corridors, dark rooms, and wrinkly coffin-dodgers who smell like stale biscuits and wee, the house gives Linda the heebie-jeebies, her anxiety increasing when she gradually uncovers a terrible family secret.
A much as I like my horror films to be lively and gory, I have been known to enjoy the occasional slow-burn chiller as well, but antipodean effort Next of Kin isn't just slow-burn... it's sloooooooow-burn. It's slower than a tortoise doing Tai Chi. If it were any slower, it would run backwards. That means for 90% of the film's running time, nothing of interest happens. It's shot lovingly, with creative camerawork and great cinematography, and the accompanying music is wonderful, but boy is it dull!
When the film finally decides to stop being boring and actually get moving (about ten minutes from the end), it rushes the denouement so that matters aren't resolved very clearly, and then chucks in a bit of gore and some explosions - but it's a classic case of too little too late. To be honest, I'd rather climb to the top of Uluru and go ten rounds with Thumpy McBasher the boxing kangaroo than watch this mind-crushingly laborious yawn-fest from 'down under' more than once.
A much as I like my horror films to be lively and gory, I have been known to enjoy the occasional slow-burn chiller as well, but antipodean effort Next of Kin isn't just slow-burn... it's sloooooooow-burn. It's slower than a tortoise doing Tai Chi. If it were any slower, it would run backwards. That means for 90% of the film's running time, nothing of interest happens. It's shot lovingly, with creative camerawork and great cinematography, and the accompanying music is wonderful, but boy is it dull!
When the film finally decides to stop being boring and actually get moving (about ten minutes from the end), it rushes the denouement so that matters aren't resolved very clearly, and then chucks in a bit of gore and some explosions - but it's a classic case of too little too late. To be honest, I'd rather climb to the top of Uluru and go ten rounds with Thumpy McBasher the boxing kangaroo than watch this mind-crushingly laborious yawn-fest from 'down under' more than once.
A cult-horror classic from Australia
Groverdox8 April 2016
"Next of Kin" is a cult horror classic from Australia.
It is effective at building suspense, and has some genuinely frightening, shocking moments.
The plot concerns a young woman who inherits her mother's nursing home. Strange deaths occur at the home and when the lady reads her mother's diary, finds that events in the past are mirrored in the present.
The movie is less a slasher than an Aussie giallo. It's a violent murder mystery with Hitchcockian suspense touches, rather than the typical hallmarks of the slasher genre, eg. a masked killer stalking victims who split up to be offed one by one, and sex leading to a grisly death.
The film is far more interested in atmosphere, which it provides really well.
It is effective at building suspense, and has some genuinely frightening, shocking moments.
The plot concerns a young woman who inherits her mother's nursing home. Strange deaths occur at the home and when the lady reads her mother's diary, finds that events in the past are mirrored in the present.
The movie is less a slasher than an Aussie giallo. It's a violent murder mystery with Hitchcockian suspense touches, rather than the typical hallmarks of the slasher genre, eg. a masked killer stalking victims who split up to be offed one by one, and sex leading to a grisly death.
The film is far more interested in atmosphere, which it provides really well.
Slow Burn Slasher
Lucabrasisleeps27 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
It shouldn't exactly be called a slasher though. The body count is high but it is not really in the same genre. Instead maybe it is similar to those old British atmospheric horrors. Generally though such movies always end up on top of my list. But I am not so sure of this movie.
There has been a great deal of effort in building atmosphere in this movie. For the most part, it works on suggestion and it doesn't really show much violence except towards the end. And when it does show, it does deliver in spades. I liked the way the movie slowly reveals the truth of the situation. In that, it is similar to certain Hammer thriller movies of the 60s and 70s like Taste of fear, Nightmare and so on. Only in some ways, it is even more subdued than those films.
The lead actress is perfect in the role. In some ways maybe, the setting itself is not too interesting. It would have been even better if she was alone in the house and then she slowly learns about the situation. This movie is about a retirement home. I guess for the perverts among us, this is not really an interesting setting and personally whatever nudity that exists in the movie is not wholly interesting to me.
But the mood that the movie sets is pretty impressive. The reveal is not shocking. To be honest, anybody who has read any mystery authors or watched many mystery movies would be able to guess. It is not groundbreaking in any way. But credit must be given for some stylish sequences, especially towards the end (the sugar cube scene in particular) that would obviously make this a cult movie(if it was more known).
The reason why I am not giving it a higher rating is because I feel that it could have been more interesting in the first half. There is a marked improvement in the second half. But still the movie plods on in the first half without much really going on and there isn't much tension being built up. This would be fine if there was some interesting character development in the first half but I don't think this movie really has that much detail in its story for such character development. The plot and the reveal are fairly simple.
Despite all that, I still feel this is a slow burn movie worth checking, at least for the second half's interesting scenes and the ending.
6/10
There has been a great deal of effort in building atmosphere in this movie. For the most part, it works on suggestion and it doesn't really show much violence except towards the end. And when it does show, it does deliver in spades. I liked the way the movie slowly reveals the truth of the situation. In that, it is similar to certain Hammer thriller movies of the 60s and 70s like Taste of fear, Nightmare and so on. Only in some ways, it is even more subdued than those films.
The lead actress is perfect in the role. In some ways maybe, the setting itself is not too interesting. It would have been even better if she was alone in the house and then she slowly learns about the situation. This movie is about a retirement home. I guess for the perverts among us, this is not really an interesting setting and personally whatever nudity that exists in the movie is not wholly interesting to me.
But the mood that the movie sets is pretty impressive. The reveal is not shocking. To be honest, anybody who has read any mystery authors or watched many mystery movies would be able to guess. It is not groundbreaking in any way. But credit must be given for some stylish sequences, especially towards the end (the sugar cube scene in particular) that would obviously make this a cult movie(if it was more known).
The reason why I am not giving it a higher rating is because I feel that it could have been more interesting in the first half. There is a marked improvement in the second half. But still the movie plods on in the first half without much really going on and there isn't much tension being built up. This would be fine if there was some interesting character development in the first half but I don't think this movie really has that much detail in its story for such character development. The plot and the reveal are fairly simple.
Despite all that, I still feel this is a slow burn movie worth checking, at least for the second half's interesting scenes and the ending.
6/10
Yawn, is it over yet?
paulclaassen23 November 2020
'Next of Kin' is a forgettable film about... uhm, what was it about again?
This is like a late night TV movie you accidentally stumble upon and watch because you're tired and there's nothing else to watch. There really is nothing special about this film - nothing that would make you watch this by choice.
So, Linda (Jacki Kerin) inherits a big mansion that has been transformed into a frail care centre. Then someone starts killing people. But why? What does the killer stand to gain from his actions? I just didn't get this. There are too many questions left unanswered.
The film is also very slow moving. Despite a foreboding atmosphere, it takes forever before anything significant happens. And when it does, it just wasn't interesting enough. I'm so not going to remember this...
Would I watch it again? No.
This is like a late night TV movie you accidentally stumble upon and watch because you're tired and there's nothing else to watch. There really is nothing special about this film - nothing that would make you watch this by choice.
So, Linda (Jacki Kerin) inherits a big mansion that has been transformed into a frail care centre. Then someone starts killing people. But why? What does the killer stand to gain from his actions? I just didn't get this. There are too many questions left unanswered.
The film is also very slow moving. Despite a foreboding atmosphere, it takes forever before anything significant happens. And when it does, it just wasn't interesting enough. I'm so not going to remember this...
Would I watch it again? No.
A stylish, creepy, overlooked horror film.
Muffy-515 December 2000
This film continues to scare the hell out of me.
It has been dismissed by some as a routine slasher film, but I whole-heartedly disagree, for a few reasons:
SUSPENSE: Much of the movie IS suspense...slow walks down hallways, heads looking around corners, far-off shots of indistinct figures. This really must be what it's like to go crazy, as Linda fears she is. Importantly, the suspenseful moments never cop-out, they do usually end in a satisfying chill...but the climax is wonderfully held off for the end.
MUSIC: The music is absolutely incredible in that early-80's, Tangerine Dream meets John Carpenter sort of way. It's perfect. Sometimes, it even transcends.
ACTING: The acting is pretty low-key, allowing us time to get interested in the characters, their quirks, their hang-ups. But when it comes time for the climax, the lead actress really lets loose, and it is most disturbing to be witness to such a total frenzy.
STYLISH CINEMATOGRAPHY: Moody hallways, strange camera angles & movements (particularly the long wall-hugging draw away from Linda's nervous eyes as she peers into the hallway, and the cameraman following the nonchalant cat down the hall), creepy focus changes and slow-motion moments.
SURPRISES: The ending will blow your head off. It's nice to see a heroine being sensible, capable, and strong (especially in 1982!!!)
For sure, it's not all good. Particularly weak is the link between the suspenseful bulk of the movie and the frantic climax...the storyline falls completely apart when it comes time to explain why everything has happened. Fortunately, we don't really care at that point, because it's all too freaking scary. If you can find it, SEE IT. Especially if you like horror films populated by realistic human beings (the old man Lance, telling endlessly dull stories about the war...Linda's fork tricks and sugar-cube pyramid...the father in the restaurant threatening to smack his son into the middle of next week). Few films have upset me as much as this one, and hopefully it will do that for you as well.
It has been dismissed by some as a routine slasher film, but I whole-heartedly disagree, for a few reasons:
SUSPENSE: Much of the movie IS suspense...slow walks down hallways, heads looking around corners, far-off shots of indistinct figures. This really must be what it's like to go crazy, as Linda fears she is. Importantly, the suspenseful moments never cop-out, they do usually end in a satisfying chill...but the climax is wonderfully held off for the end.
MUSIC: The music is absolutely incredible in that early-80's, Tangerine Dream meets John Carpenter sort of way. It's perfect. Sometimes, it even transcends.
ACTING: The acting is pretty low-key, allowing us time to get interested in the characters, their quirks, their hang-ups. But when it comes time for the climax, the lead actress really lets loose, and it is most disturbing to be witness to such a total frenzy.
STYLISH CINEMATOGRAPHY: Moody hallways, strange camera angles & movements (particularly the long wall-hugging draw away from Linda's nervous eyes as she peers into the hallway, and the cameraman following the nonchalant cat down the hall), creepy focus changes and slow-motion moments.
SURPRISES: The ending will blow your head off. It's nice to see a heroine being sensible, capable, and strong (especially in 1982!!!)
For sure, it's not all good. Particularly weak is the link between the suspenseful bulk of the movie and the frantic climax...the storyline falls completely apart when it comes time to explain why everything has happened. Fortunately, we don't really care at that point, because it's all too freaking scary. If you can find it, SEE IT. Especially if you like horror films populated by realistic human beings (the old man Lance, telling endlessly dull stories about the war...Linda's fork tricks and sugar-cube pyramid...the father in the restaurant threatening to smack his son into the middle of next week). Few films have upset me as much as this one, and hopefully it will do that for you as well.
A horror low on gore, in a not much happening land
PeterMitchell-506-56436413 April 2013
Next of Kin was something of a disappointment to me in terms of the horror quota of gore. There are long periods throughout this film where virtually nothing happens. A 24 year old girl, Linda, slightly creepy looking too, takes over her mother's business, a elderly restoration home in this big old building. Strange things start happening as mentioned exactly in her mother's diary. Yes something evil looms in the eerie hallways and empty rooms of this old historic place, that takes the lives eight patients if I can remember, none of the deaths hardly violent. A much younger John Jarratt, way before his Wolf Creek killing days, adds some spark as Linda's loopy, laid back boyfriend, you feel thankful for his presence, which is not that much. The teaser for it, is a teaser, showing you all the good bits, a real deception in what was a real horror disappointment for me.
An undiscovered classic from down under
Cujo1085 February 2012
Following the death of her mother, Linda inherits the retirement home that she ran. Once there, reading through her mother's diary sets off a series of unsettling memories. Bizarre occurrences begin taking place as well, almost as if someone were toying with her.
I've seen this Aussie gem referred to as a slasher film on more than one occasion, though I wouldn't necessarily call it a slasher myself. It's more of a slow-burning mood piece, one that's quite ambiguous at times. It's also effectively creepy, one of my favorite scenes involving a figure watching Linda just out of her eye range as she roams the woods in search of her boyfriend. Said boyfriend is played by John Jarratt, a mainstay in Australian horror, and his presence here is a welcome one as always. Jacki Kerin is Linda, and she's solid as the isolated heroine who doesn't feel completely at home back in her old stomping grounds.
Naturally, the filming locations are gorgeous and the cinematography does a fine job of catching them in all of their glory. The film is complimented by a unique score and some stylish sequences, such as one terrific slow-motion bit where Linda is rushing down a flight of stairs. The ending gets really wild, leaving the film's more subdued nature behind for an extravagant finale.
I first discovered this film back in the early 90's when I stumbled across the VHS in H.E.B.'s video rental section of all places, that memorable cover art catching my eye. Even now, the film is just as effective an experience as it was way back then. All said and done, this is one of Australia's finest contributions to the genre. In fact, only "Long Weekend" is on the same level.
I've seen this Aussie gem referred to as a slasher film on more than one occasion, though I wouldn't necessarily call it a slasher myself. It's more of a slow-burning mood piece, one that's quite ambiguous at times. It's also effectively creepy, one of my favorite scenes involving a figure watching Linda just out of her eye range as she roams the woods in search of her boyfriend. Said boyfriend is played by John Jarratt, a mainstay in Australian horror, and his presence here is a welcome one as always. Jacki Kerin is Linda, and she's solid as the isolated heroine who doesn't feel completely at home back in her old stomping grounds.
Naturally, the filming locations are gorgeous and the cinematography does a fine job of catching them in all of their glory. The film is complimented by a unique score and some stylish sequences, such as one terrific slow-motion bit where Linda is rushing down a flight of stairs. The ending gets really wild, leaving the film's more subdued nature behind for an extravagant finale.
I first discovered this film back in the early 90's when I stumbled across the VHS in H.E.B.'s video rental section of all places, that memorable cover art catching my eye. Even now, the film is just as effective an experience as it was way back then. All said and done, this is one of Australia's finest contributions to the genre. In fact, only "Long Weekend" is on the same level.
Terror at the Nursing Home!
kittyelizabethfarmer30 January 2022
The Aussies have made their fair share of horror films, but only a precious handful of them are well remembered or regarded. Next of Kin is one of the better and more atmospheric of their early 80's horror offerings by taking the little used nursing home location and mining it for maximum chills.
In the film, Linda, a young woman who returns home after her mother's death to discover that she's inherited the creepy nursing home her mother had operated. Upon finding her mother's diary, she discovers that her mother was paranoid about someone wanting to kill her and this person might still be lurking around the premises.
It's a slow burner and one that's sure to tick off those wanting more of a fast-paced slasher type movie, but the wild finale is more than worth the wait.
In the film, Linda, a young woman who returns home after her mother's death to discover that she's inherited the creepy nursing home her mother had operated. Upon finding her mother's diary, she discovers that her mother was paranoid about someone wanting to kill her and this person might still be lurking around the premises.
It's a slow burner and one that's sure to tick off those wanting more of a fast-paced slasher type movie, but the wild finale is more than worth the wait.
Very, Very Slow
franklineley26 May 2022
I'm all for a slow burn, but Next of Kin might test the patience of anyone. It takes an awfully long time to get going and, by the time it does, the film is almost over. It's still a well shot and well made horror film, but it's a little too lethargic for its own good at times.
Must Be in the Right Headspace
jamiemiller-076117 December 2021
A young lady returns to her mother's home which functions as a retirement home just in time for another string of brutal murders. It's up to her to figure out her mother's secrets and unmask the killer.
Next of Kin might be a little too slow paced and arty for the traditional horror fans, but there are moments of tremendous impact and some excellent shots and suspense sequences. This might be best appreciated by patient viewers.
Next of Kin might be a little too slow paced and arty for the traditional horror fans, but there are moments of tremendous impact and some excellent shots and suspense sequences. This might be best appreciated by patient viewers.
A long drive, but you'll love the arrival
jas26696 May 2021
Wow, to say that one "starts off slow" is to really undersell how gradually it makes that left turn into genuine wonkyness. Not boring tho, I was on board for the whole thing - the Klaus Schultz soundtrack kicks in more and more as the whole movie becomes just as not-quite-right as its cars with people driving on the wrong side. It isn't until very near the end that things go off the road entirely, with such engaging style that I was very glad I took the long, mostly leisurely drive. I absolutely ended up somewhere unexpected, and even said "Wow!" out loud a couple of times at the end.
And just when I thought they were gonna cheap out on the budget, they surprised me one more time, almost literally in the movie's rear view mirror. Add to that how the soundtrack completely sells it for me, and I found it a very good (if glacially paced) show ---
And just when I thought they were gonna cheap out on the budget, they surprised me one more time, almost literally in the movie's rear view mirror. Add to that how the soundtrack completely sells it for me, and I found it a very good (if glacially paced) show ---
just a few words
filmfreak4412 February 2004
just HAD to put my comment here. I think that the rating given to this movie is far below what it deserves. I first saw this film when i was 17 and it scared the pans of me. Now more than ten years later i still think it works well. The story is simple and has a few holes but it's got a great soundtrack and very nice cinematography. The acting is better than in your common horror film. I rate this one 8 stars out of 10. And i believe that anything below a five rating is given by people who don't appreciate a good horror movie.
It's passable entertainment
jordondave-2808520 June 2023
(1982) Next of Kin
PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR
Motivated to watch this after seeing the doc "Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild Untold..." by Mark Hartley, and then it's like, had I not see some of the scenes beforehand, it would have been somewhat of a boring watch for me. The reason I am saying this is because not much happens until after the hour mark. And although, there are glimpse inspirations of "The Shining", there are more influences from Giallo and "Jane Eyre" than there is of "The Shining". Part of the reason is because of the supposed shocking twist revelation connection toward the end between the housekeeper of the villa and the driver who the main star Linda, she saw was signaled him to pass through.
It has Linda (Jacki Kerin) inheriting her mothers care home villa, and upon her arrival along with her boyfriend Barney (John Jarratt) she begins to see and experience peculiar and unusual things, and as she reads more explanations, after stumbling some of her mother's journals regarding some of the unexplained deaths that occur around the retirement home, and it involves a dysfunctional family. I also do not get why there is like no law enforcement around the area, I don't get the explanation about that.
Motivated to watch this after seeing the doc "Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild Untold..." by Mark Hartley, and then it's like, had I not see some of the scenes beforehand, it would have been somewhat of a boring watch for me. The reason I am saying this is because not much happens until after the hour mark. And although, there are glimpse inspirations of "The Shining", there are more influences from Giallo and "Jane Eyre" than there is of "The Shining". Part of the reason is because of the supposed shocking twist revelation connection toward the end between the housekeeper of the villa and the driver who the main star Linda, she saw was signaled him to pass through.
It has Linda (Jacki Kerin) inheriting her mothers care home villa, and upon her arrival along with her boyfriend Barney (John Jarratt) she begins to see and experience peculiar and unusual things, and as she reads more explanations, after stumbling some of her mother's journals regarding some of the unexplained deaths that occur around the retirement home, and it involves a dysfunctional family. I also do not get why there is like no law enforcement around the area, I don't get the explanation about that.
Haunted Aussie House
Coventry24 December 2008
This was the first Australian haunted house thriller I ever watched (at least I think it was, unless overlooking another one), but unfortunately I can't claim it was a very good or even remotely memorable experience. "Next of Kin" is a slower than slow developing thriller with only a few worthwhile moments but sadly a whole lot of pointless filling & meaningless mystery building. The film benefices slightly from its naturally eerie setting namely an elderly folks home and the always secluded Australian outback locations, but the actual storyline is thin and derivative, the lead characters are unsympathetic and last but not least the amount of thrills and shocks is unforgivably low. Linda, a young and not-so-attractive woman returns to her hometown as she inherited her recently deceased mother's resting home. She's not very motivated to continue running the place and her reluctance even increases when strange occurrences take place on the estate. The discovery of her mother's diary sheds some light on the uncanny situation within the walls of the resting home, but the sinister events carry on. The attentive and perhaps more experienced horror viewer will notice a detail quite early in the film which will already reveal an important part of the final denouement. The sight of old, wrinkly people stepping in and out of bathtubs does make me shiver, but it's still not the type of horror I anticipate to see on film. The last ten minutes of "Next of Kin" suddenly become extremely virulent and outrageous, with a stabbing through the eye and even a genuine head-explosion, but it's too late to save the film as a whole unfortunately. I agree haunted house movies generally need to rely on atmosphere and suspense instead of graphic gore, but "Next of Kin" has literally nothing.
Effective Australian horror film that deserves a look
udar558 April 2005
Not to be confused with the Patrick Swayze vehicle or Atom Egoyan film with the same title, this Australian production from 1982 is a superb horror film. Featuring fantastic cinematography and good performances, NEXT OF KIN is one of those great $3 finds (on the US Virgin Vision label) and definitely deserves more attention.
The film's biggest asset is the direction by Tony Williams. Despite Virgin's blood drenched cover, NEXT OF KIN isn't really a slasher film. The first 2/3 of the film unfolds in a very slow and deliberate manner that allows the audience to experience the unfolding mystery as Linda (Jacki Kerin) begins to do so on her own. Williams builds the atmosphere effectively over this time. There are several chilling moments involving long crawls down hallways and thoughts of being watched. The last 1/3 is a straight up horror/action finale that, with the mystery revealed, places the heroine in an adrenaline-pumping chase. The tagline on one box for this reads, "Some films take their audience to the brink of terror this one crosses the border!" I couldn't agree more.
Another key to the film's success is the mystery itself. It is one of those films where you have to watch every little detail. The writers (director Williams and Michael Heath) deliberately lead the audience down the wrong path so that, like Linda, we think we know it all but are completely in the dark. The final revelation is quite surprising and makes complete sense given everything seen previous in the film. Of course the stellar cast helps greatly in pulling this off. Kerin is very good as the investigative Linda. Alex Scott, who also appeared in ROMPER STOMPER, is particularly good as the Dr. Barton.
The film's biggest asset is the direction by Tony Williams. Despite Virgin's blood drenched cover, NEXT OF KIN isn't really a slasher film. The first 2/3 of the film unfolds in a very slow and deliberate manner that allows the audience to experience the unfolding mystery as Linda (Jacki Kerin) begins to do so on her own. Williams builds the atmosphere effectively over this time. There are several chilling moments involving long crawls down hallways and thoughts of being watched. The last 1/3 is a straight up horror/action finale that, with the mystery revealed, places the heroine in an adrenaline-pumping chase. The tagline on one box for this reads, "Some films take their audience to the brink of terror this one crosses the border!" I couldn't agree more.
Another key to the film's success is the mystery itself. It is one of those films where you have to watch every little detail. The writers (director Williams and Michael Heath) deliberately lead the audience down the wrong path so that, like Linda, we think we know it all but are completely in the dark. The final revelation is quite surprising and makes complete sense given everything seen previous in the film. Of course the stellar cast helps greatly in pulling this off. Kerin is very good as the investigative Linda. Alex Scott, who also appeared in ROMPER STOMPER, is particularly good as the Dr. Barton.
Mediocre and not 8 star movie!!!!
alrock-235-64118815 November 2021
Not great
deexsocalygal21 March 2021
This is like someone tried to copy a 1940 horror movie. That's exactly what I got from watching this. There's a very slow story about a girl who finds out her mother died. Her mother ran a nursing home out of her house & she goes there to check it out. While she's there strange things happen but nothing scary. I kept watching expecting something to happen eventually but nothing ever did. Nothing good enough to make a worthwhile horror movie . It's like an old boring mystery movie. I love old scary movies but I'm talking about one that's really bad with a boring script. There's no blood, murder, screams, ghosts, nothing exciting like that. I cannot recommend this. Skip it.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
