I was already convinced after "The Ugly" in 1997, but "The Locals" proves it again: there definitely is some horror-talent active in New Zealand these days! This is another worthwhile horror effort from the Down Under region, far from great but with a lot of spirit and goodwill. Just as it was the case with "The Ugly", this films lacks originality and some really shocking twists but the story is compelling enough and the enthusiast acting performances from the young cast members help you appreciate it all more. The premise is like a more comical and action-packed update of popular films like "The Others" or "The Sixth Sense", handling about people that aren't aware (or can't accept?) the fact they're dead and who continue to perform their old rituals. Party teens Grant and Paul stumble upon a whole community of dead people whilst on their way for a surf-holiday. The idea of an entire outlandish town stuck in a time-paradox appealed to me very much but, unfortunately, no background is given and the script exclusively focuses on the nightly chase of the two guys. "The Locals" has a couple of genuine suspense moments, but it should have been more brutal and violent! There are lots of rough farmers with pitchforks, for Christ's sake! This could have been a slick mix of supernatural thriller and raw backwood slashers! Writer-director Greg Page showed that he has potential with this film, thus I have good hope that his future screenplays will only get better.
36 Reviews
Pleasingly clever though flawed ghost story
DrVine23 December 2004
This is an above average script - compelling at times - but it's let down by uninspired directing and merely adequate acting . If it had been made by M. Night Shyamalan it would have been an absolute blinder, but as it was so many potentially chilling scenes were just wasted opportunities (all "the Locals" appearing out of the dark, Grant hiding in the kitchen, Paul's dawning understanding in the ditch). The rock soundtrack doesn't help either; they're good tunes, but they're not exactly subtle - that all important suspense is killed off once and for all. This is one situation where a Hollywood remake might actually be a good thing.
Promising Story, But With Many Flaws in the Screenplay
claudio_carvalho5 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Paul (Dwayne Cameron) convinces his best friend Grant (John Barker) to travel to go surfing in the weekend. They meet two girls, Lisa (Aidee Walker) and Kelly (Kate Elliot), and they invite Paul and Grant for a party. They take a short cut over an old blocked bridge and Paul loses control of the car and hits off-road. They decide to ask for help to the locals, and they find that they are in an evil place.
"The Locals" is a promising story, but with many flaws in the screenplay since the beginning. For example, Paul and Walker leave the city early in the morning (Grant is sleeping) for a weekend, and they reach the shortcut in the night. Therefore, they should return on the next day to come back for the next week. Why the ghosts are trapped on that county? There is no explanation in this regard. How did those two punks die? It seems to be with the explosion of their cars, but before or after chasing Lisa and Kelly? Why Lisa and Kelly went to the party again? Why none of the ghosts destroyed the bones of the evil spirit, if they have capacity of shooting and interfere with the life of real people? Why the evil spirit have followers? Anyway, I like this type of movie and it is a forgettable entertainment. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): "A Cidade Maldita" ("The Dammed City")
"The Locals" is a promising story, but with many flaws in the screenplay since the beginning. For example, Paul and Walker leave the city early in the morning (Grant is sleeping) for a weekend, and they reach the shortcut in the night. Therefore, they should return on the next day to come back for the next week. Why the ghosts are trapped on that county? There is no explanation in this regard. How did those two punks die? It seems to be with the explosion of their cars, but before or after chasing Lisa and Kelly? Why Lisa and Kelly went to the party again? Why none of the ghosts destroyed the bones of the evil spirit, if they have capacity of shooting and interfere with the life of real people? Why the evil spirit have followers? Anyway, I like this type of movie and it is a forgettable entertainment. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): "A Cidade Maldita" ("The Dammed City")
Wonderful stuff!
it001k030630 October 2004
I've just read a review that slags this baby off and there is no way that I can let that particularly misguided reviewer have the last word. he accuses New Zealanders of bigging the film up and criticises the use of lighting and the acting - wrong on all counts, boy! I'm a Brit and I have no particular reason to pretend that a film from New Zealand is good if it isn't. BUT THIS IS WONDERFUL STUFF!!! Low budget maybe, low key for sure - but the film takes its time allowing us to get to know our main characters (pretty clichéd characters but convincing and effective nevertheless. It builds up a spooky atmosphere, allows us to slowly realize that all is not well. The beautiful scenery of the daylight becomes a mysterious place of strange shadows at night. Here is where the lighting works so well. Yes, lots of areas are deliberately over lit - making central occurrences stand out starkly whilst blackness surrounds in a claustrophobic manner. The graveyard is eerily lit - standing like a beacon of badness amidst the shadows. The acting is fine - certainly far better than some of its amateur origins might suggest. I would recommend this film for anyone whether they be a horror fan or a student of film-making on a budget. New Zealand just showed big bucks Hollywood how to make something scary!
Suspenseless and unexciting.
HumanoidOfFlesh20 July 2006
Two friends hit the road for a surfing trip and decide to take a short-cut when night falls to speed up their journey.On their way they meet a couple of girls with a fast car and are invited to a party.In the following car race,the guys crash their car and go looking for help.They approach a farmhouse but as they look in the window,they see someone being murdered.Now the friends are on the run from the locals who want to kill them."The Locals" is a major disappointment.The film plays like the cross of "Deliverance" and "The Sixth Sense",but as an avid horror fan I found it dull and suspenseless.The locals are neither scary nor menacing.The photography is good and there are some creepy locations,but the absence of suspense is hard to forgive.The director shows some potential,so hopefully his next horror project will be more intense than unexciting "The Locals".5 out of 10.
Surprisingly good
rocky_wood7 September 2006
If Hollywood had made this movie (and smoothed out some hitches that presumably came with a low budget) the critics may well have been raving about it.
In many ways it could have been another 'The Others'.
Most of the acting is quite acceptable for a low budget horror movie; the photography is very well done and the script itself is ambitious and doesn't miss by much, which is saying something. Some of the foreshadowing is top notch.
Either way well worth watching and miles ahead of so much Hollywood horror pap!
As ghost stories go this was relatively original and will be appreciated by those looking for something different.
In many ways it could have been another 'The Others'.
Most of the acting is quite acceptable for a low budget horror movie; the photography is very well done and the script itself is ambitious and doesn't miss by much, which is saying something. Some of the foreshadowing is top notch.
Either way well worth watching and miles ahead of so much Hollywood horror pap!
As ghost stories go this was relatively original and will be appreciated by those looking for something different.
Movie got totally ruined because of useless filming.
andreas_l2 January 2005
Scary movies, usually have a low budget. This one must have been one of these. The Film team or the director must have thought the wrong way, Because when its dark, it is dark, and not lighten up like every single object was. There is a scene when its totally dark outside, both the two girls and boys move inside a house. Inside you see this window blending your eyes ,because its so lighten up, Like this scene was shot during the day, when it should have been shot at night.
The story was however OK. But the movie got totally ruined because of useless filming.
/ Andreas.
The story was however OK. But the movie got totally ruined because of useless filming.
/ Andreas.
Take a trip!
Caffaro23 May 2004
Warning: Spoilers
*** Warning, Spoilers Ahead! ***
I rent this film expecting to see another B-Horror movie.. but I'm pretty surprised with the plot here, however I agree that even in the night scenes (90 per cent of the movie) the dark aren't really dark. but besides that the film is quite simple, and leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions. Two friends takes the "wrong turn" in a common weekend trip and entered in an unusual kind of adventure, two 80's girls and a party that had happened just 20 years ago, a man who murdered his wife every single day, and a farm-man who woke up every day thinking that he will stop the "deja-vú" effect. This film is far away from a superb film, but still worth a looked. *** of 5!
I rent this film expecting to see another B-Horror movie.. but I'm pretty surprised with the plot here, however I agree that even in the night scenes (90 per cent of the movie) the dark aren't really dark. but besides that the film is quite simple, and leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions. Two friends takes the "wrong turn" in a common weekend trip and entered in an unusual kind of adventure, two 80's girls and a party that had happened just 20 years ago, a man who murdered his wife every single day, and a farm-man who woke up every day thinking that he will stop the "deja-vú" effect. This film is far away from a superb film, but still worth a looked. *** of 5!
Amateurish
yojimbo99929 April 2004
Methinks all the superlative comments for the flick is the result of nationalistic pride, cause it sure isn't because the film is as "awesome" or "super duper great" as all the Kiwis commenting make it out to be. At the most, THE LOCALS is okay. It's sometimes too amateurish. The acting is subpar, the script is pretty silly, and the direction ranges from okay to head-shakingly bad. The lighting, in particular, is just awful. Most of the film takes place at night, and you would think this is great for mood, but not so here. Completely useless lighting. Night is basically day, what with all the brightness. Their use of day-for-night is also horrendous. Take the kitchen scene early in the film. It's supposed to be an intense, scary scene, but it looked like a stage at a High School play. Did these Kiwis just decide to light EVERYTHING? I think so. Every single scene is lit to within an inch of its life. And it's not even good lighting; the mentality seems to be, "Put more light on it! More! More!" No creativity at all. Just grunt work.
Conclusion: If a film is made in a country not known for its films, have doubt when the only people throwing out the superlative comments are ALL from that country/part of town. That's a major tip off right there.
My score: 4/10 (just because I like cheap, schlocky horror films like this)
Conclusion: If a film is made in a country not known for its films, have doubt when the only people throwing out the superlative comments are ALL from that country/part of town. That's a major tip off right there.
My score: 4/10 (just because I like cheap, schlocky horror films like this)
Entertaining and gripping horror tale from New Zealand
DVD_Connoisseur24 October 2007
"The Locals" is a chilling film that is most effective if you watch it with no expectations or knowledge of its content. As a result, I'll say very little about the plot other than it centres around two young friends, Grant and Paul, who are on holiday to surf. Unfortunately, things don't work out quite as they expected when they meet two young girls, Kelly and Lisa.
This atmospheric film has impressive production values for such a low budget movie and it definitely hits the mark. The cast are excellent and the main characters are likable.
7 out of 10. An unpredictable and pleasant surprise.
This atmospheric film has impressive production values for such a low budget movie and it definitely hits the mark. The cast are excellent and the main characters are likable.
7 out of 10. An unpredictable and pleasant surprise.
A fairly well executed ghost story
doctorgonzo237 May 2006
Well, I have to admit I was a little disappointed in this movie. The story is certainly original, but there is little in the way of visuals or built up tension to hold the interest. The best shots in the movie are over after the opening titles.
The story centers around two young men who pack up for a weekend getaway filled with surfing and partying. After following two girls down a dirt road to a party, the youths find themselves in a ditch and requiring some help to get unstuck. A peek into a farm house window makes them witnesses to a murder and puts them directly in harm's way as they are pursued by a strange bunch of the town's "locals".
I was expecting something different after reading the back of the box. I guess I was looking forward to some sort of a degenerate red-neck type romp filled with cannibal killers or at least a few deformed freaks. It turns out that this is actually a ghost story with more than one (mildly) surprising twist. The acting is not first rate, the dialog is unnatural in places and the lighting ruins the night setting illusion. There's a whole lot of long shadows considering there's no street lights in the middle of the country and the sky seems devoid of a moon.
The relationship between the two principle characters is just not believable; none of the dialog really sells it to the audience. The ending is not bad though, and does manage to help the film recover from some of these earlier flaws.
If you're a fan of the genre, you might see something here you'll like. This would be a good movie choice for someone who isn't looking for anything too scary.
The story centers around two young men who pack up for a weekend getaway filled with surfing and partying. After following two girls down a dirt road to a party, the youths find themselves in a ditch and requiring some help to get unstuck. A peek into a farm house window makes them witnesses to a murder and puts them directly in harm's way as they are pursued by a strange bunch of the town's "locals".
I was expecting something different after reading the back of the box. I guess I was looking forward to some sort of a degenerate red-neck type romp filled with cannibal killers or at least a few deformed freaks. It turns out that this is actually a ghost story with more than one (mildly) surprising twist. The acting is not first rate, the dialog is unnatural in places and the lighting ruins the night setting illusion. There's a whole lot of long shadows considering there's no street lights in the middle of the country and the sky seems devoid of a moon.
The relationship between the two principle characters is just not believable; none of the dialog really sells it to the audience. The ending is not bad though, and does manage to help the film recover from some of these earlier flaws.
If you're a fan of the genre, you might see something here you'll like. This would be a good movie choice for someone who isn't looking for anything too scary.
One American who thinks this movie rocks!
RougeAgent3 April 2006
Not many Americans like films from outside the States, but THE LOCALS is one worth looking all over for. Sure its low budget but the story line is brilliant and will leave you guessing up into the very end. THE LOCALS is in a way like LOST if you miss a beat you will go into a tailspin. Greg Page does not say the full story at once but it is up to the viewer to make the connections before the end, if you succeed, congratulations, if not by the end you will. I found THE LOCALS to be more of a thriller rather then horror, I did not fear for my life or hide under a bed but it kept me on my toes. I did get connected with the characters, and felt badly for them, wanting them to get out of the Zone before something bad happened.
I will be hunting night and day for Greg Page's next movie, and as a filmmaker he has given me new outlook on how to make a brilliant low budget movie sill fascinating,
I will be hunting night and day for Greg Page's next movie, and as a filmmaker he has given me new outlook on how to make a brilliant low budget movie sill fascinating,
Watch where you're driving
ctomvelu122 February 2010
THE LOCALS is a low-budget, quasi-horror flick that is a perfect fit for the CHILLER channel, which is where I ran into it. Two New Zealand guys are out for a joy ride and run into two hot chicks. The boys make the mistake of following the girls into what appears to be a lost land, possibly the Limbo of the Bible. A gray-haired gent with supernatural powers appears to be the ruler, and once you're there, there's no going back. Not that the boys don't try. The film features a no-name cast and it is all rather low-key, but somehow THE LOCALS manages to work. It may vaguely remind some of you of THE HILLS HAVE EYES or SILENT HILL. I am also reminded of a quirky little number with Chad Lowe or someone like him attempting to bring his gal back from hell, which was based on an old Greek legend that also served as the basis for a very strange Robin Williams flick, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME. Recommended for suspense and horror film buffs.
Unimaginative Indie Horror Film.
jonathanmckenna25 August 2005
The plot: Two friends go on a vacation to a New Zealand countryside where they encounter two women who offer them to go to a party. After their vehicle gets jammed on the roadside they decide to stroll the area looking for assistance when they stumble upon seeing a grisly murder inside a house. When the killer sees them through the window he calls upon his "undead" posse to track them down and join their zombie coterie.
There is nothing much to rave about in this movie, it is essentially an extended chase film with no real fright scenes in it, and doesn't appropriate for any character development. All the viewer is subjected to is seeing how the film's characters outflank the zombie clan throughout the entire film to compensate for the movie's obvious limited budget. Lack of special effects or action is what greatly hampers this movie from being a cult classic of any kind. The humor in this film will be totally lost on the viewer as well. It is neither cheesy or a stylish film by any means and the special effects with the evolved time lapse on the decayed corpses in the car were laughably awful. It was maddening near the end of the film to anticipate the unleashing of the clan and something that no casual or die hard horror film fan should have to endure. I give it a 3 for location the rest is trumpery!
There is nothing much to rave about in this movie, it is essentially an extended chase film with no real fright scenes in it, and doesn't appropriate for any character development. All the viewer is subjected to is seeing how the film's characters outflank the zombie clan throughout the entire film to compensate for the movie's obvious limited budget. Lack of special effects or action is what greatly hampers this movie from being a cult classic of any kind. The humor in this film will be totally lost on the viewer as well. It is neither cheesy or a stylish film by any means and the special effects with the evolved time lapse on the decayed corpses in the car were laughably awful. It was maddening near the end of the film to anticipate the unleashing of the clan and something that no casual or die hard horror film fan should have to endure. I give it a 3 for location the rest is trumpery!
The LocaLs was awesome. Kiwis rule.
evolutionmuppets15 April 2004
I thought the LocaLs was going to be a sad B-Grade Kiwi horror but it turned out to be the wickedest New Zealand movie ever. I particularly like Dave Gibson's role as Nev the 80's bad guy zooming round in a metallic purple (Ford Escort?). It was ace, his voice is so growly and deep and his kiwi accent is just so ...local. I was a bit worried about the acting from John Barker and Dwayne Cameron at first but as the movie progressed I just started to feel for them...I mean they were just city boys aye? By the time Paul was being forced to dig up those bones I just wanted to jump in there and help him. Awesome. I want to congratulate Dave Gibson in particular I thought he was cracker.
Haven't we seen this all before?
ofjeworstlust8 November 2004
Warning: Spoilers
*ABSOLUTE SPOILERS*
-the usual car break down -the losing of keys -the twist that you see miles ahead -the bad acting (smart guy with dumb friend) -the "80's" girls that walked out of Grease -the slow start -the two bad guys that walked out of an English B-movie
The story? Thinner than usual. How this movie got a 5 is unbelievable. I wondered if New Zealand is a promise for the future, but this movie surely isn't a demonstration of their powers. It sounded like another road-kill-movie but it hasn't the usual Hollywoodthrills.
The really over-the-top-stupidity was formed when the two baddies die as one of them pours oil in the motor of a car and the car explodes when it is started. Yeah. And when the 'goody' tries to ask if they have a cellphone, he stays away 100 metres or more. Anyone buys that crap???
-the usual car break down -the losing of keys -the twist that you see miles ahead -the bad acting (smart guy with dumb friend) -the "80's" girls that walked out of Grease -the slow start -the two bad guys that walked out of an English B-movie
The story? Thinner than usual. How this movie got a 5 is unbelievable. I wondered if New Zealand is a promise for the future, but this movie surely isn't a demonstration of their powers. It sounded like another road-kill-movie but it hasn't the usual Hollywoodthrills.
The really over-the-top-stupidity was formed when the two baddies die as one of them pours oil in the motor of a car and the car explodes when it is started. Yeah. And when the 'goody' tries to ask if they have a cellphone, he stays away 100 metres or more. Anyone buys that crap???
Fun on a non-local level...
moviematt7112 August 2005
Nice little Horror/Thriller from New Zealand that's a cross between the underrated "Dead And Buried" and "The Sixth Sense." It's a lot of fun with a twist ending. This is not standard fare like many other films that are set up from this kind of premise or if you read over the movie description. It really delivers in places despite a modest and small budget. Barker & Cameron play a likable pair of friends that go out to find a party and get more than they bargained for when they run into a pair of pretty gals. The friendship that they have shows throughout the film and you really root for them. The DVD has a VERY entertaining commentary by director/writer Greg Page. He is a riot. A nice surprise that's not perfect but an independent horror film shouldn't be. However, it's a rental that I'm glad I took a chance on. Check it out.
Flat direction and performances ruin potentially original material
fertilecelluloid13 October 2005
There is a germ of a good idea here, but it is never fully or skilfully developed. Instead, it is completely undone by flat, awful performances and confused, uninspired direction.
Some of the time it felt like I was watching a G-rated version of "Dead and Buried" or "Night of The Living Dead". At other times, I was watching a G-rated "Deliverance".
Director Greg Page creates no suspense from a script (which he wrote) that has no characterization or believable interaction between the cardboard cut-out characters. It is as if he rolled cameras on a barely baked first draft and improvised his way through the inconsistencies in editing.
I wanted to like this flick because I like many New Zealand films (UTU, BRAIN DEAD, DEATH WARMED UP, SMASH PALACE, ONCE WERE WARRIORS, GOODBYE PORK PIE), but it bored me sh**less.
Perhaps in his second feature outing, Mr. Page will hire a director of photography who does not light every night scene like the interior of a 7/11 and perhaps, just perhaps, he'll hire a good script editor, lose the irritating rock music cues and cast real actors, not the embarrassing idiots pretending to be characters here.
Rubbish.
Some of the time it felt like I was watching a G-rated version of "Dead and Buried" or "Night of The Living Dead". At other times, I was watching a G-rated "Deliverance".
Director Greg Page creates no suspense from a script (which he wrote) that has no characterization or believable interaction between the cardboard cut-out characters. It is as if he rolled cameras on a barely baked first draft and improvised his way through the inconsistencies in editing.
I wanted to like this flick because I like many New Zealand films (UTU, BRAIN DEAD, DEATH WARMED UP, SMASH PALACE, ONCE WERE WARRIORS, GOODBYE PORK PIE), but it bored me sh**less.
Perhaps in his second feature outing, Mr. Page will hire a director of photography who does not light every night scene like the interior of a 7/11 and perhaps, just perhaps, he'll hire a good script editor, lose the irritating rock music cues and cast real actors, not the embarrassing idiots pretending to be characters here.
Rubbish.
Sorry, but......
clivedelves18 August 2006
Even though I am a kiwi, I did not appreciate this movie.. or even enjoy it...
Yes New Zealanders are good at making low budget movies (and recently not so low budget)but this one just does not hit the spot. Its not scary, its just stupid.
It left me thinking, surely that could have been done better, the basic story/idea is good (3 points for that) but the execution is very poor.
Patchy acting and continuity, some very odd editing in places, probably due to go having the real shot in the can...
Sorry again, we can do better and have, and will do again..
Yes New Zealanders are good at making low budget movies (and recently not so low budget)but this one just does not hit the spot. Its not scary, its just stupid.
It left me thinking, surely that could have been done better, the basic story/idea is good (3 points for that) but the execution is very poor.
Patchy acting and continuity, some very odd editing in places, probably due to go having the real shot in the can...
Sorry again, we can do better and have, and will do again..
I don't know about this one
chauncy74727 December 2005
The acting was horrible it was one of the worst movies I ever seen. The storyline made no sense. The filming was good. Maybe if they used better actors it would of been more interesting. Throughout the entire movie I was not scared nor did any of the scenes make me jump. The main characters of the movie seriously should consider going too, or going back too acting school. None of the locals made sense on how they got there, I don't get how you can make a movie when none of it makes no sense at all. Todays horror movies are a huge upset in my opinion. Maybe if these new directors would be more time and thought into their movies horror would reach back into the top again.
Brilliant
anjali8519 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
"The Locals" is one of the best movies from New Zealand that I have ever seen. A brilliant director and writer: Greg Page, and excellent new actors: Dwayne Cameron and John Barker. It's not like other horror films that I have seen and I've seen loads. The unusual location and the fact that it's playing in the dark is great. All the hide and seek in this film makes you wanna run with the characters. And Peter McCauley is so scary and untouchable. Why are the no more other movie from Greg Page he's funny. The commentary on the DVD is the best ever. Greg Page wants you to make listen him over and over again. First time I saw "The Locals" was a surprise for me and I'm sure for everyone who watched it. I like the idea of a farmer who has captured all inhabitants of the little town and only let them go when his bones left the area. BEST MOVIE EVER!
awful
Siloty6 June 2008
hired this movie with a bunch of mates when having an all night movie night and the cover looked like a zombie movie whereas the blurb on the back didn't indicate it. so we were like what the heck and hired it.
we found this movie quite boring and one of my mates joked about what the ending was and he happened to actually be right.
i don't know if the movie was supposed to be scary or what, but basically we all found it boring. save the hour and a half of your life and don't watch this movie.
the acting was cardboard, very unconvincing. laughable really.
the idea was the only pick up of the movie, but not enough to give it a two star rating, it could've been done better i suppose.
we found this movie quite boring and one of my mates joked about what the ending was and he happened to actually be right.
i don't know if the movie was supposed to be scary or what, but basically we all found it boring. save the hour and a half of your life and don't watch this movie.
the acting was cardboard, very unconvincing. laughable really.
the idea was the only pick up of the movie, but not enough to give it a two star rating, it could've been done better i suppose.
"You didn't like Lord of the Rings?"
Backlash00710 October 2005
On many occasions, I buy Anchor Bay DVD's sight unseen. I trust them that much. But, thankfully, I did not buy The Locals. Despite the company's reputation and all of the glowing reviews, I didn't buy it. And I am very happy that I saved myself some money because I didn't like it. I'll admit, I'm in the minority on that because most everyone seems to love it. I just found it to be okay. The storyline was just okay, the acting was just okay (Dwayne Cameron was particularly good though, when not trying to be funny), and there were no effects to speak of. Once again, I think I didn't dig the movie because I felt nothing for the characters. Charisma can go a long way in a movie like this, and none of the actors had that. The film itself certainly had no scares and no atmosphere. I just never felt any kind of dread. And that is needed in a horror film of this type. I can see The Locals working better as a short story than it did as a movie.
Just Awful
Greatornot13 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Some scenes they are living dead , some scenes not. Whats going on here. This movie had some twists but they were more equivalent to twisted ankles.I did not get this plot. Gorgeous girls that were already dead yet supposedly scared out of their wits. How can that be? If you are dead , how can it actually get worse? Well I will tell you how it can get worse. Watching one of the Worst movies of all time. The acting was not bad. I mean that.Still it was such a dumb plot that I can not possibly give this movie more than one out of a 10. The film truly was boring. Not even much in the way of gore. If you truly want to see a great Australian/New Zealand horror flick, check out Wolf Creek.
Uneven & uneventful New Zealand horror.
poolandrews27 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The Locals starts as Paul (Dwayne Cameron) convinces his best friend Grant (John Barker) to join him on a trip to the West Coast for some surfing & fun, however en-route while looking at a bus of Japanese girls (!) they take the wrong exit from the motorway & end up at a rickety old bridge in the middle of the Aussie outback. Then a car pulls up & two birds get out, Lisa (Aidee Walker) & Kelly (Kate Elliott), who invite them to a party they are heading to, sensing some 'action' Paul & Grant agree. Unfortunately things take a turn for the worse when they crash the car in a ditch & while searching for help witness a guy (Peter McCauley) slash his wife's throat, they run as fast as they can but the guy rounds up his mates & they go after the two boys. Over the next few hours Paul & Grant witness various strange occurrences which seem to have no logical explanation until the shocking truth is finally revealed...
This New Zealand production was written & directed by Greg Page & for my money didn't quite work in the way that it wanted to. The script tries to be really clever & I think that's one of it's problems because it isn't, clever that is. For a start the film as a whole is just to predictable, I doubt any horror fan will have much problem in working out where The Locals is going & probably won't have much fun waiting for it to get there either. There are to many unanswered questions like why is the land in the film so special? What's all the nonsense about the ghosts not being able to cross the river? What significance do those bones have? Why do the living have to leave the land & cross the river before sunrise? If everyone is dead & can't be hurt why is everyone so afraid of Bill? He can't hurt anyone so what does he have over them? Why can these ghosts sometimes see & speak to the living while at other times their completely oblivious? All these questions & more aren't answered in the deeply unsatisfying film that is The Locals. Then there's the fact it rip-offs various other films, it starts out like some backwoods brutality film where city types run into unfriendly local psychos but quickly turns into a The Sixth Sense (1999) rip-off with the twist ending in particular resembling the Hollywood flick, there's even the romantic mush of Ghost (1990) & a plot device taken right out of Groundhog Day (1993). I will admit it tries, it's not too long & it's sort of watchable but it just never came together for me & I thought the two main character's were both awful & annoying which didn't help.
Director Page doesn't quite get things right here, it's been mentioned before but it's extremely noticeable that the lighting is just way off. I mean it's set in the middle of nowhere with no artificial light yet everything is so well lit, it feels extremely staged & kills any atmosphere. It looked like the filmmakers just shone a huge spotlight on the area where they were going to film, subtlety wasn't in their vocabulary when they lit this! I don't think he handled the twists that well either, they just don't work & are way to easy to second guess plus there's all the things that happen that are never explained or expanded upon & considering Page wrote & directed the thing he gets the blame. Then there's the fact there's no blood, gore or violence in it whatsoever which doesn't help. I wouldn't call it scary, it lacks any real tension or atmosphere & it just looked too fake.
Technically the film is alright, everyone on here seems to claim that The Locals was low budget but I ask myself how do they know exactly? What low budget is to one maybe modest to another, I actually think The Locals looked like it had a reasonable budget. It's well made although the special animation effects are awful. The acting is OK but nothing special.
The Locals was a good effort at something different but ended up feeling just like another The Sixth Sense rip-off anyway, personally speaking there's not much here by which I could recommend it. Wait for the DVD to hit the bargain bins...
This New Zealand production was written & directed by Greg Page & for my money didn't quite work in the way that it wanted to. The script tries to be really clever & I think that's one of it's problems because it isn't, clever that is. For a start the film as a whole is just to predictable, I doubt any horror fan will have much problem in working out where The Locals is going & probably won't have much fun waiting for it to get there either. There are to many unanswered questions like why is the land in the film so special? What's all the nonsense about the ghosts not being able to cross the river? What significance do those bones have? Why do the living have to leave the land & cross the river before sunrise? If everyone is dead & can't be hurt why is everyone so afraid of Bill? He can't hurt anyone so what does he have over them? Why can these ghosts sometimes see & speak to the living while at other times their completely oblivious? All these questions & more aren't answered in the deeply unsatisfying film that is The Locals. Then there's the fact it rip-offs various other films, it starts out like some backwoods brutality film where city types run into unfriendly local psychos but quickly turns into a The Sixth Sense (1999) rip-off with the twist ending in particular resembling the Hollywood flick, there's even the romantic mush of Ghost (1990) & a plot device taken right out of Groundhog Day (1993). I will admit it tries, it's not too long & it's sort of watchable but it just never came together for me & I thought the two main character's were both awful & annoying which didn't help.
Director Page doesn't quite get things right here, it's been mentioned before but it's extremely noticeable that the lighting is just way off. I mean it's set in the middle of nowhere with no artificial light yet everything is so well lit, it feels extremely staged & kills any atmosphere. It looked like the filmmakers just shone a huge spotlight on the area where they were going to film, subtlety wasn't in their vocabulary when they lit this! I don't think he handled the twists that well either, they just don't work & are way to easy to second guess plus there's all the things that happen that are never explained or expanded upon & considering Page wrote & directed the thing he gets the blame. Then there's the fact there's no blood, gore or violence in it whatsoever which doesn't help. I wouldn't call it scary, it lacks any real tension or atmosphere & it just looked too fake.
Technically the film is alright, everyone on here seems to claim that The Locals was low budget but I ask myself how do they know exactly? What low budget is to one maybe modest to another, I actually think The Locals looked like it had a reasonable budget. It's well made although the special animation effects are awful. The acting is OK but nothing special.
The Locals was a good effort at something different but ended up feeling just like another The Sixth Sense rip-off anyway, personally speaking there's not much here by which I could recommend it. Wait for the DVD to hit the bargain bins...
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