Downriver (2015) User Reviews

Confusing gay drama

[conan-2 · 6/10 · 30 August 2016]

This movie divided the household. I thought it was messily written and improbable in its story line. While my partner thought it was moving and atmospheric.

This moodily shot movie was shot in the upper reaches of the Yarra. The muddy creek running through Melbourne. The river looks slow and moody. I wanted more sense of foreboding in the place. There is a bar scene with an ex-partner of one of the boys, but nobody cares when a child killer comes home. As we saw from the Bolger murder, this is unlikely.

I wanted to care or find out what happened to the missing boy but I didn't by the end. It really is a gay drama rather than a mystery. Sadly, the gay subject matter is all about child murder, blackmail, mutilation, and assault to name a few. It could have been an Aussie Mystic River.

A clearer story line with better focus and a simpler story would be better. It could have been improved simply by better flashbacks which would have filled in the plot holes.

A superb Australian thriller

[t-dooley-69-386916 · 7/10 · 10 November 2016]

James is returning home after serving time for his involvement in the drowning of a small boy – whose body was never recovered. Once he returns he soon realises that, even though he may have served time, the past has a way of not letting you forget and there are always consequences. So he decides to sort out once and for all what really took place all those years ago when, he too, was just a child.

Now to say anymore would ruin the surprises and there are more than enough here. It is the sort of film where the plot is not that difficult but the telling is all the better for not being so reliant on 'the twists' that have come to dominate so many of the 'thriller' genre. The tension and existential threat are ever present giving this a brooding quality that naturally make you want to keep watching. The acting is all completely convincing and Reef Ireland as James is particularly good as the returning bad boy.

This is from writer and director Grant Scicluna who has made a few shorts including 'The Wilding' which featured in the 'Boys on Film' franchise and was rather good too. For a first full length feature he has demonstrated what a reservoir of talent he has to offer and I can only wait in eager anticipation for his next outing – absolutely recommended.

Pleasing that the gay element is unimportant

[StuffedCat · 7/10 · 7 September 2021]

Although I'm marking this as having spoilers, for the benefit of anyone decding whether or not to watch this, they're minimal, and you'll work out what they are very soon after starting to watch.

Although homosexuality is there in the plot it's not central to it. With a few strokes of the pen, the dead child could just as easily have been a girl, as could the young neighbour who the lead character befriends. Neither change would have significantly affected the plot. It's nice to see, therefore, that the writer/director chose not to go "the safe way". It helps demonstrate that just because you are gay, not everything has to be about that.

The plot itself is good, perhaps a little predictable as the story develops, but carried well by a strong cast and there's a emotional depth throughout. It certainly kept me wanting to watch it through to its conclusion.

Why do people make films about such unlikable people?

[stuartwoodley-45338 · 4/10 · 29 October 2021]

I'm not sure why this story needed to be told. I'm also not really sure what happened. Some kids did something to another kid and many years later they reunite. It seems finding the body of the kid is important- not sure why. All the characters are unsympathetic and are awful people treating each other awfully and I felt awful after watching it. And then after many years under water the body hasn't decomposed.?!? Don't bother with this one!

Evocative and Courageous

[david-rector-85092 · 8/10 · 7 September 2016]

Downriver is a bold and evocative piece of filmmaking; in part as the themes are indeed murky and the possibility that it end up being a torturous experience was alleviated by some deft casting, requisite top notch cinematography and a screenplay with plenty of undercurrents (pardon the pun).

With high profile real life murders of children having permeated the news and national psyche in recent years, Grant Scicula's debut feature as writer and director takes plenty of risks and in the main, pays off. The casting of Reef Ireland in the leading role is one of its best features. Ireland is racking up a considerable body of work on both the big and small screens. He has a great presence on film; he is attractive but not in a preppy, too perfect way. The actor gets to play quite a panoply of emotions as his character strives for self acceptance, healing and redemption. Sexuality plays a surprisingly large part in this narrative, another intrepid ingredient by the filmmaker in depicting some prickly content as several young men are in various relationships and graphic encounters which are played with a naturalism which will be welcomed by some, but i suspect not all audiences.

Kerry Fox really shines here as the protagonist's mother and it is great to see the actress get some substantial work to chew the scenery with. There is a wonderful humanity as well as a flawed character depicted here and again nice to see a contrasting supporting role; not a caricature or a convenient sounding board for other characters. Fox imbues her with loads of subtext; as the audience can only imagine what her life has been like. TV's 'Offspring' alumni Alicia Gardener has a guttural and moving cameo at the start of the film; quite heartbreaking and indelible as the rest of the movie rolls along. Tom Green is suitably toxic and creepy as the villain of the piece, but even he is afforded a scene or two that explains his actions; never excusing, but giving the audience a real insight into the psyche of such young men.

'Downriver' evoked 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' for me, as the beautiful but ultimately deadly river is a featured character in this film, as the bush and rocks were in that 1975 classic Australian feature. A sense of menace is established and never let up through this at times chilling story. Whilst a few of the performances are a little stilted, the underlying themes and mood of 'Downriver' make it a compelling cinematic experience and one that will remain (for better or worse) in the minds eye for years to come. It's that vivid!

Tense film mystery

[TrevorJD · 8/10 · 27 February 2016]

If Stephen King wrote a novella set in Australia this would be its love child! However we are not in the state of Maine, but in a river town in Australia. Young James has served his time for allegedly drowning a boy when he was only a child and is being released; the body of the boy however was never found. James, having little memory of what occurred on the day, goes in search of answers and hence back to the river town where the incident occurred. This tense film mystery is at times quite macabre and often brutal, but through it's wonderful lead actor Reef Ireland it also has emotional depth. This is an auspicious feature debut for director Grant Scicluna, who also wrote the screenplay; his sense in creating such a dark and intense mood throughout the film is quite an achievement. Kudos must also be given to Tom Green who plays James' mysterious and troubled childhood friend, and of course the great Kerry Fox who plays James' mother. I saw the film recently at a film festival in Sydney to a packed audience, where it was warmly received. It deserves a much wider audience.

Gripping Tension Lurks in the Shallows

[gazferg · 8/10 · 2 July 2016]

This movie packs a punch. Low budget and filmed around the Yarra River in Warrandyte, the tension is built at a steady pace through the performance of James (Reef Ireland) and his quest to find a missing boy, who we learn has been murdered. It's unclear until near the end how the murder took place or where the boy's corpse is hidden. But it's more than this. The movie explores what happens to people when a catastrophic event occurs and the impact this has on relationships. As a society, we hardly see the impact for those who are left after such events and this movie for the most part successfully exposes these impacts. It also depicts the effects of violence within Anthony's (Thom Green) family. The performances of the relatively young cast are believable and never overstated, with Reef Ireland delivering an exceptional portrayal of James. It's also delightful to see Helen Morse play the distant yet empathetic Mary and Kerry Fox as Paige, James' mother, demonstrates her skill as a tormented mother of the accused. Camera work captures the beauty of the river and its landscape. While another reviewer has labelled this movie as "disgusting gay porn", the gay interests and encounters are contextual and add another layer to the movie. For a 1st feature Grant Scicluna, the writer-director, can take a bow .... and several encore bows!

Impressive piece of cinema

[andredejongh · 10/10 · 8 April 2023]

Wow... impressive film... written and directed by Grant Scicluna.... how is this man not like making huge films in Hollywood by now? I watched this film in 2023, while it is from 2015.... It is a beautiful love story really, eventually. Against the background of a social drama and murder mystery... it shows uff how childhood isn't always this sunny happy go lucky existence. Childhood can be unfair. It can be traumatic and profoundly harmful. Your neighbours aren't always your friends. Worse, they can abuse you and use you to hide their own wrongdoings or shortcomings. But the protagonist, excellently portrayed by Reef Island (why this man isn't a big superstar of an actor already is beyond my comprehension) is strong, resilient and determined to literally get to the bottom of it all... I got angry a lot at the abusive people and I cried and felt a lot for the young guys finding love and support with each other. Superb film.... Class A.

HOW IS THOS FILM WIDELY UNKNOWN???

[sftrojan · 10/10 · 12 March 2019]

Wow! Admittedly, I do have a preference for art type films with raw (no pun intended) look at life in rural communities throughout the world. This is an excellent example at realism at its finest! Brilliant! Aside from some beneficial edits that would lessen the confusion, the film takes hold instantly. Gripping and honest. Everyone invoved are Superheroes, forget high budget!