The Killage (2011) User Reviews

MAYBE IT'S A PARAKEET

[nogodnomasters · 7/10 · 20 May 2018]

I liked the film in spite of it falling short in a number of areas. This is a campy spoof of camp slasher films. A group of young adults attend work retreat camp, Yurulgundie. They compete with each other to become "team leader" a title some covert more than others. All of the participants are creative characters which is perhaps the main reason to watch the film. The camp participants place a suggestion in a hat and then they are read. One claims: "I am going to kill each and every one of you creatively." Shorty afterwords, they start getting killed, in ways that might give you a flashback to the superior film "Student Bodies."

The dialogue was witty. The camp humor was good also. The problem was that the end just dragged on. Likewise when they developed a funny gag they played it to too long like the door shadow scene.

Guide: F-bomb. No sex. Fake male frontal nudity. Male butt nudity.

Won best feature in the 2011 Crystal Palace International Film Festival for what's it worth.

Another Australian bad horror

[Jamesmacca · 3/10 · 10 March 2016]

The Killige look promising from the trailer, but when I first saw it at a film festival a few years ago I felt disappointed. The script was average and lack originally. The biggest con of this film is the acting from some of the key cast especially the main female protagonist and Patrick. There constant over-acting was just painful to watch. Maybe their unique style would be more suitable to the theatre then to film or TV. I have to factor in that this project had a low budget but that does not excuse the lack of a sound script that had no subtext and the basics of good acting performance. Sadly it is these types of projects that just waste slots in the film festival. Would like to add the supporting cast did a pretty good job with the d grade material they were provided with. Obviously, there are people who like this project and that is great for them I am just more appreciative to better horror films.

Best budget horrifunny film I've seen in a long time.

[Stitchy123 · 10/10 · 17 September 2011]

My girlfriend was given tickets to see the premiere of this film. I was pretty hesitant to go because we had to drive some distance. But I'm glad I made the journey to experience it.

The Killage is a comedy slash thriller slash horror slash slasher film.. Hilarious, gore filled and a lot of fun. I loved it.

While it seems to cover pretty much everything in the 'camp horror' niche.. it also felt very original and fresh. You definitely won't feel like you've 'seen this all before'.

The entire audience seemed to be splitting their sides in laughter (or squirming at various things been split on the screen). And I think the big audience really helped me enjoy this film. If you go to buy a copy or see it at a cinema (if you can) I highly recommend getting some friends around to watch it with you as it's a lot of fun. It's a fair dinkum popcorn companion.

Surprisingly brilliant, they've struck schlock horror gold!

[somethingwonderous · 10/10 · 8 July 2011]

I was lucky enough to be invited along to the premier of Brisbane's latest independent feature film last night, a shlock horror joyride from ArtSpear Entertainment that far surpassed my expectations.

Poking fun at what has become the indie film staple – the low budget, lower class horror flick – The Killage at first glance looks like it will simply be just another B-Grade gore-fest like so many that have come before. Even the admittedly hilarious trailers didn't have me convinced, we've all been fooled by previews that showcase the best two minutes of the film. Even the foreword by director Joe Bauer explaining that it's an intentionally B-Grade film shot over two weekends only furthered scepticism, sounding like the go-to defence move of a plethora of bad film makers "It's only bad because I intended it that way, you couldn't possibly understand".

I needn't have been concerned. Within minutes of the film's starting we were all putty in this talented young writer/director/actor/editor's hands. The packed audience laughed and gasped as one; The Killage simply is the perfect mix of humour and terror, the humour a perfect mix of slapstick and sarcastic wit.

The story centres around 11 socially stereotyped recruits on a weekend work retreat (at a summer camp with no phone reception, naturally) hunted by a homicidal maniac in a scary mask. Each of the young actors plays their stereotype brilliantly, adding life and realism to their characters where it could have all become terribly silly. Not once does it stray into 'too far' territory, drawing genuine, deserved laughs rather than relying on uncomfortable, gross-out moments (although those do happen).

There are standout performances, most notably by newcomers to the big screen Rita Artmann (cast appropriately as 'The Hot Chick') and Laura- Jane Turner, both managing to inspire you to care about them despite their character's shortcomings. And of course Joe Bauer, whose self- depreciating humour and seeming inability to feel embarrassment stole the show.

Everything from the lighting to the blood splatter feels polished and complete, if ArtSpear can make a film of this standard with no budget in such a short time then what's everyone else's excuse? Possibly that they don't have Joe Bauer, who single-handedly obsessed over the 400 visual effects shots, managing to create gore excessive and realistic enough to make one flinch and squirm while successfully creating an homage to retro horror flicks of old.

The score, composed by David Lazar in just 8 short weeks, perfectly complements the film, bringing tension, lightness and romance when they're required without ever becoming overblown or in your face, except when that's appropriate and somehow adds to the overall experience.

In short The Killage is simply the funniest movie I have seen in quite some time, a brilliant debut by ArtSpear Entertainment, and a worthy selection to the Bram Stoker Film Festival in the UK this Halloween.

Excellent film

[joannagaudry-105-434179 · 10/10 · 15 December 2011]

I was pleasantly surprised upon viewing this comedy horror film. I don't normally like horror films, but the hilarious send up of the horror genre won me over. The combination of hilarity and genuine horror was superb. Director Joe Bauer (who is also one of the actors in The Killage) has written a brilliant film script and executed its direction to perfection. The cast performs wonderfully and the result is a movie that I thoroughly enjoyed (even though I could barely look at some moments of the film: such was the tension and horror). I have no doubt that this movie will be a cult classic: an excellent horror spoof. I congratulate Joe Bauer, all actors, and everyone involved in the production of this movie. This young Australian director has a bright future, as do many of the cast.

A Great Aussie Flick

[paige-wilcox · 10/10 · 12 December 2011]

I enjoyed this film the second time around much more, and I've spent most of my caffeine- induced sleepless night thinking about why. I think I might have worked it out. The first time I was just watching it for entertainment, and to see my friends on the big screen, but there was more to it the second time around.

Last night, I paid a lot more attention to the technical stuff.

The way the film starts, is one character at a time. As each character enters the first scene, they start with a line that gives you some indication of their personality, and then they interact with the others in the scene, giving you an indication of where they fit in the social hierarchy. Some great writing by Joe Bauer there!

The soundtrack is something that is quickly noticeable as one of the greatest parts of the film, second only to the screenplay.

I was impressed with David Lazar's ability to create music that was so complimentary to each scene. It contributed to many of the laughs being louder than if someone else had written the score, and also increased the scare factor in quite a few scenes. I particularly loved how he handled the music in the flashback scenes. Between the screenplay and the score, the film builds at a comfortable speed and catches you by surprise.

Not all of the acting was brilliant, but there were some great performances.

It was Rita Artmann, Joe Bauer and Jess Thomas-Hall who were my favorite actors for their comic ability mostly, but also teamed with the skill in which they brought their characters to life. A character that can make me laugh while believing in their existence is a truly beautiful thing. Each of the actors were either good at bringing the character to life, or their comic ability.

For once there wasn't a character that I hated seeing on the screen.

That said, I was happy to see some of them die. Any my, what creative ways they managed to off them! My favorite was the stiletto. I always knew those things were bad for your health. People just don't realize how bad a stiletto can be for you. Of course, I'm sure they don't usually cause death, but, er, um, I have no idea what my point is now.

Great film, and I'll be surprised if it doesn't reach cult status eventually.

Funniest and best comedy/horror I have seen since... ever?

[neill-33 · 10/10 · 24 April 2012]

This film made me laugh out loud from start to finish and made me physically cringe at the gore more than any other film in a way that was very enjoyable as it is also a great comedy but still gory, not for the squeamish.

It exploits every horror cliché in the book better than any film I have seen and beats the 'Scary Movie' series hands down - an unbelievable achievement for such a low budget, very clever film making. I watched it with an audience of about 100 people and the collective laughter and groaning at the horror added enormously to the experience.

This film should be up there with classic cult films such as The Evil Dead, Wishmaster, Sean of the Dead etc. Go see!

Great little Aussie horror comedy flick.

[djangozelf-12351 · 8/10 · 22 August 2015]

This was a pleasant surprise.

A real genuine horror nicely balanced with comedy and cliché situations.

It has a lot fun but also likable characters who you just don't want to see killed.

Some of the comedy was actually hilarious and never gets in the way of the thread of terror or the movie as a whole.

Somehow it all fitted and also adds twists and turns

towards the end of the movie giving it a thriller element.

It felt like a very complete movie and as entertainment, for me, it worked out quite well.

There is a real end here but there's enough material to justify a sequel.

I think IMDb made a mistake with the number rating on this because reviews I red gave around 8 or higher and that ends up as 5,5?.

For me this is above 7 material.

I hope everybody enjoys it as much as I have.

Thank you.