AVARICE

Australia, 2022, 88 minutes, Colour.

Gillian Alexy, Luke Ford, Alexandra Nell, Priscilla-Anne Jacob, Nick Atkinson, Ryan Panizza.

Directed by John V. Soto.

We don’t often come across a thriller where the chief weapon is an arrow, the world of archery. We are introduced to the theme early on, a strong central character, Kate (Gillian Alexy), highly competitive, supported by her former champion father, but, in fact, on edge with family difficulties.

However, Kate will certainly come into her own with her strong bow, with the powerful arrows, in confronting the villains of the piece.

Meanwhile, her husband, Ash (Luke Ford) is experiencing all kinds of difficulties, is trying a holiday with Kate to overcome their differences, and to support their rather introverted daughter.

We have already seen a home invasion with some dire consequences. Now Ash and Kate’s holiday house is invaded, Ash abducted by too rather fierce, armed criminals, and transported to the headquarters where he is to transfer millions of dollars into different accounts.

Hence, the title, Avarice, not only on Ash’s part but on his rivals (there is a twist in the plot) and the thugs and home invaders who are pressurising him. But, as we learn, there are several other deadly sins which are involved, pride, covetousness, lust.

This is a small budget Australian thriller, filmed in Western Australia, focusing on Perth and the surrounding countryside. The drama is in the abduction, the transfer of the money under pressure, the guard on Kate and her daughter, the background of marital difficulties.

We are waiting, of course, for the climax, and Kate overcoming all odds with her strong bow and those arrows, wondering how strong they are, can they pierced body armour, but, for the intentions of this thriller, they definitely serve their purpose.

Ultimate optimism in the screenplay with a happy ending!

1. The title, greed, greed and violence, greed and fraud, and other deadly sins – pride, covetousness, last?
2. The brief time span of the action? The night, the early morning, the day?
3. Locations, Western Australia, the city of Perth, the countryside, the glimpses of the city and lights, the homes, interiors? Musical score?
4. The tone of the film, Nick and Susan, the tension between them, the home invasion, the two criminals, Susan searching, her being shot? The audience not seeing Nick? The later revelation about the eye?
5. Kate and Ash, their concern about their daughter, teenage, withdrawn? Taking her to the psychiatrist, the sky saying she was normal? Teenager?
6. Kate, archery, her father in support, his past wins, the competition, the distractions about Ash and his violence? Losing?
7. Asher, his character, finance, phone calls, looking for Nick?
8. Going for a holiday, going out into the forest, the water, settling down? Kate and her daughter, Bond? Hopes?
9. The home invasion, the same couple? The violence, taking Ash? Leaving Kane to look after Kate and the daughter? His manner, violence, having seen him shoot Susan? The two tied up? Kate, the masking tape, getting free, deceiving Kane? Hitting him over the head, reversal of roles, sending her daughter to the neighbour, the confrontation with the arrow, killing Kane?
10. The daughter, the neighbour, the audience seeing the real neighbour killed, the pleasant manner of the alleged neighbour, falsely calling the police, going back to the house, pleasant, the wait for the police, Kate shrewd, asking about her husband? His reversal of attitude?
11. Reid, her manner, in charge, scar on her face, background of Syria, home invasion, taking Cash, the task, the transferring of the 10 billions of dollars, his unwillingness, fear for his wife and daughter, eventually bringing out Nick, Nick urging him on? The image of the eye?
12. Reid, coming over to the house, leaving the thugs in charge? Riker and his being shot by the arrow? Reid and her reactions, overcoming the two, brutal?
13. The revelation by Nick, organising the money transfer, revenge against Ash and his relationship with his wife?
14. The confrontations, the fighting, Ash choking Nick?
15. Reid, her return? The transaction successful? Kate, locating Ash, arriving at the warehouse, stalking the two guards, killing them both? Reid, the confrontation, her being wounded, getting the case, going into the forest, Kate pursuing her, read and her tactics, almost choking Kate, reversal of roles, Kate stabbing her with the arrow?
16. A month later, sweetness and light, happiness and reconciliation?