100 BLOODY ACRES
Australia, 2012, 90 minutes, Colour.
Damon Harriman, Angus Sampson, Anna Mc Gahan, Oliver Ackland, Jamie Kristian, John Jarratt.
Directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes.
No deceptive title here. No false advertising.
We are in country South Australia, on the road in broad daylight. We see a whole range of ads and notices along the road, funny, indicating the way of life in the backblocks of the state – and a parody tone. Almost immediately, Reg Morgan (Damon Harriman) is busy lifting a man, bloodied in an accident, into his truck (very awkwardly), which advertises blood and bone on its side, the company owned by the Morgan brothers, Reg and his older, domineering brother, Lindsay (Angus Sampson). So, we know the tone of the film at once, comic with blood.
Three young people on their way to a country music festival break down and thumb a lift with the at first reluctant Reg: Sophie (Anna McGahan) in the front and James and Wes (Oliver Ackland and Jamie Kristian) in the back with the covered corpse.
We know, more or less, what is going to happen, so we keep anticipating every move to see if we are right. Lindsay is more bonkers than we thought. Reg is subservient, wanting to please his brother but also to assert himself.
We are in an Australian version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre territory – or a more local Wolf Creek (confirmed when John Jarratt turns up as the local, earnest, policeman). Those suggestions of inbred communities is confirmed when Aunty Nance turns up (with an unnecessarily explicit interlude between herself and Lindsay). It is also reminiscent of one of the best of these horror parodies, Tucker and Dale Vs Evil.
Meanwhile, back in the shed for the grinding of bodies, there is a surprise turn of events, soon remedied by some bloody action. Then it is the turn of the three hitchhikers. Sophie does her best to charm Reg (though he has a thing for TV’s Rebecca Gibney). James spends most of the rest of the film hanging upside down over the grinder. Wes takes some pills and has a rather wild escape attempt which also includes his hand, a gun and the dog.
Not quite all as we might that thought – but near enough, except for the final unexpected joke which puts a smile on your face whether you wanted to smile or not. There is some blood and gore, but not nearly as much as in the American backblocks horror stories. This one is more ironic and so much is played for smiles and laughs.
If you like this kind of cult comic horror, then it is better than most. Otherwise, it will probably not be your bucket of blood!
1. That title and the tone? Satire and parody?
2. Playing with the horror, strangers on the road, the backblocks, inbred communities, genre?
3. The South Australian countryside? The advertisements along the road, the comic tone? The opening, the accident, the injured man, Reg lifting him, the effort, putting him in the truck?
4. The three young people going to the music festival, the breakdown, Sophia and Wes, the sexual flirting, James and his fixing the car, Wes domination, brash, failing the ignition, needing to hitchhike?
5. Thumbing for a lift, Reg passing, the audience knowing he had the body? His fears, his decision to go back and get them? The men in the back, their arguments, drugs, seeing the hand, raising the alarm? Sophie and front, talking about her country background, city slicker, singing the Slim Dusty song, flirting, the effect on Reg? Wanting to take them to the festival, deciding to go home? His pretence of opening the back to give them air?
6. Arriving back, the meeting with Lindsay, Lindsay in himself, his look, the beard, tall and big? The brothers and their firm, waiting for the advertisement on the radio, and eventually hearing it, the repetition, people saying it was funny, during the final credits? Reg trying to please his brother, take initiatives? Lindsay putting him down? Taking the victim into the shed, putting him over the grinder? Tying up the three? Finding that the man was alive, accidentally putting him through the grinder? Testing the potassium quality of the blood? Having to fulfill the order for the neighbour? Lindsay saying he was a man of his word?
7. Wes, high? The knife, getting himself free, the escape, taking the truck, Lindsay chasing him, going to Fairyland, his experiences of being on the trip, Snow White, the dwarfs? Hitting Lindsay? Lindsay capturing him?
8. In the boot of the car, the policeman, stopping Lindsay, the chat, hearing the noise then the voice in the boot, Lindsay shooting him, the two men in the boot? Lindsay opening it, Wes shooting him, Lindsay chopping off his hand with the gun in it?
9. Reg’s response to Sophie, then repelled by her, going to his trailer, Rebecca Gibney and her pictures, sexual activity, discovering Lindsay pursuing Wes?
10. Reg and Wes in the boot, getting free? Wes and his concern about his hand, Reg and his handkerchief? Wes and the confrontation and his being shot?
11. Aunt Nancy, the phone call, the photo, alternate mother? The encounter with the three at the cemetery, the background of the Salvo 6, the accident, the disappearance of those bodies, holding the concert for them? Nancy and the grave, hearing the insult from Wes? Talking with Lindsay, making the cup of tea, her concern about Reg being away, his listening in? The sexual behaviour? Lindsay shooting Nancy?
12. Reg, Sophie and James free? James and his being upset about Sophie’s advances to Reg, her relationship with Wes, his wanting the details? The escape, Sophie and her return, saving Reg, Lindsay having reg over the grinder? The lever opening, Lindsay going into the grinder? Reg with James’ proposal ring, offering it to Sophie, her being a girl from the country and happy ever after?
13. Charlie and his coming to the brothers for his order, James hitchhiking, their running over him, their own process for blood and bone?
14. The tongue-in-cheek tone of the film? Amusing for the fans of this kind of entertainment?
