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Fantastic!

Absolutely Fantastic

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The movie starts pretty powerful and suspenseful. But the problem is the twist in the story. And while others do talk about it here, I'm not going the spoiler road. But I will tell you, that everything falls apart with that twist. The main problem being that the viewers feelings have to change (for the characters). But it does not go the full way, so most actions seem ridiculous.Of course you could argue, that some of the things have been done in other movies, without any reasons (none that we are told or as slim as those portrayed here ... slim for the mayhem it seems to have kicked off). But we're not talking about other movies, we are talking about this one. The way the movie starts leaves a few things open. But the way it decides to go, is a path with no redemption. Still nicely done, but not my cup of tea.

No vote for this loser of a film. About this sick woman who feels she is abused and takes it out on those closest to her. Her husband and her children. I kept wishing she would pull the trigger. This guy would definitely be better off without the mousy housewife around. Actress playing the wife was so dour and sexless, you wonder what he ever saw in her in the first place. She was his sex object? Please, give us a break. Looking at her flat chested wimpy face would turn anyone off. I just didn't buy this good looking man would ever go for her. There must have been better looking women for the role. Is she the best in Australia actresses? Now Nicole Kidman would be something else. I won't mention the actress's name because I hope not to see her in films again. I mean, she's that ugly, man. Writer and director (same person) should go back to basic film study as this was just awful.

An interesting attempt to show the depth of hatred engendered by a husband's oblivious abuse of his wife. A man comes home to what he expects to be a "surprise" birthday party only to find his family gone, his house trashed and all the security mechanisms turned against him, effectively making him a prisoner. He puts on a Video that is wrapped as a present and sits down to watch his wife cheerily greeting him with what starts off as a birthday greeting but turns into an ever more evolving and prolonged dismemberment of him as a callous misogynist.The movie stays interesting for about an hour, but slowly the wife's bile spills over and righteous anger turns into venomous, sadistic rage, and becomes a Misandrous screed. She is not content to eviscerate his ego but to deprive him for ever of his children, and at this point it seems that the punishment no longer fits the crime, and the "victim" has become a soulless, sadistic, avenger. Is it intended for us to see her as much a victimizer as he is? From the final moments of the film it seems clear that the Director intends to simply present us with punishment not epiphany.***************SPOILER******************************** I liked how the Video goes from "tape" to "live."

Wow! This one takes a page out of Takashi Miike's "Audition" and throws a little Lorena Bobbitt into the mix, Australian style. The film is undeniably well-made. The acting is superb by both leads, and the direction is taut and methodical with a distinct visual style. The contemporary, bitter female "man-hater" is redefined here. We get a very close look at an extremely disturbed woman, and extremely disturbed women can cause a lot of problems, even in reality! I admire the film for its inventiveness and risk-taking attitude. I always appreciate that in a film, whether I end up enjoying it or not. Guys, it might not be a good idea to watch this one with the ladies, but if you're a true cineaste like myself, I'd give it a try.