You can tell “The Horseman” is going to be grim from the very first frame, when you see a teenage girl crying in an alley. Images like that don’t generally indicate that happy fun times lie ahead. What is coming is a rugged, badass tale of revenge. Christian (Peter Marshall) just lived every father’s nightmare, being called to the morgue to identify his daughter’s corpse. He then does what any good father would do in his shoes, he goes on a methodical rampage of vengeance against the men who drugged her, made her star in a porno, and then left her to choke to death on her own vomit. After that the movie starts to get depressing. Seriously, this shit is not for the faint of heart or those of you with a weak stomach. Christian is so numb, so broken and empty, that he cuts himself...
- 8/19/2010
- by Brent McKnight
- Beyond Hollywood
There are questions that we ask ourselves, hypothetical ones that can result in lurid, violent fantasies and nightmares. What would you do to protect the ones you love? What if they were taken from you? Killed?
What if it was something worse than that?
Hollywood films are filled with stories that show people's answer to these questions, though they're frequently either glamorized and action-movie'd to death without any real emotion or heart. Australian writer/director/producer Steven Kastrissios has his own answer to the question, and it's an unapologetic, brutal response. His first film, The Horseman, tells the story of Christian (Peter Marshall), a divorced father with an average life, and average job and a generally average existence. He's balding, a little paunchy and mostly unremarkable. Until the day his daughter Jesse (Hannah Levien) is found dead -- with alcohol, cocaine, and heroin in her blood, and semen from four different men inside of her.
What if it was something worse than that?
Hollywood films are filled with stories that show people's answer to these questions, though they're frequently either glamorized and action-movie'd to death without any real emotion or heart. Australian writer/director/producer Steven Kastrissios has his own answer to the question, and it's an unapologetic, brutal response. His first film, The Horseman, tells the story of Christian (Peter Marshall), a divorced father with an average life, and average job and a generally average existence. He's balding, a little paunchy and mostly unremarkable. Until the day his daughter Jesse (Hannah Levien) is found dead -- with alcohol, cocaine, and heroin in her blood, and semen from four different men inside of her.
- 8/18/2010
- by TK
The HorsemanYear: 2010Director: Steven KastrissiosStars: Peter Marshall, Caroline MarohasyMPAA Rating: RStudio: Screen Media FilmsRunning Time: 96 MinsIt’s time yet for another torture porn film to review, but it‘s different from Bloodmyth and She‘s Crushed. This time, it’s an action/horror film, in the vain of “Taken” and “Hostel“ .“The Horseman” is an Australian revenge film about Christian, a...
- 7/31/2010
- by Anthony T
The Horseman is a film so devoid of any lingering thoughts of anything, except bloody, total vengeance. It is this fluidity of violence, this methodical, almost automated outlook that really highlights this film as a different breed of revenge movie on a purist level.
The film is directed with absolute certainty by first feature-length newcomer Steven Kastrissios, and follows, in a twisted irony, pest exterminator Christian, played to bone chilling numbness by Peter Marshall, as he seeks the death of the men that raped his daughter into a drugged stupor and left her to die. So numb is Christian, that between his murders, he frequently cuts himself, just to confirm that he can still feel anything. Anything else is an afterthought, and his mission to avenge his daughter is made clearer by the slight nagging at the back of his mind by the hitch hiker that he picks up. At this point,...
The film is directed with absolute certainty by first feature-length newcomer Steven Kastrissios, and follows, in a twisted irony, pest exterminator Christian, played to bone chilling numbness by Peter Marshall, as he seeks the death of the men that raped his daughter into a drugged stupor and left her to die. So numb is Christian, that between his murders, he frequently cuts himself, just to confirm that he can still feel anything. Anything else is an afterthought, and his mission to avenge his daughter is made clearer by the slight nagging at the back of his mind by the hitch hiker that he picks up. At this point,...
- 7/21/2010
- Screen Anarchy
After a screener of Steve Kastrissios' blistering debut feature The Horseman first blew apart my DVD player over two years ago, I'm falling out of my chair with excitement at the news the bloody revenge movie is hitting cinema screens this weekend in the country it was actually made -- in a handful of locations in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
I rate the film as one of the best Australian films of the decade, right up there with Samson & Delilah, Balibo, The Magician, The Proposition, Chopper and Lantana. And the lead performance by Peter Marshall is just as magnetic and pulverizing as John Jarratt in Wolf Creek.
To celebrate The Horseman hitting its home shores here are four behind-the-scenes featurettes looking at the locations, art department, fight choreography and stunts, and performance.
The Horseman is currently screening at the Tribal Theatre in Brisbane, Chauvel Cinema in Sydney and late sessions...
I rate the film as one of the best Australian films of the decade, right up there with Samson & Delilah, Balibo, The Magician, The Proposition, Chopper and Lantana. And the lead performance by Peter Marshall is just as magnetic and pulverizing as John Jarratt in Wolf Creek.
To celebrate The Horseman hitting its home shores here are four behind-the-scenes featurettes looking at the locations, art department, fight choreography and stunts, and performance.
The Horseman is currently screening at the Tribal Theatre in Brisbane, Chauvel Cinema in Sydney and late sessions...
- 7/9/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment, we have passes for writer/producer/director Steven Kastrissios’ debut, The Horseman.
In this thriller, Christian (Peter Marshall) grieves over the suspicious death of his teenage daughter. As he travels through rural Queensland to investigate, he picks up an awkward young runaway and an unlikely bond develops. As the crime is pieced together, an ugly truth is revealed and Christian spirals down a dangerous path.
The Horseman will screen in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, from July 8.
To win, email miguel@focalattractions.com.au and tell us, have you ever had to chase up a film because its release was limited?...
In this thriller, Christian (Peter Marshall) grieves over the suspicious death of his teenage daughter. As he travels through rural Queensland to investigate, he picks up an awkward young runaway and an unlikely bond develops. As the crime is pieced together, an ugly truth is revealed and Christian spirals down a dangerous path.
The Horseman will screen in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, from July 8.
To win, email miguel@focalattractions.com.au and tell us, have you ever had to chase up a film because its release was limited?...
- 7/7/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
Newcomer to the film scene Steven Kastrissios proves with his debut feature The Horseman that you don’t need much to make a good action film. Micah Chua writes.
What do you need to pull off an action genre film in Australia? Guns? Car chases? Special effects? A buff, well-profiled action hero? A multi-million dollar budget? Not necessarily: ‘With smart, efficient storytelling, we can do pretty impressive action too,” Kastrissios told Encore.
The Horseman travels in the vein of classic Aussie thrillers such as Wolf Creek and Wake in Fright. It tells the story of a father (played by Peter Marshall- Sea Patrol) and his violent pursuit of his daughter’s murderers.
The film’s high calibre action is due in no small part to proven stunt coordinator Chris Anderson, whose credits include Peter Jackson’s King Kong and George Miller’s Mad Max.
“I showed him my previous...
What do you need to pull off an action genre film in Australia? Guns? Car chases? Special effects? A buff, well-profiled action hero? A multi-million dollar budget? Not necessarily: ‘With smart, efficient storytelling, we can do pretty impressive action too,” Kastrissios told Encore.
The Horseman travels in the vein of classic Aussie thrillers such as Wolf Creek and Wake in Fright. It tells the story of a father (played by Peter Marshall- Sea Patrol) and his violent pursuit of his daughter’s murderers.
The film’s high calibre action is due in no small part to proven stunt coordinator Chris Anderson, whose credits include Peter Jackson’s King Kong and George Miller’s Mad Max.
“I showed him my previous...
- 7/2/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
DVD Releases: 6/15/2010: When The Horseman Meets The Stepfather, Feel the Supernatural Terror Inside
It's a good week for Blu-ray player owners as a batch of old favorites is being re-released on the format including Darkman, The Stepfather (the original), Park Chan-wook's Vengeance Trilogy, and our pick of the week, Supernatural: The Complete First Season.
Also bowing on regular DVD on June 15th are Arnold Cassius' critically panned Animals; an uncut, uncensored, and fully restored version of 1973's Horror Hospital that includes a revealing new commentary with producer Richard Gordon; two Japanese horror tales, Roommate and Slaughter Island; and a bloody psychological thriller starring husband and wife duo Corey and Susie Feldman entitled Terror Inside.
Our *almost* pick of the week is the unflinchingly brutal The Horseman, but honestly, it's much more a dark, violent drama than a true horror movie although fans of the genre will certainly find much to love, including an amazing performance by Peter Marshall as an ordinary man...
Also bowing on regular DVD on June 15th are Arnold Cassius' critically panned Animals; an uncut, uncensored, and fully restored version of 1973's Horror Hospital that includes a revealing new commentary with producer Richard Gordon; two Japanese horror tales, Roommate and Slaughter Island; and a bloody psychological thriller starring husband and wife duo Corey and Susie Feldman entitled Terror Inside.
Our *almost* pick of the week is the unflinchingly brutal The Horseman, but honestly, it's much more a dark, violent drama than a true horror movie although fans of the genre will certainly find much to love, including an amazing performance by Peter Marshall as an ordinary man...
- 6/14/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
[Updated with image of the U.S. Blu-Ray Cover] Specifications for the U.S. home video release of the Australian bruiser The Horseman have been floating around the Internet for a little while. However, those specs have been either incomplete or wrong. Director Steven Kastrissios provided us with complete details about what people can except from the June 15th from Screen Media.
The DVD will feature a director's commentary and a group commentary with the director Steven Kastrissios, producer Rebecca Dakin and star Peter Marshall. The Blu-Ray will feature the commentaries as well as a "making of" featurette, a short film by Kastrissios with commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, and Caroline Marohasy and stunt coordinator Chris Anderson.
The DVD will feature a director's commentary and a group commentary with the director Steven Kastrissios, producer Rebecca Dakin and star Peter Marshall. The Blu-Ray will feature the commentaries as well as a "making of" featurette, a short film by Kastrissios with commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, and Caroline Marohasy and stunt coordinator Chris Anderson.
- 5/27/2010
- Screen Anarchy
It's unfortunate that more American audiences aren't familiar with Australian cinema. The problem isn't one of apathy or indifference; it's more a case of access. Many Aussie films never make it to America, meaning only the most devoted cinephiles -- who go to extraordinary lengths and cost to import DVDs -- get a chance to see them. Luckily, that seems to be changing now and American audiences are about to get a firsthand opportunity to check out some of the best titles coming from the land down under. Here are three that you should keep an eye on. Trailers for the films are after the jump.
The Square
Our own Will Goss described Nash Edgerton's The Square as " ... the blackest comedy rather than the bleakest noir, full of the best punchlines that you'll never actually hear, as our poor, unfortunate Raymond only endures further and further punishment in the...
The Square
Our own Will Goss described Nash Edgerton's The Square as " ... the blackest comedy rather than the bleakest noir, full of the best punchlines that you'll never actually hear, as our poor, unfortunate Raymond only endures further and further punishment in the...
- 3/20/2010
- by Alison Nastasi
- Cinematical
Prepare to have your head pummeled with a nice big slab of retribution, Aussie style, as Steven Kastrissios’ grim and brutal The Horseman (review here) will be beating its way to a limited theatrical release here in the States.
Screen Media Ventures announced today that The Horseman will be in theatres on June 15th. Check out the film's insane opening below, and look for more soon!
Synopsis:
Action-packed, multi-award winning Australian thriller The Horseman features a range of powerhouse performances in an unflinching study of grief and retribution. Explore the dark fantasies we all dream up when Christian (Peter Marshall) is sent a horrifying pornographic video featuring his recently deceased daughter. Setting out to find answers, he soon spirals into a world of violence and recklessness as he follows the links through the industry with his unique methods of brutal questioning.
Driving through north Queensland to locate the final suspect,...
Screen Media Ventures announced today that The Horseman will be in theatres on June 15th. Check out the film's insane opening below, and look for more soon!
Synopsis:
Action-packed, multi-award winning Australian thriller The Horseman features a range of powerhouse performances in an unflinching study of grief and retribution. Explore the dark fantasies we all dream up when Christian (Peter Marshall) is sent a horrifying pornographic video featuring his recently deceased daughter. Setting out to find answers, he soon spirals into a world of violence and recklessness as he follows the links through the industry with his unique methods of brutal questioning.
Driving through north Queensland to locate the final suspect,...
- 3/18/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Prepare to have your head pummeled with a nice big slab of retribution, Aussie style, as Steven Kastrissios’ grim and brutal The Horseman (review here) will be beating its way to DVD and Blu-ray in the UK on March 1st.
Synopsis:
Action-packed, multi-award winning Australian thriller The Horseman features a range of powerhouse performances in an unflinching study of grief and retribution. Explore the dark fantasies we all dream up when Christian (Peter Marshall) is sent a horrifying pornographic video featuring his recently deceased daughter. Setting out to find answers, he soon spirals into a world of violence and recklessness as he follows the links through the industry with his unique methods of brutal questioning.
Driving through north Queensland to locate the final suspect, he reluctantly picks up Alice (Caroline Marohasy), an awkward young runaway, and an unlikely bond develops. But as the crime is pieced together, an ugly truth...
Synopsis:
Action-packed, multi-award winning Australian thriller The Horseman features a range of powerhouse performances in an unflinching study of grief and retribution. Explore the dark fantasies we all dream up when Christian (Peter Marshall) is sent a horrifying pornographic video featuring his recently deceased daughter. Setting out to find answers, he soon spirals into a world of violence and recklessness as he follows the links through the industry with his unique methods of brutal questioning.
Driving through north Queensland to locate the final suspect, he reluctantly picks up Alice (Caroline Marohasy), an awkward young runaway, and an unlikely bond develops. But as the crime is pieced together, an ugly truth...
- 2/25/2010
- by Pestilence
- DreadCentral.com
Written Directed by: Steven Kastrissios Starring: Peter Marshall, Caroline Marohsay, Brad McMurray 2008 Melbourne Underground Film Festival Winner, Best Australian Film Winner, Best Australian Director An action-packed, multi-award winning Australian thriller, The Horseman features a range of powerhouse performances in an unflinching study of grief retribution. Explore the dark fantasies we all dream up when Christian (Peter Marshall) is sent a horrifying pornographic video featuring his recently deceased daughter. Setting out to find answers, he soon spirals into a world of violence and recklessness as he follows the links through the industry with his unique methods of brutal questioning. Driving through north Queensland to locate the final suspect, he...
- 2/21/2010
- www.ohmygore.com/
Steve Kastrissios's Aussie revenge thriller has had a fair bit of love on these pages, and not without good reason. The Horseman is a startlingly single-minded tale of retribution shot with an intense, kinetic flair using a grainy bleached-out palette populated by assorted antipodean scumbags. When the grieving Christian (a marvellous Peter Marshall) is sent a grim porn video featuring his recently deceased daughter, he sets off to get some answers, crowbar in hand. Whilst its uncompromising approach is admirable, the relentless nature of Christian's rampage does become somewhat self-defeating, as the succession of beatings meted out quickly becomes repetitive. That said, it's streets ahead of your typical revenge flick, anchored by Marshall's compelling and remarkably sympathetic performance.
The Horseman is out UK DVD and Blu-Ray through Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment from 1st March 2010.
The Horseman is out UK DVD and Blu-Ray through Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment from 1st March 2010.
- 12/4/2009
- Screen Anarchy
Year: 2009
Directors: Steven Kastrissios
Writers: Steven Kastrissios
IMDb: link
Trailer: link (We're quoted!)
Review by: projectcyclops
Rating: 7 out of 10
Steven Kastrissios’ brutal revenge film The Horseman kicks off with a two men beating the living daylights out of each other, until one man is crippled, doused with petrol and roasted alive. The survivor calmly cleans himself up, changes clothes and drives off in his pest control van. This is Christian (played to the hilt by Peter Marshall), and through flash-backs we learn that his daughter was found dead after a porno shoot for a sleazy adult film company, run from the aptly named “BloodSports Gym”. He’s pretty pissed.
This Aussie film has a vibe very similar to the Liam Neeson action/revenge flick, ‘Taken’. Both are fast-cut, very violent, slickly directed and are almost unbelievable in the punishment the protagonists give and receive. Think Death Wish for the 2000’s.
Directors: Steven Kastrissios
Writers: Steven Kastrissios
IMDb: link
Trailer: link (We're quoted!)
Review by: projectcyclops
Rating: 7 out of 10
Steven Kastrissios’ brutal revenge film The Horseman kicks off with a two men beating the living daylights out of each other, until one man is crippled, doused with petrol and roasted alive. The survivor calmly cleans himself up, changes clothes and drives off in his pest control van. This is Christian (played to the hilt by Peter Marshall), and through flash-backs we learn that his daughter was found dead after a porno shoot for a sleazy adult film company, run from the aptly named “BloodSports Gym”. He’s pretty pissed.
This Aussie film has a vibe very similar to the Liam Neeson action/revenge flick, ‘Taken’. Both are fast-cut, very violent, slickly directed and are almost unbelievable in the punishment the protagonists give and receive. Think Death Wish for the 2000’s.
- 11/4/2009
- QuietEarth.us
It’s not strictly a horror film, but it’s unlikely that any movie will come along this year to match the gut-wrenching intensity of the Australian indie The Horseman (showcased at the current Fantasia film festival in Montreal, and not to be confused for a second with the recent, similarly titled Dennis Quaid-starrer). It’s by now a cliché to describe a movie as reminiscent of ’70s cinema, but this stripped-down parental-revenge thriller truly warrants the description, and it also shows up the slick, absurd contrivances of an expensive modern schlocker like Taken.
While there’s more to the movie than its violence (more on that in a moment), the hand-to-hand brutality is certainly the most arresting element of this feature debut by writer/director/co-producer/editor Steven Kastrissios. Neither hyperstylized not gratuitously clinical, the dustups involving fists, kicks and assorted found objects are staged and shot by Kastrissios for maximum impact.
While there’s more to the movie than its violence (more on that in a moment), the hand-to-hand brutality is certainly the most arresting element of this feature debut by writer/director/co-producer/editor Steven Kastrissios. Neither hyperstylized not gratuitously clinical, the dustups involving fists, kicks and assorted found objects are staged and shot by Kastrissios for maximum impact.
- 7/21/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
- Parents, especially fathers with daughters, will feel a certain kinship with Christian Forteski (Peter Marshall), the vengeful hero of Australian writer/director/editor/producer Steven Kastrissios' feature debut The Horseman. Not your typical revenge flick, this depressing but powerfully intense film explores how one man deals with loss and his own inner demons. After his daughter's death from an overdose, Christian receives a videotape in the mail of her performing in an amateur porn film shortly before her death. Enraged and unable to come to terms with her death, he sets out on a rampage of revenge against the underground porn community, brutally and methodically taking out those he feels are responsible for her death. Along the way, he picks up a young hitchhiker named Alice with whom he develops a kind of father-daughter relationship. Marshall delivers a compelling performance as a man consumed by grief and despair
- 7/21/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
Not only will our very own London correspondent Ben Austwick be there to cover the fest but it's one of the best lineups ever!
How about the world premier for Pa giant insect comedy Infestation? Check.
Sneak preview of La Horde? Check.
UK premier of Cannes premier Hierro? Check.
The surprisingly good Giallo, the latest from Dario Argento? Check.
The world premier of The Descent part 2? Check!
Full schedule after the break. (Yes we copied Dread Central's post. Thanks UncleCreepy!)
Main Programme - Empire 1
# Thursday 27 August
18.30 Triangle (World Premiere)
The Boat That Shocked! Film4 FrightFest is delighted to open this year’s festival with the first ever showing of British director Christopher Smith’s latest spellbinding horror fantasy. When Jess (Melissa George) hits a seagull driving to her local harbour little does she know it signals a harrowing omen for her yachting trip with friends. From epic ocean vistas to poignantly shocking finale,...
How about the world premier for Pa giant insect comedy Infestation? Check.
Sneak preview of La Horde? Check.
UK premier of Cannes premier Hierro? Check.
The surprisingly good Giallo, the latest from Dario Argento? Check.
The world premier of The Descent part 2? Check!
Full schedule after the break. (Yes we copied Dread Central's post. Thanks UncleCreepy!)
Main Programme - Empire 1
# Thursday 27 August
18.30 Triangle (World Premiere)
The Boat That Shocked! Film4 FrightFest is delighted to open this year’s festival with the first ever showing of British director Christopher Smith’s latest spellbinding horror fantasy. When Jess (Melissa George) hits a seagull driving to her local harbour little does she know it signals a harrowing omen for her yachting trip with friends. From epic ocean vistas to poignantly shocking finale,...
- 7/3/2009
- QuietEarth.us
The UK's most amazing horror film festival Film 4 FrightFest has released what could very well be one of the best horror line-ups we've seen ever for its latest show taking place August 27th - August 31st, brimming with films we've been salivating over Stateside!
If you need any more reasons to fly across the pond check out the schedule below!
Main Programme - Empire 1
Thursday 27 August 18.30 Triangle (World Premiere)
The Boat That Shocked! Film4 FrightFest is delighted to open this year’s festival with the first ever showing of British director Christopher Smith’s latest spellbinding horror fantasy. When Jess (Melissa George) hits a seagull driving to her local harbour little does she know it signals a harrowing omen for her yachting trip with friends. From epic ocean vistas to poignantly shocking finale, Triangle is Smith’s best, polished and most mature work.
95 minutes Director: Christopher Smith UK/Australia 2009
Melissa George...
If you need any more reasons to fly across the pond check out the schedule below!
Main Programme - Empire 1
Thursday 27 August 18.30 Triangle (World Premiere)
The Boat That Shocked! Film4 FrightFest is delighted to open this year’s festival with the first ever showing of British director Christopher Smith’s latest spellbinding horror fantasy. When Jess (Melissa George) hits a seagull driving to her local harbour little does she know it signals a harrowing omen for her yachting trip with friends. From epic ocean vistas to poignantly shocking finale, Triangle is Smith’s best, polished and most mature work.
95 minutes Director: Christopher Smith UK/Australia 2009
Melissa George...
- 7/3/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
The Horseman follows the story of Christian Forteski (Peter Marshall), and his path of revenge. Christian is completely devastated by learning that his one and only daughter has been found dead of an overdose. He then falls to pieces when he suspiciously receives an anonymous videotape in the mail showing his dazed, strung out daughter having staged sex with several men. Feeling responsible for what has happened and consumed by grief, Christian quickly converts his sadness to rage in an accomplished agenda to track down, torture, and exterminate anyone connected to the tape and his daughter's death. Christian's violent path takes him through rural Queensland, Australia as he uncovers each layer of a drug and sex crime circle. Along the way Christian picks up a troubled runaway teen named Alice (Caroline Marohasy). An unlikely bond forms as Christian's paternal instincts give him new hope in preventing the same thing from becoming of Alice.
- 6/16/2009
- by Dave Campbell
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
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