Review of Acolytes

This Australian movie presents a watchable take on the well worn serial killer thriller path. When one of three teenage school children stumbles upon the body of one of the killers victims he along with his two friends make a reckless and ill conceived attempt to blackmail the killer into murdering their own childhood nemesis. (That being the thug who abused them as young children and who has been released from prison). This plot reveal regarding the abuse the boys suffered is not immediately introduced and may help explain the somewhat disenfranchised attitude of the two teenage boys who come across as dreary anti social misfits. Their personalities in fact are really unlikeable and along with the thug and the killer this leaves room only for the third teenage character of Chasely (played nicely by young actress Hanna Lawrence) to empathise with.

The killer as usual appears as a normal family man but beneath the facade lies the heart of darkness. Those critical of the movie have derided the teenage characters actions. Why not tell the authorities about the body for example- but then of course there would be no story to tell.

The plot though is entirely predictable and when the wheels easily come off the children's plan the movie climaxes with the all too common bloodbath.

I have seen the DVD release of the movie marketed as a horror movie which it certainly is not but if you are a fan of the serial killer genre its worth at least a rent.