Reviews

Extraordinary, extremely violent, terrifying horror thriller set in the glitteringly beautiful Australian outback. With more than a nod to the Texas Chain Saw Massacre genre (city folk at the mercy of the unknown interior, and "helpful" strangers), this Aussie beauty manages to make the viewer gasp on the one hand at stellar sunsets over a Broome beach, then on the other at a gruesome piece of butchery...

Writer/director McLean has fashioned an amazing piece of cinema (based in some respects on actual events in Australia over the last decade, although with considerable - and elegant - poetic licence), and, apart from anything else, this is one of the most beautiful *looking* films I have seen in a long time - not something one expects in a horror film. The Australian outback really is thrilling, even in its desolation, and this adds poignancy to the human drama.

I am very much a horror movie fan, and have not been so jittery after a movie for a long time. I NEVER want to visit the outback after seeing this flic!

Etienne Chatiliez is a director possessing a deft hand for comedy both cruel and subtle: think "Tatie Danielle" for the former and "Le bonheur est dans le pre" for a bit of the latter. La vie est un long fleuve tranquille is a hilarious examination of class-based comedy in the late 80s in France, with the time honoured "baby-switching" plot point to kick things off. Great performances allow a very funny film to sparkle on the screen. Highly recommended.