Against The Tide (2023)

Guided only by the wind and tide, a small white ship sails the stunning, deep blue sea. As viewers, we are invited to join the family’s journey aboard the ship and share an unforgettable experience with the film’s Director, Lauren-Ann Smith, and her family.  This is a journey about coming home.

Allow me to introduce you to the Smith family.  The father, Adam Smith, loves the sea, while the mum, Joanne Smith, keeps the family together. Lauren-Ann Smith, the filmmaker of this very documentary, is the only daughter in the family. Her brothers are Sam and Mackenzie. Sam Smith is an autistic young man who has always been connected to the water. The youngest of them all, Mackenzie Smith, is a young man who enjoys a new adventure, sunshine and playing his guitar. Through various interviews, we gain a greater understanding of this family, such as their passion for boating, their experiences with the water, and pleasure in having family experiences.  As a family, the Smiths have reached a point where they feel now is the time for change.  So perhaps you’re wondering why this family would ever desire to go on a voyage and make an ultimate lifestyle change.

Against-The-Tide-Main-1

For a long time, this family has been seeking a life that feels more normal. The elder son, Sam Smith, who has Autism, cannot speak and has intense outbursts. Informed by professionals that Sam will require 24/7 care for the rest of his life, the family feels that discovering a slice of peace doesn’t seem achievable given the challenges they face. On one of Sam’s rough days, while the family is on holiday, Adam and Joanne decide to hire a boat for the day, leading to a huge discovery.  When Sam steps onto the boat and enters a new world, the family is awed and amazed as he finds peace. This experience leads the Smith family on a new path of hope.

Against-The-Tide-Main-2

Against-The-Tide-Main-3

Against The Tide is profoundly touching and packed with many heartfelt moments.  Even if you don’t enjoy life on the sea, the story here about one family attempting to find peace and their dreams will inspire and resonate with audiences.  We all have dreams we often ponder, but how often do we plan and go for them believing they will provide peace and fulfilment?  As a family man, I’m thankful for the Smith family’s honesty, openness, and authenticity about their family situation as they share their desires and dreams and discuss the many challenges surrounding Sam. I found many moments relatable, such as witnessing Adam and Joanne expressing their fears and concerns for their family and the future. During moments like these that I found myself admiring their journey and documentary.

Against-The-Tide-Main-4

Against-The-Tide-Main-5

Visually the feature was excellent.  Most of the visuals are steady and easy to view, plus there are high-quality captures of our gorgeous, deep blue seas and warm beaches that truly show how blessed we are in Australia.  Sure, some moments here have come from handheld recordings; however, I found it forgiving as it was great content and felt raw.  Against The Tide also feels most rewarding to those who see the film on the big screen, particularly during the moments of underwater footage and aerial footage of the open seas.  The audio quality here can’t be faulted.  The voice tracks are clear, there is a soft, heartfelt score, and the interviews are edited wonderfully.  I also enjoyed the film’s narration from the Director herself, which provided a pleasant atmosphere.  The story here is told well from start to finish, with only the third act slightly slower than the rest. Viewers will gain a great understanding of this family and their entire life-changing journey.

Against-The-Tide-Main-6

Overall, Against The Tide isn’t just a documentary that focuses on a family trying to journey at sea; it’s a heartfelt story about the challenges a loving family face as they follow their desire for peace for all family members, particularly Sam, who has Autism.  It’s a journey that feels deeply personal and raw, and thanks to Director Lauren-Ann Smith, it’s now being shared with the world.  I couldn’t help but feel thankful for this family sharing their journey on the big screen. The film is inspiring, uplifting, encouraging, visually stunning, and has a beautiful instrumental score. There are positive messages throughout, such as being thankful for what’s around you, being sure to live your life to the fullest and making plans to pursue your dreams instead of just pondering them.

Against The Tide (2023) is Now Available at the Gold Coast Film Festival 2023. For more information and session times, check out the link here: https://www.gcfilmfestival.com/

7.3/10

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

23rd April 2023
Written by Peter Walkden

WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT

PODCASTS ARE AVAILABLE!

THANK YOU FOR VISITING!

2 Comments

  1. Mark

    Apart from GCFF, where / when will I be able to see Against the Tide?

    Reply
    • peter@walkdenentertainment.com

      Hi Mark, no further news has been released as the film just had its first screening last week. I strongly suggest you follow the film on social media (Instagram: againstthetidefilm) or online http://www.againstthetidedocumentary.com to be kept up to date with more information.

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You might also enjoy these reviews

BFF24: Poison (2024)

Waking up early, Lucas (Tim Roth) starts his drive to a cemetery, quickly stopping for fuel and a hot coffee along the way. Meanwhile, Edith (Trine Dyrholm) calls her workplace, claiming she is unwell at the start of her day before riding her bike to the cemetery....

BIFF2024: Inside (2024)

Mel (Vincent Miller) is a young man who has just been transferred from a juvenile facility to an adult prison. Upon his arrival, he learns he will be sharing a cell with Mark Shepard (Cosmo Jarvis), who is in jail for ‘max’ (maximum time). Although it’s never directly...

Intruder (1989)

In a local grocery store, the staff on duty are preparing to close after a long day of trade. But before they can officially close, an incident occurs involving a staff member named Jennifer (played by Liz Kern), who works at one of the store's checkouts. The...

BIFF2024: The Colors Within (2024)

Totsuko (Sayu Suzukawa) is a high school student with a unique ability: she can see colours emanating from those around her. Each colour reflects a different emotion, such as peace, joy, and more. One day, while playing dodgeball at school, Totsuko experiences...

BIFF2024: Cuckoo (2024)

After the sadness of her mother's passing, Gretchen (Hunter Schafer), her father Luis (Marton Csokas), and his new family are moving to the German Alps. Gretchen's father had received a contract to help build a new hotel and when they arrive, Herr König (Dan Stevens)...

BIFF2024: The Nature of Love (2024)

Sophia (Magalie Lépine Blondeau) lives in Montreal with her long-term partner, Xavier (Francis-William Rhéaume). Sophia is a full-time philosophy professor determined to repair and renovate their country house in her spare time. To help with the extensive...

BIFF2024: Anora (2024)

Set in Brooklyn, the story follows a young woman named Ani, also known as Anora, played by Mikey Madison. Anora works at a club dancing and stripping for money, along with being a sex worker on the side. One evening at the club, a customer is looking for someone who...

BIFF2024: Nightbitch (2024)

Amy Adams plays ‘Mother’, a full-time stay-at-home mum to her toddler son. Throughout the day, she often takes her son to the park or the local library, where other toddlers and mothers gather to play games and sing songs. Throughout each day, she consistently...

BIFF2024: The Dead Don’t Hurt (2024)

Set in the 1860s in Elk Flats, Nevada, the story follows Holger (Viggo Mortensen), who lives in a quiet, dusty home near the mountains. Although his house is quite plain, he enjoys a peaceful lifestyle and prefers to keep to himself. While venturing outside the...

Weekend in Taipei (2024)

John (Luke Evans) is an undercover agent tasked with gathering evidence to bring down a criminal leader named Kwang (Sung Kang). His undercover mission as a chef is going smoothly until a fellow agent accidentally drops his badge in front of the enemy. This mistake...

BIFF2024: Tatami (2024)

Leila (Arienne Mandi) is an Iranian female judoka who has travelled to the Judo World Championship and strongly desires to win the gold medal. If successful, Leila would be responsible for Iran's first gold medal. Her coach and trainer, Maryam (Zar Amir Ebrahimi),...

BIFF2024: In Vitro (2024)

In the near future, a married couple, Jack (Ashley Zukerman) and Layla (Talia Zucker), have taken a revolutionary risk to move into cloning and biotechnology. This technology enables them to make, create, and clone their stock on their isolated property. Working as a...

BIFF2024: We Were Dangerous (2024)

In 1954, Nellie (Erana James) and Daisy (Manaia Hall) are students at an organisation for teenage female delinquents. The organisation is passionate about teaching everything about religion and preparing the students for their future in motherhood and parenting. Their...

BIFF2024: Flathead (2024)

After receiving some concerning health news, Cass (Cass Cumerford) suddenly decides to visit his childhood home in Bundaberg, Australia, which is filled with many memories. Since Cass is alone, he rents a cheap room to stay in. While in town, he begins...

BIFF2024: The Moon is Upside Down (2024)

Follow the journey of three different women who have one major thing in common: they're all looking for happiness, a sense of belonging, and purpose. Firstly, there is Natalia (Victoria Haralabidou), a mail-order bride from Siberia. Natalia travels to Aotearoa to...

BIFF2024: Sasquatch Sunset (2024)

In a North American forest, we follow a family of Sasquatches. There are four members to the family: the Alpha male (Nathan Zellner), a female (Riley Keough), a young male (Jesse Eisenberg), and a child (Christophe Zajac-Denek). The story spans a year, beginning in...

The Substance (2024)

Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) was once an award-winning actress- one of our time's most popular and hottest celebrities. Currently, Elisabeth hosts a television program where she teaches aerobics. However, her boss, Harvey (Dennis Quaid), feels Elisabeth is becoming...

Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024)

In 1950, Hellboy (Jack Kesy) travels by train with precious cargo: a dangerous spider that can fester into something far more sinister and evil than anyone can imagine. But when an altercation occurs on the train, and the spider manages to escape, Hellboy and a fellow...

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)

When you hear the name Christopher Reeve, many will think of his performance in the well-known film franchise Superman, which started in 1978 and later spanned three more instalments. While Reeve also appeared in various other titles, including Remains of the Day,...

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

Arthur Fleck, also known as the Joker (Joaquin Phoenix), is imprisoned in Arkham Asylum. In the past, he entertained the guards with jokes and silliness, especially Jackie (Brendan Gleeson), but now he is silent and withdrawn, with no interest in amusing anyone. While...

The Wild Robot (2024)

After a crash landing on an island on Earth, a highly advanced and smart-thinking robot named Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) finds herself in surroundings entirely unlike anything she has ever seen. The island is filled with wild animals, and the environment is...

The Nights Eats the World (2018)

Sam (Anders Danielsen Lie) lives in Paris and seeks out his ex-girlfriend at a party to collect a box that was mistakenly taken by her after their break up. While Sam is at the party, he has an incident which leads him to fall asleep alone in an office. When he...

Dead & Beautiful (2021)

A group of five young adults are all wealthy and bored in life. Each week, one member from the group selects an activity for them to complete, each attempting to allow the group to do something unlike anything they've never done before. One particular week, one of...

Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Based on a true story, this film follows the real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy). As the film begins, Rudy is working as an assistant manager at a record store, but he feels he was always destined for more incredible and bigger things. Soon he discovers he...

Holmes & Watson (2018)

When a mystery needs to be solved, the city of London calls upon Sherlock Holmes (Will Ferrell) and Doctor Watson (John C. Reilly). Now the dynamic detectives are on a hot case when the Queen’s life is threatened. Naturally, this film is classed as a comedy and relies...

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019)

Ugyen (Sherab Dorji) is a teacher currently serving his fourth year out of a five-year contract.  He lives with his grandmother, enjoys singing, and hopes to one day move permanently to Australia.  You see, Ugyen is bored of teaching.  He feels like his...

The King of Comedy (1982)

Rupert (Robert De Niro) has a desire of becoming a famous comedian. Rupert’s desire of becoming famous is so large that it’s an obsession for him. He gets an idea of how his focus can become a reality and begins to track down Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis) who is the...

The Breaker Upperers (2018)

Mel and Jen are two women who run a business known as “The Breaker Upperers”. When people have fallen out of love but don’t know how to break the relationship news, these ladies are at your service for a price. Whether it’s dressing up as police officers to announce...

Stunt Rock (1978)

The film begins with a dangerous stunt conducted by Australia’s favourite stuntman, Grant Page.  If you are unfamiliar with some of Grant’s work, he’s featured in many smash-hit Aussie films such as Danger Freaks and The Man from Hong Kong.  After...

The Witches (2020)

The film begins with a narration (surprisingly by Chris Rock), who talks to a group of young kids and warns them about the existence of witches. The film then goes back to the year 1967 and introduces us to a young boy (played by Jahzir Bruno) who sadly lost both of...

Follow Me | No Escape (2020)

Cole (Keegan Allen) is a famous influencer on social media.  As a young boy, Cole began streaming his daily activities to the entire online world.  After ten years of online success, Cole's friends decide to celebrate Cole's hard work by doing something...

Review List

BFF24: Poison (2024)

Waking up early, Lucas (Tim Roth) starts his drive to a cemetery, quickly stopping for fuel and a hot coffee along the way. Meanwhile, Edith (Trine Dyrholm) calls her workplace, claiming she is unwell at the start of her day before riding her bike to the cemetery....

BIFF2024: Inside (2024)

Mel (Vincent Miller) is a young man who has just been transferred from a juvenile facility to an adult prison. Upon his arrival, he learns he will be sharing a cell with Mark Shepard (Cosmo Jarvis), who is in jail for ‘max’ (maximum time). Although it’s never directly...

Intruder (1989)

In a local grocery store, the staff on duty are preparing to close after a long day of trade. But before they can officially close, an incident occurs involving a staff member named Jennifer (played by Liz Kern), who works at one of the store's checkouts. The...

BIFF2024: The Colors Within (2024)

Totsuko (Sayu Suzukawa) is a high school student with a unique ability: she can see colours emanating from those around her. Each colour reflects a different emotion, such as peace, joy, and more. One day, while playing dodgeball at school, Totsuko experiences...

BIFF2024: Cuckoo (2024)

After the sadness of her mother's passing, Gretchen (Hunter Schafer), her father Luis (Marton Csokas), and his new family are moving to the German Alps. Gretchen's father had received a contract to help build a new hotel and when they arrive, Herr König (Dan Stevens)...

BIFF2024: The Nature of Love (2024)

Sophia (Magalie Lépine Blondeau) lives in Montreal with her long-term partner, Xavier (Francis-William Rhéaume). Sophia is a full-time philosophy professor determined to repair and renovate their country house in her spare time. To help with the extensive...

BIFF2024: Anora (2024)

Set in Brooklyn, the story follows a young woman named Ani, also known as Anora, played by Mikey Madison. Anora works at a club dancing and stripping for money, along with being a sex worker on the side. One evening at the club, a customer is looking for someone who...

BIFF2024: Nightbitch (2024)

Amy Adams plays ‘Mother’, a full-time stay-at-home mum to her toddler son. Throughout the day, she often takes her son to the park or the local library, where other toddlers and mothers gather to play games and sing songs. Throughout each day, she consistently...

BIFF2024: The Dead Don’t Hurt (2024)

Set in the 1860s in Elk Flats, Nevada, the story follows Holger (Viggo Mortensen), who lives in a quiet, dusty home near the mountains. Although his house is quite plain, he enjoys a peaceful lifestyle and prefers to keep to himself. While venturing outside the...

Weekend in Taipei (2024)

John (Luke Evans) is an undercover agent tasked with gathering evidence to bring down a criminal leader named Kwang (Sung Kang). His undercover mission as a chef is going smoothly until a fellow agent accidentally drops his badge in front of the enemy. This mistake...

BIFF2024: Tatami (2024)

Leila (Arienne Mandi) is an Iranian female judoka who has travelled to the Judo World Championship and strongly desires to win the gold medal. If successful, Leila would be responsible for Iran's first gold medal. Her coach and trainer, Maryam (Zar Amir Ebrahimi),...

BIFF2024: In Vitro (2024)

In the near future, a married couple, Jack (Ashley Zukerman) and Layla (Talia Zucker), have taken a revolutionary risk to move into cloning and biotechnology. This technology enables them to make, create, and clone their stock on their isolated property. Working as a...

BIFF2024: We Were Dangerous (2024)

In 1954, Nellie (Erana James) and Daisy (Manaia Hall) are students at an organisation for teenage female delinquents. The organisation is passionate about teaching everything about religion and preparing the students for their future in motherhood and parenting. Their...

BIFF2024: Flathead (2024)

After receiving some concerning health news, Cass (Cass Cumerford) suddenly decides to visit his childhood home in Bundaberg, Australia, which is filled with many memories. Since Cass is alone, he rents a cheap room to stay in. While in town, he begins...

BIFF2024: The Moon is Upside Down (2024)

Follow the journey of three different women who have one major thing in common: they're all looking for happiness, a sense of belonging, and purpose. Firstly, there is Natalia (Victoria Haralabidou), a mail-order bride from Siberia. Natalia travels to Aotearoa to...

BIFF2024: Sasquatch Sunset (2024)

In a North American forest, we follow a family of Sasquatches. There are four members to the family: the Alpha male (Nathan Zellner), a female (Riley Keough), a young male (Jesse Eisenberg), and a child (Christophe Zajac-Denek). The story spans a year, beginning in...

The Substance (2024)

Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) was once an award-winning actress- one of our time's most popular and hottest celebrities. Currently, Elisabeth hosts a television program where she teaches aerobics. However, her boss, Harvey (Dennis Quaid), feels Elisabeth is becoming...

Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024)

In 1950, Hellboy (Jack Kesy) travels by train with precious cargo: a dangerous spider that can fester into something far more sinister and evil than anyone can imagine. But when an altercation occurs on the train, and the spider manages to escape, Hellboy and a fellow...

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)

When you hear the name Christopher Reeve, many will think of his performance in the well-known film franchise Superman, which started in 1978 and later spanned three more instalments. While Reeve also appeared in various other titles, including Remains of the Day,...

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

Arthur Fleck, also known as the Joker (Joaquin Phoenix), is imprisoned in Arkham Asylum. In the past, he entertained the guards with jokes and silliness, especially Jackie (Brendan Gleeson), but now he is silent and withdrawn, with no interest in amusing anyone. While...

The Wild Robot (2024)

After a crash landing on an island on Earth, a highly advanced and smart-thinking robot named Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) finds herself in surroundings entirely unlike anything she has ever seen. The island is filled with wild animals, and the environment is...

Goodnight Mommy (2014)

In a rural setting, nine-year-old twin brothers Elias (Elias Schwarz) and Lukas (Lukas Schwarz) are left to entertain and care for themselves while they wait for their mother (Susanne Wuest) to return from surgery. When their mother returns, she is relatively weak and...

Sunrise (2024)

In an old, gritty, and damp rural town, a political leader named Reynolds (Guy Pearce) is determined to take ownership of everything he desires. Reynolds's power, control, foul attitude, and disrespect exhaust the residents, who are tired of trying to defend...

Irresistible (2006)

Sophie (Susan Sarandon) is a married woman and mother of two children. An artist, Sophie, is working from home on a new book as well as dealing with the tragic loss of her mother, who recently passed away. On top of dealing with her recent loss, Sophie is pressured to...

Azrael (2024)

Welcome to a new world unlike anything you've seen before. It is set after the Rapture, and those who remain on earth are unable to speak a single word. The film opens with a woman named Azrael (Samara Weaving) on the run, filled with fear and panic as she sprints...

Fear Below (2024)

A group of dangerous mob men are travelling by car, armed with weapons. Hidden in the car's trunk are several wooden boxes of gold bullion. While driving at high speed, the driver swerves to avoid something on the road, causing a tragic accident. Although the men are...

The Critic (2023)

In London, Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) is a well-known theatre critic for a respected, friendly newspaper. As a critic, Jimmy is known for his honesty, but he can also be harsh and use foul descriptions or cruel wording. His most recent review harshly criticises one...

V/H/S/Beyond (2024)

As with all V/H/S films, various short films are intersected with a wraparound story. In this V/H/S instalment, a TV show hosted by Mitch Horowitz intersects with various videos about alien encounters. Are you ready to watch the latest V/H/S tape? Strap in....

The Black Mass (2023)

On January 14th, 1978, a serial killer was on the loose. The male killer stalks and pickpockets the locals of a town in Tallahassee, successfully stealing cash and IDs, and even blending in with anyone suspicious or uncomfortable with his presence. The killer is also...

Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Bo, also known as the Bandit (Burt Reynolds), is a highly skilled driver who loves to show off his abilities for cash. Although he doesn't have much money, he manages to get by and enjoy life. One day, he is approached by two wealthy strangers, Big Enos (Pat...

Synanon (1965)

One day, Zenkie (played by Alex Cord) wanders the city streets with his close friend. Stoned out of his mind and barely functional, he discovers a Synanon building run by Chuck Dederich (played by Edmond O’Brien). Synanon is a corporation whose primary business is to...

Subservience (2024)

A happy family home is turned upside down when the mother, Maggie (Madeline Zima), experiences tragic health issues related to her heart and needs urgent care at the hospital. This leaves Nick (Michele Morrone) to care for their two small children while juggling his...

The Speedway Murders (2023)

On November 17, 1978, in a town known as Speedway in Indianapolis, a tragic and unexplainable event occurred at a popular fast-food restaurant, Burger Chef. After a busy night in the restaurant, the four staff members on duty suddenly went missing while closing the...

Jessica (1962)

In a stunning Sicilian village, Father Antonio (Maurice Chevalier) speaks to the audience through the fourth wall, telling us all about his village. We understand that the town consists of hard-working people who never nap during the day (well, unless it's during a...

The Last Stop In Yuma County (2023)

A knife salesman (Jim Cummings) is on his way to see his daughter for her birthday. As he passes through Arizona, he must make a stop for fuel at a petrol station, which also happens to be a diner. Unfortunately, Vernon (Faizon Love), a worker at the petrol station,...

Blackout (2023)

A couple’s night of romance and passion under the brightly lit night sky is abruptly interrupted when a monster-like creature appears, and the pair are brutally murdered. After this introduction to the town, we meet Charley (Alex Hurt), a talented artist facing...

Alien: Romulus (2024)

Rain (Cailee Spaeny) lives and works on a planet where darkness covers the entire surface. Employed by Wayland Industries, she has spent much of her life working under challenging conditions. After years of harbouring hopes and dreams of leaving the planet with her...

The Emu War (2023)

On an Australian battlefield, soldiers are in position amidst gunfire and explosions in the distance. Major Meredith (played by Damian Callinan) receives orders to retreat and not engage with the enemy up ahead. However, when a nearby explosion occurs, he disobeys and...

Sweetwater (2023)

In 1990, in Chicago, a sportswriter (Jim Caviezel) leaves a hotel and jumps into the back of a taxi, telling the driver he's headed to the airport. On the radio, the sportswriter can hear a basketball game, which catches the sportswriter's attention, and he comments...

JSA Joint Security Area (2000)

Set in the DMZ, the area separating North and South Korea, the film opens with vague and unclear footage surrounding a shooting incident. A bullet was fired in a tense nighttime atmosphere. While it's unclear what exactly happened, we soon learn that two North Korean...

Crosstalk (1982)

Ed (Gary Day) is a high-tech computer genius. Working on his latest computer creation, the i500 has put him under extreme pressure, and he needs another month to prepare the new computer system and resolve various malfunctioning issues. Despite being at risk of...

Afraid (2024)

Curtis Pike (John Cho) is a collaborator who works with innovators and technology creators who have groundbreaking ideas but need help turning them into reality. At a meeting with clients, Curtis is introduced to a revolutionary new technology - a digital assistant...

Triangle (2009)

Throughout the opening credits, we watch Jess (Melissa George), who is at home attempting to comfort her son, who seems to have woken up from a bad dream. While in Jess’ house, we witness strange and unexplained events, such as someone ringing her doorbell, only to...

Lady Stay Dead (1981)

Marie (Deborah Coulls) is a celebrity. One day, while participating in a photoshoot outside her luxury home, a maintenance man named Gordon (Chard Hayward) is among the many people milling about. It's evident that Gordon desires Marie for her appearance, and he's...

A Million Days (2023)

In 2041, Earth is facing an Ecological Collapse. Humanity's survival depends on establishing an interplanetary civilisation. The Seed program has been developed to colonise new worlds, and making this mission possible is a single entity- an artificial intelligence...

Dating the Enemy (1996)

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two substances: if there is any reaction, but they are transformed” - Carl Jung. Brett (Guy Pearce) lives in Melbourne, Australia, and works full-time as a host for a television program that discusses all things...

The Quiet Family (1998)

It has been 13 days since the Kang family moved from the city to start a new life near a mountain. Despite knowing nothing about the mountain lodge business, the family made the bold move to buy an old Misty Inn resort at a bargain price from the village headman, Mr...

The Demon Disorder (2024)

Brothers Jake (Dirk Hunter) and Phillip (Charles Cottier) wake up one morning and make a terrible discovery about some animal stock on their farm. Adding to the disfigured livestock, Jake is also suspicious about how Phillip is behaving. Jake drives out to visit his...

Oddity (2024)

Introducing a unique murder mystery.  Dani (Carolyn Bracken) is renovating her large, old home with her husband, Ted (Gwilym Lee). As Dani works on the renovations and their home, Ted works full-time as a doctor. While working, Dani often worries about her twin...

Love and Other Catastrophes (1996)

Alice (Alice Garner) and Mia (Frances O’Connor) are two film students struggling with various life challenges, such as finding a new roommate to assist with rent and navigating the complexities of finding love and romance. It's been three years since Alice has had a...

Dead End Drive-In (1986)

Opening with text on the screen, various historical moments are introduced. Starting in Sydney on January 26th, 1988, the Bicentennial celebration sparked “The Rocks Riot”, and fifty-one people died. Following the Rocks Riot, Mururoa Atoll was destroyed by a nuclear...

The United States of Leland (2003)

As fifteen-year-old Leland Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling) tells us about a day he can’t remember very well, we watch a young boy on his bike in a park. It’s obvious from Leland’s narrative that something horrible and tragic occurred in the park concerning the boy on the...

Walden (2023)

Walden (Emile Hirsch) works full-time as a stenographer, recording every spoken word in a courtroom. Holding a remarkable record of typing 343 words per minute, Walden takes his job seriously and proudly. Given the nature of his work, he has been exposed to many...

The Blind Sea (2024)

Matt Formston is a blind surfer from Australia. Despite having only 3% vision, Matt has always pursued his long-term dreams and goals, especially in sports, never allowing his disability to hold him back. His determination, passion, and skills as a surfer have earned...

Detained (2024)

The film starts with various police and forensics officers investigating the wreckage of a police precinct. Among the casualties, the police find a message written on a wall in blood. But what does it all signify? Taking us back in time to 4 am of the same day, we see...

Trap (2024)

Cooper (Josh Hartnett) is taking his teenage daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to one of the biggest concerts of her lifetime. The pop sensation Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan) is taking to the stage, and the concert will be packed with over twenty thousand screaming...

Sleeping Dogs (2024)

When Roy Freeman (Russell Crowe) wakes up in the morning, he’s in a house filled with notes and illustrations explaining each room. His head is bandaged, and he suffers more pain and agony when trying to recall aspects of his past. When he enters his bathroom, he...

Handling the Undead (2024)

In Oslo, the movie follows three families dealing with loss and death. As Mahler (Bjørn Sundquist) visits his daughter, Anna (Renate Reinsve), it's clear that they are dealing with the loss of a loved one, and there is obvious friction between the pair. Their brief...

In a Violent Nature (2024)

In a mysterious location in unoccupied bushland, a pair of young adults are examining the remains of a fire tower that had burned down some time ago. While exploring, one discovers a tiny golden locket and keeps it. After some small talk, the pair walks away. Little...

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), is experiencing a midlife crisis. After facing the rejection of his long-term dreams, things have only gotten worse for him. Wade is also struggling in his relationship with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Despite the challenges,...

Final Cut (1980)

A filmmaker, Chris (Lou Brown), and his journalist girlfriend, Sarah (Jennifer Cluff), set out to make a documentary focusing on wealthy businessman Dominic Black (David Clendenning). Dominic is not your typical businessman; he is known for hosting various...

My Spy: The Eternal City (2024)

Continuing from where we last left them, the highly skilled CIA operative JJ (Dave Bautista) and his stepdaughter Sophie (Chloe Coleman) are happily living together with Sophie’s mum. JJ has taken a desk job with the CIA instead of being an action man in the field,...

Longlegs (2024)

Attention all readers: Please be aware that Longlegs contains significant spoilers. To fully enjoy the film, it's best to know as little as possible. Hearing about the storyline or learning about my opinion of the film could spoil your experience. You have been...

Birdeater (2023)

Louie (Mackenzie Fearnley) and Irene (Shabana Azeez) met at a party and have since become quite fond of each other, so much so that they now live together and are engaged. With every exciting engagement comes something non-negotiable- naturally, I'm talking about the...

Mr. Blake At Your Service (2024)

Andrew Blake (John Malkovich) struggles to cope after losing his wife, Diane. His depression and lack of motivation even lead to him skipping an award ceremony in his honour. On a whim, he decides to leave his home in London to revisit France and his past in an...

Hundreds of Beavers (2022)

In the 19th century, we follow Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews), the owner of Jean Kayak's Acme Applejack. Jean enjoys life to the fullest and spends most of his days getting drunk and serving the finest drink to the community. However, pesky beavers often...

Kill (2023)

Amrit (Lakshya Lalwani) is a captain and army commando. As he returns from a recent mission, he receives word that his true love Tulika (Tanya Maniktala) is now engaged due to her parents organising an arranged marriage. Meeting with her, he begs Tulika to run away...

Breakwater (2023)

Dovey (Darren Mann) is about to be released from prison after serving several years. Before he's released, his close friend and fellow inmate, Ray (Dermot Mulroney), approaches Dovey, seeking his help. Ray figures, given that he's been there for Dovey during his...

Sidonie in Japan (2023)

Sidonie (Isabelle Huppert) is a renowned writer invited to travel to Osaka, Japan, for six days. A Japanese publisher plans to republish Sidonie's first book, and she is now being given the opportunity to sign copies of the book in person for long-term fans and...

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (2024)

In Deep East Texas, in a small community called Possum Trot, the year is 1996. Donna (Nika King) tells the audience about the pivotal moments of her life, including falling in love with Reverend W.C. Martin (Demetrius Grosse), getting married, and having children....

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

Samira (Lupita Nyong’o) is living in a hospice, facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. Offering her comfort and joy is a sweet black and white cat named Frodo. After she attends a group counselling session, Samira's nurse, Reuben (Alex Wolff), invites her to join other...

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

Once again, we follow Gru (Steve Carell) as he continues to work secretly for AVL (Anti-Villain League). During his most recent undercover operation, Gru successfully apprehended a new kind of supervillain named Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), who has a massive...

Woman Who Came Back (1945)

Near Boston lies a small town, Eben Rocks, a quiet and peaceful community- at least on the surface. Three hundred years ago, the town saw significant upheaval as innocent people were branded as witches. As a result, some were unjustly condemned to death and burned at...

Interview: Lance Larson / Deadland (2023)

Walkden Entertainment (aka Peter Walkden) had the honour and pleasure of chatting with Lance Larson, director and one of the writers of Deadland (2023), available on Digital from June 26th in Australia and New Zealand, thanks to Lightbulb Film Distribution. Let's...

Deadland (2023)

Angel (Roberto Urbina), a U.S. border Agent, and his partner Ray (McCaul Lombardi) run a tight ship maintaining the border. One day, while patrolling, Angel receives a call and satellite coordinates about suspicious activity nearby. When he arrives and investigates...

The Promised Land (2023)

Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) has returned home after twenty-five years of service in the German army. To start his life anew, he seeks permission to cultivate the barren lands of Jutland Heath. However, the leadership of the King at The Royal Treasury informs him...

The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970)

Harold Pelham (Roger Moore) is a successful business executive who lives with his wife and two children. One morning, Pelham drives to work and unexpectedly is involved in a tragic car crash. Fortunately, he survives and eventually makes a full recovery. After...

The Exorcism (2024)

Actor Anthony Miller, also known as Tony (Russell Crowe), is preparing for an upcoming audition for a dramatic horror film.  At the same time, his daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), returns home after being suspended from school.  Tony hopes that succeeding in...

Inside Out 2 (2024)

It’s been a while since we last saw Riley (Kensington Tallman). Recently, Riley turned thirteen and has officially entered her teenage years. Once again, we delve into her mind's lively range of emotions - joy, disgust, sadness, fear, and anger. There have been...

The Watchers (2024)

Mina (Dakota Fanning) is a young artist who works at a pet store in western Ireland. Aside from her job and passion for drawing, she enjoys assuming different identities at local bars to pursue one-night stands. Mina frequently receives phone calls from her sister,...

Frogman (2023)

On August 7th, 1999, a family was on vacation, making several stops.  During their travels, they ended up in a town called Loveland and discovered something strange near some bushes.  Thanks to a family video recorder, the family's youngest member,...

Uptight (1968)

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee and was buried in Atlanta, Georgia. His death had a significant impact on the community of Cleveland, Ohio, leading to ongoing crowds and riots. Four days after King's funeral, we follow Tank...

The Music of Chance (1993)

Jack Pozzi (James Spader) is a professional card player and gambler. One day, he is found lying on the side of the road in a suit covered in blood. Jim Nashe (Mandy Patinkin), who is driving by, offers Jack a ride, and a friendship begins. Living off a large...

About Last Night (1986)

Danny (Rob Lowe) and Bernie (Jim Belushi) are good friends who live in Windy City. While walking around the streets, Bernie boasts about his latest romantic conquest, and Danny listens eagerly. Later, they enjoy playing baseball with their close friends, and a group...

Delia’s Gone (2022)

Louis (Stephan James) lives with his sister Delia (Genelle Williams). One day, when Louis and Delia are driving into town, Delia requests that Louis stop the vehicle and pull over. Delia leaves the car with a gun, which surprises Louis, but when he questions the...

Alice in Terrorland (2023)

After a tragic fire takes her parents' lives, Alice (Lizzy Willis) must move in with her grandmother, Beth (Rula Lenska), in a woodland home. As Alice tries to cope with the loss of her parents, Beth offers her various forms of comfort and support, including reading...

Stopmotion (2023)

Ella (Aisling Franciosi) is a highly skilled stop-motion animator. While working on her newest project, animating various monsters, we discover that her mother, Suzanne (Stella Gonet), is watching and guiding Ella's every move. Suzanne is guiding the entire film,...

Sight (2024)

Set in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2007, we follow a successful laser surgeon, Dr Ming Wang (Terry Chen), who works at the Vision Institute. Dr Wang has spent over a decade bringing young children out of darkness by fixing their vision. Many in the media and public claim...

The Beast (2023)

The film opens with a woman (Léa Seydoux) acting in a room surrounded by nothing but a large green screen. Instructions are given, and the actress is informed where key objects are. Lastly, the actress is advised about the location of ‘The Beast’ so she can react....

The Garfield Movie (2024)

When a tiny kitten is abandoned by his father and left alone in an alleyway in the rain, he discovers a restaurant serving hot pasta and pizza. Sitting all alone inside the restaurant is Jon (Nicholas Hoult). By luck, Jon discovers the tiny orange kitten outside the...

Clawfoot (2023)

Janet (Francesca Eastwood) is a housewife living in a luxury upper-class suburb. Upon waking up, she finds her husband, Evan (Nestor Carbonell), has apparently vanished. Despite supposedly going away on a work trip, his luggage is still in the house. To make matters...

Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever (2023)

In an interrogation room, a young man named Bent Segenius Midjord (Casper Kjær Jensen) is being questioned by an officer named Kramer (Paprika Steen). Bent is covered in blood, and Kramer accuses him of cutting a vicar's throat. During the interview, Bent claims that...

Corner Office (2022)

Orson (Jon Hamm) is a new employee at The Authority Inc. On a snowy morning, he parks his car and begins his first day, hoping for great things ahead.  Walking through the front door, he feels at peace, as if he has come to the right place. Through narration, we...

Jericho Ridge (2023)

In North Washington, Deputy Tabby (Nikki Amuka-Bird) wakes up and prepares for her day as a sheriff. She takes various pills, and we see her moving about with a crutch due to her bad limp. While Tabby has been a sheriff for some time, she has been on leave due to her...

Crocodile Swarm (2024)

Four friends decide to enter an old cave that used to be a mining system. As they enter the mine, they discover a lighting system that, once powered up, makes it far easier to wander around instead of just relying on lighting from their helmets. Soon, they hear...

The Taste of Things (2023)

In 1889, in France, we follow the story of Dodin (Benoît Magimel), a highly skilled chef, and Eugénie (Juliette Binoche), who works as a cook closely by his side. The movie begins with Dodin and Eugénie preparing various meals, and Eugénie selecting vegetables from a...

Golda (2023)

In 1974, Golda Meir, played by Helen Mirren, attends a hearing where she is asked to speak about The Yom Kippur War in 1973, during her tenure as the Prime Minister of Israel. Sworn in to tell the truth, she reflects and recounts her experiences. Despite dealing with...

Skeletons in the Closet (2024)

Mark (Terrence Howard) lives with his wife, Valentina (Valery M. Ortiz), and their daughter, Jenny (Appy Pratt), in a peaceful home. One morning, Mark prepares himself for work, speaking positively about himself to build confidence and ask for a pay raise. Meanwhile,...

Infested (2023)

A group of men carrying large knives and other equipment are exploring a mysterious desert, hoping to discover riches or perhaps a rare species. When one of the men lifts a large rock and finds a strange hole in the sand, he’s curious to see what’s inside. Instead of...

Conan the Destroyer (1984)

When Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is surrounded and attacked by a group of unknown armed men—whether to kill him or for some other reason-, he does what he does best: uses his sword to protect himself and his sidekick Malak (Tracey Walter). After defending himself...