Review of Animal Kingdom (2010) by Sandy K — 08 Apr 2011

Disturbing story of a 17-year-old caught in the crosshairs between his bloodthirsty Melbourne crime family and corrupt police. Jacki Weaver gives a powerful performance as the charming yet creepy family matriarch, and James Frecheville is convincing as the boy-man trapped in a no-win situation.

But it's hard to understand some of the family dynamics. And the nicely developed tension unravels near the end when there are plot gaps (what happened at the trial, exactly?), making the resolution head-shakingly bizarre.