Review of Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) by Richard C — 13 Apr 2007

During a picnic trip to Hanging Rock three girls and their teacher disappear without trace, leaving a mystery that refuses to be solved. Based on the 1967 novel by Joan Linday, Weir delivers a film that relies more on ambiance than traditional, rigid narrative.

Awash with haunting imagery, a wistful score and strong central performances, Picnic' is a delicate blend of supernatural melodrama and repressed adolescent sexuality. The slow pace and deliberate vagueness of the plot may frustrate some viewers but if you enjoy films that utilize mood rather than rely on overt action then is a must.