Review of Rabbit (2018) by David T — 12 Nov 2018

Genre-bending mystery thriller split into two parts, follows a pair of estranged twin sisters one of whom goes missing under suspicious circumstances. After experiencing an unexpected heart attack Maude Ashton (Adelaide Clemens) travels from Berlin to her family home in Australia in search of her missing twin sister Cleo (Adelaide Clemens). Strange visions of her sister Cleo compell Maude from the get go. This stylish mystery jump starts with thrilling energy as we watch Cleo manipulated by hooded thugs and a strange slender man.

The film is driven by a soundtrack that harks back to the 1970's with voraciously intimidating sounds then slows in tempo to a more relaxed pace as we meet some other members and would-be members of the Ashton family.

Just as you think you can predict what the outcome will be for Maude the film shifts into a different gear while maintaining a meticulous style. The cinematography is beautiful and produces a sense of stark fear at times. I couldn't take my eyes away from the screen. As the story develops it feels like Hitchcock and Lynch have had a love child in debut Writer/Director Luke Shanahan. His manipulation of our nerves is exacting. Strangely the film creates a moody, diabolical world that seems just beyond the fringes of society and provides various clues that engender horror but doesn't deliver a bloodbath.

The intense transition from girl-in-the-woods horror-chase into uber creepy experiments on human beings left me awash with distress, asking myself, "Is this real?" and I watched again from start to finish.

While it may not be a simple join the dots type of mystery, once the picture becomes clear, it is a thrill and chill fest I would happily watch again and again.

Purists who like to feel in control will probably find RABBIT a challenge but those like myself who embrace something different are going to find much in the film to admire. I'm impressed.