Review of Red Hill (2010) by Patrick E — 01 Mar 2011

Officer Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanston) arrives in the small town of Red Hill with his pregnant wife looking to start a new life. The busy streets of the city caused the death of their first unborn baby, so a much quieter setting was needed for her. Shane also brings some baggage of his own from his stint as an officer elsewhere; something he shares with his new superior in Old Bill (Steve Bisley). But it seems everyone has secrets in this small town, which becomes readily available to Shane after a convicted murderer escapes from prison in methodical Jimmy Conway (Tom E. Lewis).

Director Patrick Hughes knows how to build suspense and it shows quite generously in the film. From the start of Red Hill, you know something isn't right in the town. Everyone seems to be really tense, holding onto a grudge early on. Ryan Kwanston carries his character along smoothly, giving us that "good cop" routine and doing everything by the book. While Steve Bisley plays his character with a hardened edge, demanding allegiance from the characters in the film. But, the actor that needs commending the most is Tom E. Lewis as his portrayal as a silent and deadly killer. His character moves along the screen taking victim after victim like a raptor. Lewis can give Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men) some steady competition. The only difference between the two is that Lewis' character doesn't speak throughout the film and you can notice a hint of pain in his eyes while he takes a life.

The film was centered in a Western-like atmosphere in the country of Australia, concentrating more on the streets of the town in the film. Hughes delivers a mighty impressive display of directing for being his first outing in cinema. From the get-go, you might be confused as to why everyone is so adamant and secretive about killing Conway on sight, but as the story unfolds you'll begin to understand the reason for silence. Red Hill is bloody good fun with some nice script work from the writers involved.