Review of Red Hill (2010) by Jasen T — 17 Nov 2010

This movie blew me away. I didn't see it coming and within a few moments after it started I made the decision I liked it. But then it got better. And better.

'Red Hill' is the story about a young police officer relocating from a big Australian city to the quiet sleepy town of Red Hill where everybody knows your name and the local pastime is watching grass grow. Our protagonist is played by Ryan Kwanten ( Jason Stackhouse from 'True Blood' but with his original New Zealand accent).

The local police force is a bunch of misplaced quirky rednecks that don't warm up to Ryan and they're led by the rustic tough as nails 'Old Bill' who believes he owns the town.

Right from the start after meeting the characters the story unfolds of a convicted murderer breaking out of prison and heading to Red Hill for revenge. We don't get to find out what that revenge is for until the final act. 'Old Bill' gathers up his misfits and puts them in strategic points within town to intercept Jimmy and that's when the action starts and it doesn't let up untill the credits roll.

Red Hill is a tight strung thriller with tension thru out. The pacing is perfect and the violence is so real I checked my own pulse while laying on the couch. Jimmy is creepy, methodical and stares at you for long periods of time with his dark eyes and burnt mutilated face. He makes 'Anton Chigurh' (played by Javier Bardem) from 'No country for old men' look like a little girl with a BB gun. This guy shoots out knee caps...shoots his victims while they're on the toilet and eats they're dinner while they bleed out moaning in the background. The director used slow long shots so the violence sinks in and the films musical score was perfect using guitar chords and creepy feedback to accent each scene of revenge. Very atmospheric and moody.

I haven't seen a film this good in quiet a while and I'm not a big fan of Australian cinema due to their stale humor and all over the place story lines. This film executes it's story and themes of morality and revenge as sharp as a surgeons scalpel. And just when you thought you figured out the story you get a nice juicy plot twist that delivers like a piece of cake after dinner. The movie reminded me of the westerns of old.

Don't like blood and violence? Skip this for Harry Potter because it's filled from start to finish with bloodshed.

I highly highly recommend this movie and it was one of the best of 2010.