Impressive look at nihilistic Perth teens – plenty of cash and mobile phones, not a lot of effective communication. Oliver Ackland is really impressive as a tormented teen whose step brother may or may not have raped a girl Ackland likes (Adelaide Clements, who has some terrific moments too). But this being an Australian film Ackland doesn’t do anything about it for most of the film, until the very end. (Which is needlessly confusing; a great dramatic situation – getting young people to vote on who will live or die – is undermined by it’s depiction.) It gets the violence and oppression of private schools very well. I get why they didn’t want to show adults, but in a story where it all comes out that a girl was raped and there’s suicide, etc it didn’t quite feel right that adults wouldn’t be a bigger presence. (If it was all build up to the act, fine, but a lot of this takes place after). Out of the supporting performances, I really liked the long haired bully guy – he was very effective. Very stylish and well put together – it’s not really a low budget film.
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