A really frustrating film because it showed so much promise - this could've been really good. Producer Tony Ginnane later said he regretted not showing more gore, going instead for a more cerebral approach. There's no reason that couldn't have worked - had he gotten a decent director. David Hemmings was very mediocre, and the botched job done by him and the screenwriter (though in fairness the latter's work could have been rewritten) stands as a rebuke to the idea Australia doesn't/didn't have enough local talent. It's very poorly written, full of logic holes, and shoddily directed, missing opportunities for suspense wholesale.
Robert Powell really should be an everyman type hero but he looks so weird and ethereal - this worked in Harlequin but not really here. There's no one for the audience to hang on to because Jenny Agutter is weird too - she's a psychic. The film needed an ordinary audience surrogate. They could've dropped the psychic stuff altogether for Agutter. Or used Angela Punch Macgregor more.
Peter Sumner has quite a big role - maybe the film could've used him more. Argh, I don't know, it's so frustrating. I wish Everett de Roche had done a pass at the script. Or Tony Morphett. Someone who got logic. And I wish a decent director had filmed it - Richard Franklin, say. Or Simon Wincer. What a waste.
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