The Loved Ones is Sean Byrne‘s first feature film. It stars Xavier Samuel and Robin McLeavy.
Plot:
Brent (Xavier Samuel) is out for a drive with his dad, when suddenly a weird guy stands in the middle of the road. Brent swerves, hits a tree and his dad is killed.
Half a year later, Brent’s life revolves around three things: pot, metal music and his girlfriend Holly (Victoria Thaine). So he’s quite surprised when his school mate Lola (Robin McLeavy) asks him to the school dance. He declines, saying that he wants to go with Holly. But before he can actually go, Brent is kidnapped by Lola and her dad.
The Loved Ones is a very solid, classic horror movie, especially for a first time director. Unfortunately the ending is a little too much. Nevertheless, it’s worth a watch.
Sean Byrne is a talented director [and I’m saying this even though I’m aware that he also worked on The Secret and should therefore be forever shunned]. This was especially apparent in Brent’s and Holly’s relationship, which came completely alive in only a few gestures.
This is of course not only Sean Byrne’s achievement. The cast was generally really good. Xavier Samuel managed to stay away from the ridiculous side of teenage angst and Robin McLeavy was extremely disturbing. And Jessica McNamee (who played a small part) was really impressive, too.
The story is completely bonkers, but good and I loved how Brent got to save himself. There is also a lot of creepiness, gore and general tension as you’d expect and want from a horror movie. Unfortunately, this tension breaks down completely in the last 10 minutes and the film takes a turn for the funny, which was unexpected and in this case unwelcome. [Though I have read a couple of reviews now that the entire film was funny. I can’t agree.]
The soundtrack wasn’t bad either. Especially the song “Am I Not Pretty Enough” by Kasey Chambers is inextricably linked with this film in my head now.
Summarising: A solid debut from a director who should be watched.
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