The Loved Ones (2009)

Brent (Xavier Samuel) is going to the prom with his girlfriend Holly (Victoria Thaine). When wallflower Lola (Robin McLeavy) asks him to go with her, he politely turns her down. The opening scene and DVD cover set the stage for the brutal torturous scenes that follow.Pot/Metal head Brent has his issues as does the Valentine family which develops later on. Robin McLeavy provides us with some odd passive demented sexuality in a good performance on an old genre.Guide: F-word (in music) sex and nudity (Victoria Thaine)

I recently watched writer/director Sean Byrne's latest film 'The Devil's Candy' and enjoyed it so much I thought I better check out his previous film 'The Loved Ones'. I had no idea going in that it was an Australian film. Australian's have done some very fine horror films in their time, 'Wolf Creek' and its sequel being a couple of my favourites. I did enjoy 'The Loved Ones' but it would be fair to say Byrne had not mastered his art quite yet, nor would you expect him to have in his debut film.The movie is very dark and twisted which I liked very much. Sometimes films like this try not to take them self too seriously, and so they try and add an almost humorous layer into the mix, and it always just comes across terribly. There is none of that here from Byrne. Even though there are certain scenes that are certainly out there (and could even be considered funny in a way) they are never intended that way and the film remains very serious in tone.The acting is a little dubious in places, which hurts the film a substantial amount. The reason for this is because there are some truly great characters here just begging to be given the limelight. I read that John Jarratt (from 'Wolf Creek') turned down a role for fear of being typecast. It's a real shame he had to do that though, because he would have been ideal in this type of role and could have been the icing on the cake for the movie. There is enough originality here to make this a worthy watch though. It's certainly not perfect, but if you go in simply looking for a fun time, you're probably going to have one.

Brent Mitchell kills his father in a car accident after avoiding a bloody guy in the middle of the road. Six months later, he is haunted into a danger-seeking weed-smoking haze. He is attending the school dance with girlfriend Holly and gently turns down the awkward Lola Stone. His schlubby friend Jamie asks out hot girl with attitude Mia Valentine. Lola's father kidnaps Brent. Lola throws a disturbing private End of School Dance in their den with her father and the lobotomized Bright Eyes. Brent's mother Carla and Holly suspect foulplay while Jamie goes out with Mia.It's bloody. It's torture. It's teen melodrama. Robin McLeavy has a great insanity. The story does meander a bit. I'm not sure if Jamie and Mia are that directly connected to the action but their date is a good break from the torture. Overall, it's a good bloody time.

Well, A lot of people hate this film for some reasons like they found Lola (Robin McLeavy) annoying rather than a Psychologically crazy person and they describe the film as "lazy" but I can't help myself to love this film.But there is a minor problem about this film, the subplot between Holly and the goth girl. I don't know about what's the purpose of that subplot but that doesn't ruin the film for me I just can't figure out what's the purpose of the subplot. Also some people found that the film less gory but I think it has enough gore and violence. The atmosphere of the film really works on me too.