NEXT OF KIN

Australia, 1982, 89 minutes, Colour.
Jackie Kerin, John Jarratt, Alex Scott, Gerda Nicholson.
Directed by Tony Williams.

Next of Kin is a horror drama with echoes of Jane Eyre, haunted houses and Halloween mad mass murderers. The Victorian atmosphere is well created, there are quite good performances - but the atmosphere of the film is one of slow build-up, with the audience impatient for something to happen. When something does happen, it is alright by horror standards but Dales in comparison with American models. In fact, the film needs to be judged along with the spate of similar
American films in the late 170s - early 180s. As such, it is as good as any other and shows Australian skill in this genre. The film would be better, however, with a clearer screenplay and more momentum in its early part. Direction is by Tony Williams, a New Zealander who made the romantic film Solo (1977).

1. Satisfying horror entertainment? A derivative film in the trend of mass murder horrors? The classic echoes of Jane Eyre? The transferring of the conventions to the Australian countryside?

2. The Victorian setting, the atmosphere of the countryside, the mansion, the town and the garage, the diner? Colour photography and style? The ominous score? The plausibility of the plot with names and dates?

3. The importance of the special effects: the early emphasis on suspense. the variety of frights, the build-up to gore and murders, the explosive ending? Audiences expecting this kind of impact?

4. The focus on Linda and her having to carry the film? The initial information about her mother's death, her grief (and the same image at the end of the film)? The basic situation of the house and her mother's role in it? Linda's having to cope? The explanation of her mother, the locals' response to her? Linda's relationship with the locals, especially at the diner - and relying on them at the end? Relationship with Barney - the lyrical scenes in the woods plus the fight, the party, spending the night with Barney, his helping her at the end and his death? Relying on Connie and her running of the hospital? Dr. Barton - and growing suspicions? The work at the home? Linda's fears? The evening with Lance, the rain, Mrs. Ryan and her arrival? The build-up of atmosphere and detail? Lance and the dead man in the bath? The contrast with the outing with Barney, the woods? The rivalry with Carol? The atmosphere of the night with the lights going off, the overflowing water etc.? Barney's arrival? The puzzle about the past, the accounts, Aunt Rita, the search for the files, the truth? The build-up to the climax with Mrs. Ryan going berserk, the attacks of her son? Fear, deaths? The escape? The sugar wall and the truck bursting into the diner? The final explosion? A credible, if put-upon, heroine?

5. The portrait of the staff? The detail of the running of the home? Connie and her behaviour? Dr. Barton and his lies, suspicions? The build-up to fears? Their deaths?

6. The sketch of the patients? The focus on Lance and his war stories? His finding the corpse in the bath? His having to escape at the end? The other patients and their watching television etc. (and the jokes about television)? The bus outing?

7. Barney as hero: his arrival, the romantic sequence, going to the party with Carol, the phone call and the suspicions, arriving in the middle of the night, the love scene, his getting a lift away, at the firemen's meeting, his going into the house, his death?

8. The proprietor of the local diner and his background, talk? His son? The boy helping Linda at the end?

9. The film's atmosphere and detail - television, advertisements, incidental characters?

10. The importance of the techniques for suspense, shock, disgust? A horror short story - with an adequate momentary effect?