BEDEVIL

Australia, in 1992, 1993, Colour.
Tracey Moffat, Lex Marinos, Ricardo Natoli, Dina Panozzo, Les Foxcroft, Auriel Andrews, Debai Baira, Banula, Jack Charles, Diana Davidson, Pinau Ghee, Patricia Handy.
Directed by Tracey Moffat.

Three very stylised short ghost stories, modelled on Asian film conventions which may bewilder or bedevil those who like them are movies to be straightforward.

Information, incidence in characters are presented publicly.technically, the film is quite arresting, practically all studio-bound to suggest heightened reality/fantasy.

It is a first feature by award-winning aboriginal writer-director, artist Tracey Moffat. She also acts in the second story. an original contribution to Australian cinema.

1. The title, spirits, good and evil? Horror stories in the Australian context? Aboriginal context? What context?

2. Aboriginal stories, linked with white stories, aboriginal characters, moods? The work of the director, as an artist?

3. The visuals, the perspective of the artist, the use of colour, the landscapes, vivid, flashbacks and tones, exteriors and interiors? Special effects? The musical score?

4. The three stories, the cumulative effect, dreams? Conventional stories, differences? Aboriginal perspectives, white perspectives, the interconnection?

5. Mr Chuck: the locations on Bribie Island, the swamps, the homes, the perspective of the children, the flashbacks, the presentation of the ghost? The GI and his story, driving into the quicksand? The malevolent presence? The sense of the presence? The sense of evil? Old Rick, telling the stories, survival?

6. Choo Choo Choo Choo: the Queensland locations, the outback, the isolation? The house, Ruby, flashbacks to the older Ruby? The images of the ghost, the little girl and the tracks, ghostly images? The trains, the rails? The death of the girl, her gaunt presence? The haunting? Ruby going, the return, the contact with the ghost?

7. Lovin’ the Spin I’m In: the story of Imelda, from the Torres Street, her son Bebe, his marriage to Minnie? Leaving home, going to Queensland? Imelda following? The death of the two, the ghosts, uneasy, dancing in the condemned warehouse? The presence?

8. The full impact of experiencing these ghost stories and, especially, the aboriginal presentation?