BETTER WATCH OUT
Australia/US, 2016, 89 minutes, Colour.
Olivia De Jonge, Levi Miller, Ed Oxenbould, Alex Mikic, Dacre Montgomery, Patrick Warburton, Virginia Madsen.
Directed by Chris Peckover.
You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Yes, this is a Christmas film but it is best to note only the first line of the lyrics because Santa Claus is definitely not coming to town here.
This is a film which will appeal almost solely to horror fans. Others can just merely note this review. And, for horror fans, a warning to give this film 10 minutes, at least, because it focuses on two 12 year olds having puberty -like conversations which may seem something of a turnoff. Then there is a twist. But, this also might sound like familiar material, an intruder in the house. But, give the film another 10 minutes and there is more than a twist!
The film was the work of an American director and an American writer. However, apart from some street scenes, an American Street with Christmas decorations and snow, the film was actually made in Sydney. And, apart from Patrick Warburton and Virginia Madsen who have cameos at the beginning and end of the film as the central character’s parents, the five key roles are played by Australians, honing their American accents.
At the centre is the rather shy, sometimes awkward, Luke. He is played very effectively by Levi Miller who was Peter in Pan and then made this film before he appeared in Red Dog, True Blue as well as Jasper Jones. His performance in this film will be a substantial contribution to his CV. His best friend, Garrett, is played by Ed Oxenbould who was central to the fine children’s film, Paper Planes, but knows how to do an American accent from his roles in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible Day, No Good, Very Bad Day and In M. Night Shyamalan’s eerie film, The Visit.
Co-starring in The Visit was Olivia De Jonge who plays Luke’s babysitter, Ashley. She has a boyfriend, Ricky, Alex Mikic, who turns up during the night while she is babysitting as well as Jeremy, Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) who also comes to visit.
It is Christmas so there are lots of American Street decorations, many Santa Claus figures who appear momentarily menacing and Carol singers at the door with their repertoire.
It is what happens indoors (as well as a grim scene in the backyard) that is what will intrigue audiences. Unless the audience is skilled in pre-guessing outcomes, they will be rather surprised at all that happens inside, getting more gruesome as the film goes on, some uncontrolled psychopathic behaviour which becomes more and more unpredictable.
In fact, we see a portrait here of an ultra-psychopathic psychopath.
Probably best not to say anything more about the plot. It can be said that the performances of the young actors are better than one might expect. The plot is eerie and should make something of a hit with all but the most jaded horror fans.
1. A Christmas horror story? The title, the song – but Santa Claus not coming to town? Variation on Christmas horror themes?
2. The American setting, the locations streets, the filming of the interiors in Australia? The Australian cast? The American parents? American director and writer?
3. The setting, the American home, the street, the decorations? The house and the interiors, downstairs and upstairs, the attic? The grounds? The musical score – and the Christmas songs, the Christmas carols for atmosphere?
4. The introduction to Luke and Garrett? Age 12, almost 13? The evening, the bedroom and their discussions, the talk about Ashley, the sexual talk? Innuendo? Young age, puberty – but suggestions of something more?
5. The parents, the blunt talk, the wife and her criticisms, some gay behaviour, criticisms of ties, the relationship with Luke, protective, his sleepwalking? Ashley arriving, the babysitter? Leaving for the night out? The return home, the shock, protective of Luke? And the potential for shock afterwards?
6. Ashley, age, in plans for leaving the city, her relationship with Ricky, the past with Jeremy? Friendship with Luke in babysitting him in the past? Preparing for the evening? Her phone calls? The television on, horror films? Garrett, his going home?
7. Luke and Garrett, their friendship, the story of the hamster, the deliberate killing and the lies? Luke and Garrett, their chatter? Garrett going? Luke, his drinking the champagne, indications of something more with him? Ashley’s reaction, her drinking, the deal about not telling? Watching the horror film? Luke snuggling, the attempted kiss, Ashley’s reaction? The discussions about the past, Ricky and Jeremy?
8. Ashley, the spider and her being scared? The moving of the Santa outside? The pizza man arriving? Hearing sounds in the house?
9. The burglar in the house, masked, the fears, going upstairs, hiding, the pursuit, the torch? Going into the attic, Ashley falling on the stairs? Luke and his getting his father’s gun? Ashley defying the burglar – and it being Garrett? Luke and Garrett planning this, to frighten Ashley, the amorous intentions? Garrett going outside, the tripwire?
10. Ashley and the interactions with Luke? Luke gradually unmasking? Garrett coming back? The plans, the intentions? Garrett and his being manipulated, Ashley telling him? The death of the hamster? Garrett and his doing Luke’s will?
11. Ricky arriving, bravado, coming in, searching for Ashley, Luke with the baseball bat? Blood? Tying him up? Tying Ashley up? The duct tape? On and off? The swinging box? Ricky in its aim? His death? The shock for Ashley, for Garrett?
12. The phone call to Jeremy, his arriving, outside, Luke forcing him to write the note about his love and repentance? The noose, hanging him? Covering up with the tractor, a suicide – leaving the note and later putting the rifle there?
13. Ashley, getting free, urging Garrett to the truth? His fears, being found out, prison? Confronting Luke, Luke killing him?
14. Ashley, the attempted escape, the tripwire is, the Carol singers not seeing her, Luke catching her, tying her up with the Christmas lights? His vengeful attitude, the knife and stabbing her?
15. Tidying everything up, the blood, the hanging, the timing and the reindeer slipping on the roof, falling? Returning the gun? Getting back into bed, the sound of the ocean? His parents arguing, the screen, his lying in bed, his mother comforting him?
16. Ashley, his asking to go to hospital – then hearing that she was alive, and her giving him the finger as she was put in the ambulance?
17. Luke, ultra-psychopathic psychopath? His future?
