CARNIFEX

Australia, 2022, 93 minutes, Colour.

Alexandra Park, Sisi Stringer, Harry Greenwood.

Directed by Sean Lahiff.

Carnifex is not a frequently used word. As explained in the screenplay, the executioner in Roman times was called the Czrnifex, and the word extended to killing and meat grinding.

This film was made in the forests of South Australia, with some beautiful photography of the forest, the trees, and the range of animals and birds in the forest. The first hour of the film focuses on three young adults in the forest, one working with video to make a film about the work of the other two, their care for the animals, their knowledge, preservation, setting up cameras through the forest to record animal movement. The three get on well together. Which means that the first part of the film is interesting for those who are concerned about animal conservation.

However, there is an interview with a ranger, rather offhand in his manner, practising his golf while alone. There is also a hunter who is attacked by a mysterious creature.

The last part of the film has the animal menace, the audience aware of the attack on the hunter, the gradual awareness of the creature, suggested rather than seen full on, his attack on the young man of the group, the menace to the two women, their taking refuge in a truck with the dog of the hunter, the crash over a cliff, recovery, a rifle, the destruction of the creature.

For those eager to see animal horror, their patience will be tested because of the first hour with its conservation themes and then the horror is more of suggestion rather than blood and gore. For those interested in animal conservation – with a touch of animal horror, they might identify better with this film.

1. The title? The exclamation? The executioner, ancient Rome? Forest creature? Extension or not?
2. South Australian forest settings, the beauty of the forest, the range of animals and birds, day sequences, night sequences? The musical score?
3. Audiences identifying with the central characters, in their 20s, jobs, video filming, animal protection in the forests, the interview with the ranger, the scene of the Hunter? The drive into the forest, the filming, Bailey and her work, Grace and her knowledge, commentary, Ben and his work, commentary? The bonds between the three?
4. The aftermath of the vast forest fire, the fire during the credits, the scenes of the destroyed forest? The cameras in the forest, alerted by movement and sound, the group checking on the cameras, watching the filming?
5. The bulk of the film with its conservation and animal preservation theme? The suggestion of menace? The hunter, his dog, the attack and his death?
6. The night, the discovery of the claws, the creature climbing trees, meat eating, destructive? Ben and his explanations?
7. The attack, Ben, defending himself, death?
8. Grace, falling down the cliff, talking with Ben, climbing, to the truck, meeting up with Bailey? The dog?
9. Bailey, filming, the menace, the dog, going to the truck? With Grace, driving, going down the cliff, the menace? The rifle? Waiting, shooting the creature?
10. The end, emerging from the forest? The combination of conservation and animal menace?