Phil's Halloween Horrors Marathon, Day 20: Phil reviews THE LOVED ONES (2009) DVD from Paramount Pictures-Oct. 21, 2012

THE LOVED ONES DVD Cover (2012)

THE LOVED ONES
Starring Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeavy, John Brumpton, Victoria Thaine, Richard Wilson, Jessica McNamee
Produced by Mark Lazarus and Michael Boughen
Written and Directed by Sean Byrne
An Ambience Entertainment Production
Released by Paramount Pictures

Hello again everybody and welcome to Day Twenty of my Halloween Horrors Marathon! Today's film comes to us from Australia! Now our friends from Down Under have making genre films for years. During this time they've exported some very cool horror films such as PATRICK, RAZORBACK, and THE HOWLING III: THE MARSUPIALS. Then for some reason it became quiet. Too quiet. However that silence was shattered in 2005 with the release of WOLF CREEK, which shocked and terrified movie goers here in the states. Soon a new crop of filmmakers rose up and began breathing new life in the horror genre. Films like PIGHUNT and THE REEF carry on this time honored tradition of genre filmmaking that began decades ago. The newest film to arrive here in America is THE LOVED ONES, which is one helluva roller coaster ride the likes of which I wasn't expecting. But I did have fun on this ride!

The film's about a young man named Brent (Samuel) who is going to the from with his beautiful girlfriend Holly (Thaine). But when he turns down a prom invite from the school's shy girl Lola (McLeavy), she punishes him and a disturbing series of events unfolds for poor Brent that even he could not have imagined.

Theatrical Movie poster (2009)

Good lord was this an awesome film! It poses the question, "What if John Hughes made a teen horror film?" Well this film answers that question in spades! The film starts off with great promise: interesting characters, raging teen hormones and angst, pot smoking, pink satin, glitter, syringes, nails, power drills and a secret admirer. Nothing can prepare you for the horrors that is being an Australian teenager!

Lola is one of the greatest female villains in horror film history. Not since Carrie White have we've seen such a beautiful and deeply disturbed female within the genre. Actress Robin McLeavy is one talented actress who brought so much depth and terror to her role of Lola. An outstanding and riviting performance! Her acting alone is worth checking out the film!

The film was made in 2009 and was released in Australia by Madman Entertainment. It toured the film festival circuit for years thereafter. Then in 2012, the folks from Paramount Pictures finally released the film here in the states on DVD. Bonus features include interviews with Robin McLeavy, Xavier Samuel and special special effects makeup supervisor Justin Dix as well as the film's trailer.

THE LOVED ONES is one of the finest, most enjoyable and original movies the genre has seen in years. The film is destined to live on as a cult classic, hopefully as a midnight movie. 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

THE LOVED ONES is currently available on DVD and can be purchased at your local retailer or at the Amazon website.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!