Too much of everything

I'll tell you why so serious

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

A student catches a man burying something in the woods and he seeks two of his friends who also make a couple to go there and dig out. In town a young girl has been missing and the kids believe that it's a possibility that indeed Tanya is buried over there and the cruel truth make their assumptions to be real. Fortunately, one of the boys manage to take a closer look at the killer's car so he decide to go after him and deliver to the police. Of course this will not be easy because in their way stand a man that wants to take revenge on the kids and they make the ultimate choice in order to get rid of the obstacle that stands between them. Will they succeed? The first 20 minutes are good, the action and the story keep the audience focused even through the middle of the movie but the last 30 minutes becomes dull and the story begins to get complicated towards the simple plot that has been at the start.An OK movie not a masterpiece but not the kind that you should neglect.

Wow I am just loving films from this country over the last decade that started with Wolf Creek. So buckle yourself up and get ready for a twisty, gutsy, gory and entralling thriller from down under that will have you head spinning to New Zealand. This was a film that could've been 3 hours long and I would've still wanted more. This film will never hit the house waves considering it has visited the filmfest circuit for years and just now has displayed its insidious roots to DVD. I believe the film was made in 2008 and just saw the light of day of DVD in 2011. What a shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! because there are a plethora of great directors and films waiting but its too bad that they will lurk in the Panumbra and never see the eclipse...

Jon Hewitt's little Aussie horror / thriller 'Acolytes' had a strong base to work with as it focused on two teenage boys Mark and James who were physically abused when youngsters by a psychotic bully, Gary and he still happens to be on the scene. By chance Mark discovers a fresh grave in the woods and witnesses the culprit leaving in their 4WD. Thinking maybe its drugs or cash. Himself, James and his girlfriend Chasely head back the next day to unearth it, but discover a body. Still wanting revenge on Gary, they decide to find the whereabouts of the serial killer and secretly blackmail them into killing Gary, or they'll go to the cops. The opportunity might be worth the risk, but they soon find out it won't be all that easy.Director Hewitt sets up a deceitfully macabre and hauntingly slick serial killer film… well the serial killer element can almost be seen as the tool for the story's progression because the central piece could be labelled more so the relationship between the three broodingly angst, but damaged teenagers who really succumb to a lack judgement. The sound idea is made up of many possibilities, but the ambitious narrative does become a bit of jumble losing shape with its jaded editing techniques and jerky flashback sequences. I was getting a little confused with the incoherent shifts in the story's developments, but soon after the film had finished the pieces did eventually come together, despite the contrived occurrences for these things to actually work. It's visually atmospheric style was very similar of the enigmatically uncanny 2003 Australian horror 'Lost Things'. Just like that film, the pacing is purposely slow-going (too casual or artsy for some) and keeping a downbeat frown throughout, but remains psychologically gripping with its metaphorical undercurrents and pessimistic tone. After the ponderous set-up, it storms up moments of suspense and explicit brutality, by transcending in to a game of survival when those who thought they were in control find out they bit off more than what they could chew… or did they? When it erupts there's a real dark edge leading to a dangerously murderous impulse revealing a little more than we first thought. While it's not a perfect balance and feels rushed, it's intriguing to how it eventually goes on to play out. Nonetheless watching the two alternative endings on the DVD, I actually preferred those two takes over the original theatrical choice.The dialogues are fairly sparse and if so quite straight forward, with it concentrating on its moody styling to invoke the emotional pull. Truthfully most of the characters that enter the frame (the main players) isn't particularly likable and can be said to be unpleasant or obnoxious. This however doesn't hamper any of the performances. Sebastian Gregory, Joshua Payne and Hanna Mangan-Lawrence provide good, honest portrayals of the teenagers who find they are in over their heads. Joel Edgerton emits a plausible intensity and uneasiness from his casually creepy facade as the suburban serial killer. Michael Dorman gives a capable turn as the crazily violent bully.Rich locations (filmed in Queensland) are made to great use, where the authentically stunning backdrops have the outskirts of suburbia intrusively entering the forlorn wilderness. Hewitt really does cement a constant eeriness to when the scenes hit the chilling woodlands because of the clinically sharp photography (as there's plenty of excellent imagery captured) and distinctively howling score. However there are some generic inclusions involving unnerving sound effects and clichéd jump scares.

I Would have to disagree strongly with the previous lame comment. I watched this not expecting too much from it. The Fact is that the cast were superb, Especially The lead Teen Female. The dark sides of them all came through, all were messed up in an not obvious way. There was an underlying current which ran through the movie of teenage angst and sexuality. The serial killer role was played well also as you could feel he had gone through what they had as children. What this movie is, is a strong drama/thriller. Yes I would agree they don't do the obvious, but you could relate with the messed up teenage heads they did what they did and it is believable. Also a decent dark ending, instead of which could have so easily been an opt out happy one. The attention to detail in the movie was fantastic also. I very good solid 7 out of 10. A little slow at times, but lets a thinking person see where the characters are coming from.