South Australian film maker Stephen de Villiers has created a visually striking dystopian road film that is gripping to the final conclusion as it twists its way through locations in the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula.
Set in 2036, the country has endured another pandemic that has upset the normal operation of civil society and it has been 3 years, 4 months and 8 days since the birth of a baby has been registered. In this gloom, Mac (Callan Mulvey) operates as an unwilling delivery person for thugs that have captured his sick wife. Mac is forced into one last job before they will release her. At the designated pick up spot he encounters Jimmy (Nicholas Hope) but in the meantime his delivery target, Aliah (Charlotte Maggi) and her baby, have escaped their abductor and they arrive at the same location in the back of a van.
The delivery point is besieged by Aliah’s pursuers, three brothers, Damien (Taylor Wiese), Smiley (Tim Phillipps) and Unit (Joe Romeo). Aliah with her baby hides in Mac’s four wheel drive and flees the brothers but so begins the chase. Along the way Mac and Aliah encounter Tom (Felix Cameron).
Director of Photography, Michael Tessari and de Villiers have captured the film’s location with muted tones to highlight the grim script with the occasional flash of light perhaps as a sign of hope throughout the story. Through that, the beauty of some of the coastal locations still shines. Justin Pounsett’s music also adds tension and continuity through the film. The script, by de Villiers, doesn’t stray too far from other efforts in this genre and is a little disappointing in its sameness to this well trodden dusty ground, although it does keep the audiences’ attention for the film’s duration.
Thankfully delivered with Australian accents, the cast deliver strong performances. Callan Mulvey as the stoic Mac portrays a man with heavy burdens expertly and Charlotte Maggi’s performance is equally excellent. Taylor Wiese, Tim Phillipps and Joe Romeo also deliver strong performances as the menacing brothers. Brilliant young actor, Felix Cameron along with stalwart Nicholas Hope are both superb.
While not extending the genre too much, The Run is a visually appealing film that maintains tension throughout this high-quality, well-executed dystopian thriller.
The Run screens at Wallis Cinemas in Adelaide from 14 – 20 May, and at select Reading Cinemas from 15 – 17 May in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, the Gold Coast and Adelaide.
It is then released to rent or buy from 17 June on Amazon, Apple, YouTube, Google TV, Foxtel, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.
Tickets to the Q & A screening featuring Stephen de Villiers, Taylor Wiese, Tim Phillipps, Joe Romeo and producer Chloe Gardner on Sun 17 May at Wallis Noarlunga in Adelaide are available here.
Reviewed By Rob McKinnon
Rating 4 out 5
Distributor: Rialto Distribution
The Run is a visually appealing film that maintains tension throughout this high-quality, well-executed dystopian thriller.
