Acolytes is a hard-edged, stylish horror film from Australia that cleverly plays with genre formulas. In this film, a trio of teens, including two boys and a girl, stumble across what they believe to be the resolution of a classmate's disappearance. An ex-convict and a strange fellow in a S.U.V. are part of the story the kids weave to explain the mystery. Instead of talking to the police, however, the boys naively try to leverage the situation to their own advantage. As the scheme inevitably falls apart, perceptions of who are the antagonists and protagonists shift until almost all of the characters are compromised.
Acolytes is directed in a somewhat stylized fashion as evidenced by the use of pop and rock music to frame the emotion of the characters. Underneath the film's slick veneer is a tough core that keeps punching through the surface like a clenched fist. Acolytes is not driven by set pieces but by a plot that seems atypically involved for a modern horror film. The narrative follows what seems to be familiar paths but as the film progresses, multiple layers are revealed. In fact, so many layers are revealed that the film eventually begins to walk a thin line between clever and convoluted. The relationship between the boys and girl forming the love triangle keeps the film together, though. The viewer who keeps an eye on the dynamics of this relationship will be able to smoothly sail through the voluminous twists and turns. The macro-level resolution of the various plot threads in Acolytes is handled in a satisfying way. The ending throws out a few quick twists that dwell a little too much in genre cliches but this is a minor complaint. Acolytes is a smart, technically accomplished work that doesn't hold back.
Related Links
More from Acolytes
- Reviews: Hewitt's Acolytes review
- Mastheads: Acolytes
- Mastheads: Acolytes
- Mastheads: Acolytes
- Reviews: TIFF Review: ACOLYTES
Both reviews and the trailer have me intrigued. Seems there have been quite a few high quality genre benders making the festival rounds this year... Acolytes, deadgirl, the love/hate fests of Martyrs and Vinyan.
Curious how Acolytes stacks up with some of the Aussie/NZ fare like Kiss or Kill, the Interview, Out of the Blue, Vicious, etc.
Despite good reviews out of TIFF and a second place prize in the Fantastic Fest horror category, Acolytes is probably not getting the attention it deserves. Thus, I encourage anybody whose interest is piqued by the reviews and information on this site to seek it out at a festival or when it hits DVD.
Haven't seen the AUS/NZ stuff you mentioned but I look forward to seeing more stuff like this coming out of the region.