The Loved Ones is one of the weirdest most messed up (for lack of better NSFW words) movies I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s a horror film that doesn’t quite fit the common definition of the genre for me but actually affected me more than modern day horror films. From Australian writer/director Sean Byrne, The Loved Ones is about Brent Mitchell (Xavier Samuel), a high school senior tormented with the guilt of his father’s death. He tries to escape the guilt and his emotional mother through drugs and metal music and only has his beautiful girlfriend, Holly (Victoria Thaine), to keep him grounded. It’s time for prom and he knows who he’s going to take but this wouldn’t be a fascinating movie if he made it to prom, right? Instead, Brent is sidetracked by a twisted secret admirer that puts him under a disco ball and gives him his very own prom.
The film is definitely like a train wreck…but in a good way. As each scene gets more intense and horrifying, you just can’t turn away. Even when you do turn away (and trust me, you will), the scenes keep going and you have to watch! But you’ll be happy you did because the way the camera moves and the imagery Bryne uses are wonderful and captivating. The movie is gory, bloody, and persistent…it doesn’t let up until the end credits start to roll. The characters don’t use the everyday weapons of choice we’re used to like axes, chainsaws, or other large sharp objects, but instead it terrorizes us with common everyday items like hammers, power drills, and eating utensils. It’s kind of like a do it yourself guide for homemade psychopathic killers.
I think the title of this film is spot on and quite clever. There are a few different relationships in this movie between mother and son, girlfriend and boyfriend, and a very curious relationship between father and daughter by Robin McLeavy playing Lola and her dad played by John Brumpton. Robin plays her role freakishly well; you can really tell that she had fun with it. Richard Wilson and Jessica McNamee also deliver great performances as Sac and Mia who are our comic relief. Sac is Brent’s friend who asks Mia to the prom. When various characters go through a number of different emotions and situations, you really see who each of them loves and what they would do for them or because of them.
This review doesn’t say much about the plot and characters on purpose because I don’t want to ruin the story for you. This is one of the rare movies where you can go in completely blind and be shocked at what you see. I didn’t get to see this movie at the South By Southwest Film Festival and many other critics told me I missed out and that The Loved Ones was one of the best films showed there. Luckily that’s all they said and didn’t spoil the movie for me. I attended the San Francisco International Film Festival and this film was part of their late night offerings.
I would implore you not to read too many other reviews especially the ones that go deeper into the plot. Did you read some already? Don’t worry, the beginning of the film moves pretty fast and honestly, some of the early surprises are straight forward and not really surprising so hopefully other critics didn’t give up too much information. Don’t see this movie if you’re squeamish…but if you’re up for something different and can find this movie in your area, go see The Loved Ones.
This post is part of our SFIFF coverageFounded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 200 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence.
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