The Loved Ones (2009) REVIEW

The Loved Ones (2009)

Have you ever heard of this Aussie horror flick? I hadn't until my friends put it on the other night and told me that it was pretty intense. That's an understatement! The film is based around a young grungy teenage guy Brent, who all the girls seem to like at this school. He's played by Xavier Samuel, most recognisable from his role a Riley in Twilight Eclipse (if you remember that). 

With prom looming, a young girl named Lola asks him to go with her, she is shy, nerdy and of course he isn't interested. He already has a girlfriend anyway, Holly, who is also into the grungy look. They are inseparable, but she calls him emotionally vacant. When Lola catches the loves right in the act in his car, or rather when she glares through the window directly at them. 

An unsettling tone begins to creep over the film. Lola wants revenge, and when Brent goes missing, Holly realises that something is not right. Lola, along with her even scarier father are sadists, with a basement full of secrets to boot. Brent wakes up to find himself in a pretty stick situation...What follows is pretty stomach churning and eye popping stuff. It's not for the squeamish. 

The gore is heavy and violent. This feels like a dirty indie flick, but there is clearly a decent budget. The cinematography is sleek, clashing completely with the violent content. Top marks to the makeup and effects people too. The performances are also excellent for pretty much unknowns. Samuel is likeable or rather, we pity and route for him, but he stand out here by far is Robin McLeavy who plays the psychotic Lola. Her glee at causing pain and destruction will make your skin crawl. 

Her role must have taken full commitment to go as dark and sinister as it does! She could give Hannibal Lecter a run for his money. Echoes of Carrie are in the film - a girl wronged at the prom who loses her marbles and takes revenge, but that's no bad thing.

 If you want to be entertained, see a truly effective film and feel pretty sickened at the same time, this is a film for you! 8/10