The Grim Cellar

2003, New Zealand, Directed (and written) by Greg Page

Colour, Running Time: 85 minutes

DVD, Region 2, Mosaic, Video: Anamorphic 1.85:1, Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1

A couple of irritating lads head off into the beautiful NZ countryside for a weekend of quality time. Running into two 80s throwback women they’re beckoned to follow them to some hip party but, losing the girls in a playful car-chase, they’re forced to abandon their vehicle when they manage to embed it into a ditch. Going to look for help they come across some solitary house where they witness a murder and, thanks to their inability to remain discreet, they’re spotted by the perpetrator. The film momentarily becomes scary at this point as he (and soon, the other eponymous locals) pursues them.

Relative newcomer, Page, seemed to be attempting to bring a fresh perspective to the genre but as far as I can tell The Locals is a nuts n’ bolts job, with elements of other well known films making up a good percentage of the running time and constituent ideas. It is a reasonably well made piece of work, with competent direction, unusual but functional lighting, average acting, fairly good editing, etc., etc. Nothing really stands out to make it a great film in my eyes due to the fact that it’s largely a Frankenstein job, cinematically speaking. Take a bit of Mutant, Jeepers Creepers, Dead & Buried, 2001 Maniacs, and you have The Locals. Page does manage to make the film come across as a professional piece of work with some good aerial shots and an occasionally effective soundtrack.

DVD image quality is adequate, though the colours seem strangely washed out in some ways. DD5.1 track is bass-heavy and full of surround effects. Extras are quite comprehensive for a small movie, making a good DVD package here in England. The film is worth checking out as I’ve heard others mention that they really like it, but I felt it was a little too average in too many ways.