Acolytes
Anybody who has been harshly critical of Jon Hewitt’s previous work (often dismissed as tasteless and even worthless), should take a look at Acolytes.
To Hewitt’s credit, he has always made the films he wanted to make, even when they weren’t broadly popular, and the influence of B-grade action films from Hong Kong, and genre films in general have been obvious.
However, Acolytes is not your typicial “strip’n’slash” teen horror flick. And while there is some abidance by the codes of horror films (eg teens having sex must die), there is also a pleasing amount of dramatic intrigue: in essence, this a good story, told well.
But most striking is the stunning visual style of this film. Many shots are breathtaking, and worth pausing the film during a second viewing to appreciate fully.
The location of the film: crisp, clean suburbia flanked by a graffiti- concrete underpass, and desolate woods (all within walking distance), help to convey the feeling that while we may feel safe in our lovely designer homes, danger is always lurking nearby. In other words, it’s deliciously unsettling.
Acolytes the co-winner of the Best Australian Film award in last year’s Melbourne Underground Film Festival, is stylish and suspenseful entertainment.