As far as Aussie flicks go, you would be hard pressed to go past Peter Weir's brilliant Picnic at hanging rock.
The premise is simple: We are led to believe that four girls in the early nineteen hundreds, after going for a trek through hanging rock, have simply disappeared. It is only in the first thirty minutes that that the 'horror' part of the movie is established, with the majority of the film focusing on the mystery of the girls disappearance.
As an achievement, 'Picnic' has so much going for it. Weir manages to create something truly eery through what is never seen. Interwoven in the main 'horror' plot is some magnificent drama, mystery elements, and a fantastic look at how Australian culture was in those days. And the brilliant score, mainly using piano and wind pipes, perfectly complements the story, which can be frightening, incredibly touching, and funny. Possibly the finest film to come out of Australia, and still Weir's best.
The premise is simple: We are led to believe that four girls in the early nineteen hundreds, after going for a trek through hanging rock, have simply disappeared. It is only in the first thirty minutes that that the 'horror' part of the movie is established, with the majority of the film focusing on the mystery of the girls disappearance.
As an achievement, 'Picnic' has so much going for it. Weir manages to create something truly eery through what is never seen. Interwoven in the main 'horror' plot is some magnificent drama, mystery elements, and a fantastic look at how Australian culture was in those days. And the brilliant score, mainly using piano and wind pipes, perfectly complements the story, which can be frightening, incredibly touching, and funny. Possibly the finest film to come out of Australia, and still Weir's best.