SWERVE

‘Swerve’ has all the hallmarks of a noir thriller, with the added spice of some seriously dark humour. However what sets this film apart is all these elements have now been planted in the vast, dusty Australian outback. The expansive setting juxtaposes the characters feelings of being trapped in life, and now due to their precarious situation, trapped within this small “no one can hear you scream” town.

Are the dead really dead? Are the bad guys really bad? And can the people you trust really be trusted? Suspicion is the key to this film - in fact, any film of this genre. Lahiff has very intelligently constructed one hell of a fun and thrilling ride, with twist and turns at every corner, expertly polished into submission. The story and its players are laid out beautifully in the first 15 minutes allowing the film to get right into the guts of it, and that’s when the smart, sexy fun times roll.

Each character has their own motivation and while the film is told in a linear fashion, it’s their past that plays the biggest role, giving each of their stories weight and not simply the quest for superficial riches.

This film, like most Australian releases these days, deserves an audience. So quick! Go see it before some mind-numbing Hollywood babble takes its place. The downside? After last year's ‘Red Dog’ produced such solid efforts to bring people back to the outback after the damage ‘Wolf Creek’ caused, ‘Swerve’ has sent them right back to the beginning.