Acolytes Review
New Wave French horror meets stylized Australian exploitation in Acolytes, an unpredictable and effective thriller elevated by some exceptional cinematography and a clever script. Tantalizingly deliberate and unapologetically grim, it begins like a typical teen serial killer flick, and gradually morphs into something far more insidious.
Take three disaffected teens, a volatile bully, and a serial killer, throw them together in the Australian suburbs, and something nasty is bound to happen. James (Joshua Payne), Chasely (Hanna Mangan Lawrence), and Mark (Sebastian Gregory) are your typical bored teenagers. They've got an ongoing feud with heavily tattooed hooligan Gary (Michael Dorman), and that already-strained relationship takes a particularly ominous turn when the three teens discover the identity of a local serial killer and attempt to blackmail him into killing their tormentor. But Ian (Joel Edgerton) isn't the kind of killer you want to mess with -- even if you think you've got the upper hand -- and before long, their little game has taken on a malevolent life of its own.
From the gorgeous opening shot of a girl silhouetted in sunlight, it's obvious that there's some real talent working behind the scenes here. Fortunately for thriller fans, that talent extends beyond cinematographer Mark Pugh to include screenwriters Shayne Armstrong and Shane Krause, as well. Armstrong and Krause know the tropes of the genre inside and out, which allows them to effortlessly invert them and create something truly unique. While at times this has the effect of making the film seem somewhat convoluted, Acolytes requires a certain amount of patience and trust on behalf of the viewer. Those willing to put their faith in the filmmakers are rewarded with a vicious little story that skillfully skirts the line between thriller and horror. Clever editing and a chilling performance by Edgerton (looking like the clammy-skinned love child of Bryan Cranston and Jeffrey Dahmer) help to maintain some dark momentum during the occasional lull, making Acolytes the kind of deeply sinister, blackly cynical indie thriller that gingerly works its way under your skin while creeping toward a deliciously desolate climax. Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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