I don't know what they have in the water down under, but chances are if you're watching an indie film that shocks you, arrests you, and amazes you with its innovation, at least over the past five years or so, it's come from Australia. From "Wolf Creek" to "Envy" to "The Square," one thing these films don't do is bore you with what you've already seen before. Props to the Australian Film Commission for backing such ballsy work.
"Alexandra's Project" begins with a nicely ominous tracking shot of a suburban neighborhood, eerily offset by Graham Tardif's dark ambient film score. You know something's not quite right with either bored suburban mom Alexandra (a fearless performance by Helen Buday) or her self-absorbed businessman/husband Steve (Gary Sweet) as he sets off for work on his birthday.
He plans to come home, share the fabulous news of his promotion with his wife and kids and instead...finds a vacant house with no power...except to the TV and VCR on which his wife has videotaped his birthday "present." To say more would be unfair, as this movie should be experienced with no expectations from the plot whatsoever...and trust me, you'll not expect what happens. It's sick, twisted, and yet oddly poetic in its justice.
The best way to summarize it would be that it's an extension of the Peter Gallagher Watching the Tape scene from Soderbergh's 1989 indie classic "sex, lies, and videotape." It shares a lot of sensibility with that film and much of its inherent power.
If you enjoy (way) offbeat thrillers and indie cinema in general, this one's a keeper.
"Alexandra's Project" begins with a nicely ominous tracking shot of a suburban neighborhood, eerily offset by Graham Tardif's dark ambient film score. You know something's not quite right with either bored suburban mom Alexandra (a fearless performance by Helen Buday) or her self-absorbed businessman/husband Steve (Gary Sweet) as he sets off for work on his birthday.
He plans to come home, share the fabulous news of his promotion with his wife and kids and instead...finds a vacant house with no power...except to the TV and VCR on which his wife has videotaped his birthday "present." To say more would be unfair, as this movie should be experienced with no expectations from the plot whatsoever...and trust me, you'll not expect what happens. It's sick, twisted, and yet oddly poetic in its justice.
The best way to summarize it would be that it's an extension of the Peter Gallagher Watching the Tape scene from Soderbergh's 1989 indie classic "sex, lies, and videotape." It shares a lot of sensibility with that film and much of its inherent power.
If you enjoy (way) offbeat thrillers and indie cinema in general, this one's a keeper.