The Tunnel
Paramount
R4 DVD
Low
budget seems to be the way to go for horror these days; it seems to get the
creative juices running and offers us films that are innovative and sometimes
quite terrifying. The Tunnel is such a
film, an Australian original; the producers used a website to sell frames of
the film to get the $135,000 budget. It is quite amazing what they have been
able to do with such limited funding. The film has a local cast including Andy
Rodoreda, Bel Delia, Steve Davis and Luke Arnold and was directed by Carlo
Ledesma.
The
film uses standard cinematography, handheld and atmosphere shots to very great
effect, the use of darkness, shadows and the cramped size of the underground
location also works to exceptional effect. The pseudo-documentary style using
supposed original footage, cam shots and government and official recordings add
to the sense of reality the film creates. When you add to this a superb
soundtrack you have a cracking horror film.
The
character development is also solid, exploring the interactions between members
of a news crew as they work to find the ultimate story. Natasha Warner is a
reporter on the edge; his career hangs on finding just the right story to make
her name. She finds herself reporting on a proposal to use underground water
supplies located under Sydney’s CBD and then notes that the government drops
the whole proposal without explanation. Any enquiry is stonewalled.
She
investigates further and begins to hear rumours of homeless people vanishing in
the tunnels and access being denied to any reporters. She convinces a crew she
had the bosses permission and the right permits to go down to investigate. As
they explore this vast underground domain something seems to be watching them;
they hear strange sounds and notice movements in the darkness. When Tangles,
the soundman goes missing, they realize they are being hunted and will have to
fight for their lives to survive. The creature is superb especially considering
you cannot really tell what it is, you get a flash here, a shadow there and
your imagination does the rest. The blood splatters, eyes on the floor of its
nest and watery feeding ground all help create a superbly suspenseful sense of
an otherworldly monster but it is not reduce to some silly CGI creation. The
hunt through the tunnels is very well done creating a constant sense of dread
and many edge of your seat moments.
Transmission
Films and Paramount Home Entertainment Australia will release The Tunnel on May
19 as a two-disc edition with over two hours of exclusive DVD features
including an alternate ending, a behind-the-scenes documentary and other
featurettes.
This
is indie filmmaking at its best, low budget yet far more satisfying that horror
films with ten times the funding. I most highly recommend it.
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