Gotta pimp this gnarly Aussie nugget!
It hits American theaters this week!

Just a limited run, but this movie surprised and tickled me.
Check it out!

E.D.

I enjoyed this one, although it's been a long time since I've seen it.  As Andrew points out, it definitely doesn't f*** around.  From the torture stock, but not unpleasantly so.  Well-balanced and with an excellent villain.  

A good little Aussie movie this one, I was pleasantly surprised but I watched it early last year.

It's only now it's opening in American cinema's. Jeez, took a while. Why has it taken so long I wonder?

Quoted from CoopBazinga It's only now it's opening in American cinema's. Jeez, took a while. Why has it taken so long I wonder?

The film hit the festival circuit in 2009.
Got picked up in Australia in 2010.
Paramount Insurge picked it up in the spring via a distribution deal.
That's the "Devil Inside" spawning new division of the studio.
They're going with exclusive screenings later this month.
You have to sing up and agree to pay if they get enough people to attend.
http://www.thelovedonesmovie.com/

Regards,
E.D.

How in the world did I miss this thread and movie for so long?  Unreal.  Someone suggested this awhile back (Michael Alexander?) and I put it into my Netflix que.  Damn, am I happy I did!

What an excellent movie!  Seriously, just so well done on so many levels.  My eyes were wide open the entire runtime and I had literally no idea what was going to happen next or where this was going to turn.

Performances were universally fantastic, IMO.  My hat's off to Robin McLeavy as Lola  What a wickedly wonderful job she did here!  Even Xavier Samuel as Brent rocked it out.

Obviously, this movie is not for everyone but for those who are into this kind of ride, you're not going to find much better at any budget level.

Actually, pretty much every single character here had real character.  I cared about everyone in some way.  I also remember them and that's saying alot.

The plot and story is a twisty, turny crazy ride that is very difficult to pull off.  Writer/Director Sean Byrne not only pulls it off, he does it with style and glee.  IMO, this is quite scary at times and although there is a underlying vibe of humor or black comedy, it plays itself straight and when the "pit" doors open, I was both scared and wondering, "What the fuck's down there?"

Like everything, tyhis isn't perfect.  For starters, I hate the title and think that's actually a reason why I missed this all these years.  I don't even see how it really relates to the movie.  The runtime is far too short at 85 minutes or so, and the side plot with Mia and Jaime doesn't go anywhere, so it comes off as padding.  BUT, the side plot could have gone somewhere and that's why it's not a waste, and it was also rather interesting and funny.  Byrne chose to lead us astray here, I think, and overall, it worked.  The other major issue is the opening with the one that got away.  Doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but then again, in this type of movie, does it really matter?  Not too much.

For some reason, I saw 3 movies yesterday, including Evil Dead at the theater.  You now what?  This one is the one I'll remember and this one is the one I enjoyed the most.  Actually, it's not even a close competition.

This movie needs more love!  Give it a chance and I doubt you'll be sorry.

KICKASS FLICK!!!!!

I could've sworn I posted a response to this. Apparently not.

Anyway, I ended up seeing this a while back and thought it totally sucked. I think Sean Byrne had some interesting ideas out the gate but the film itself is dumb as bricks, not to mention totally generic and boring. I DO agree that Robin McLeavy's performance is truly sick to the point that I think it's dooped a lot of people into thinking the film as a whole is good (not pointing any fingers) but I just wasn't sold.

To be fair, I think maybe this kinda stuff just don't do it for me the way it used to. Still, for what it's supposed to be, it's nothing I haven't seen before and showed up too late in the game for that to be okay.

Quoted from Dreamscale This movie needs more love!  Give it a chance and I doubt you'll be sorry. KICKASS FLICK!!!!!

Now you know why I started the thread, brother.
Paramount bought the U.S. rights.
But they never mounted an effective marketing campaign.
They even tried that Paranormal Activity thing. DEMAND IT. Zilch.
Went to a test screening in Long Beach, it was a ghost town.
I was was sincerely bummed.
Hope Paramount pulls the wax out of their ears and releases it here someday.

E.D.

Quoted from James McClung I could've sworn I posted a response to this. Apparently not. Anyway, I ended up seeing this a while back and thought it totally sucked. I think Sean Byrne had some interesting ideas out the gate but the film itself is dumb as bricks, not to mention totally generic and boring. I DO agree that Robin McLeavy's performance is truly sick to the point that I think it's dooped a lot of people into thinking the film as a whole is good (not pointing any fingers) but I just wasn't sold. To be fair, I think maybe this kinda stuff just don't do it for me the way it used to. Still, for what it's supposed to be, it's nothing I haven't seen before and showed up too late in the game for that to be okay.

James,

I agree with you, to a point.
But I'll gladly overlook glaring flaws for a villain I can't take my eyes off of.
And Lola does that for me in spades.
That I thought Xavier Samuel really availed himself well in the film.
He's window dressing support in the Twilight series.
But for some reason never caught on like the rest of the wooden cast.

And once I learned to stop worrying and love Lola...
The rest of the debut blues kinda didn't matter to me.

E.D.

I agree, Brett.  Exactly.

For me, just the way it meandered along at first, yet showed real character to everyone intro'd impressed me almost immediately.  Then, we get the rock climbing scene, which was actually handled very effectively.  Came off completely real.  LOVED IT!

Once Princess Lola came to life, I was on the hook completely and looking forward to wherever the ride was going to take me.

Even "Daddy" came away successfully.  He was funny, odd, scary, and believable, all in one.

Hell, when Lola said she was off to kill the Mom and the girlfriend, I was actually concerned for the Mom, as even her small part was well played.

I call it a real attention to detail in the writing and planning on Byrd's part.  Seriously....when you really take the time and effort to make things matter and come off real, it shows in the finished work.  It really does.

Surprised so few know of this excellent Aussie flick.  RT loves it, which is very impressive to see.

See, I thought Lola was a stupid character so all I got was glaring flaws. I read one or two interviews for the film and thought the idea behind Lola was actually pretty intriguing but failed in the film because the director was more interested in blood and torture than plausible psychology.

Hey...

When did Balt become a guest user?

Just noticed that at the beggining of this thread.

Not to derail it, but has anyone heard from him sense last years PAGE...

Shawn.....><

Led, I saw a pic of you and him eating a cob of corn together...you looked like you were both very happy.

Guilty as charged brother.

Nothing can escape your eagle eye...

Oh, by the way...

How's the sex reassignment change going?

I heard that just two more operations and you'll be a real man...

Shawn.....><

Quoted from Ledbetter How's the sex reassignment change going? I heard that just two more operations and you'll be a real man... Shawn.....><

No, bro.  1 more and I'll be a real BITCH!!!!  

I was buying All The Boys Love Mandy Lane like two years ago on Amazon because I fucking love that movie and this DVD was at the bottom in one of those "We a think You Would Also Love..." lists.

So I bought it.

And loved it.

A great movie.  Great acting all around.

Disturbingly beautiful cinematography too, seriously, watch it!  It looks both gross and beautiful and sparkly in a great way!