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100 Bloody Acres

Historically, Australia hasn't been a huge producer of horror. Were you to catalog their film offerings, they'd fall more into that post apocalyptic, punk-rock, dystopian bucket. I remain unsurprised that such an empty, harsh place would have a soft spot in its heart for a wasteland of a world. What is actually kind of strange is that a place so full of poisonous and deadly wildlife has yet to really throw their hat into the killer creature ring. The horror that does come out of Australia is typically populated by human killers of the psychotic variety.

Were you to ask me, I never would have expected a Tucker and Dale VS Evil caliber horror comedy to come roaring out of Australia. Yet it happened. 100 Bloody Acres is equal parts hilarious and gruesome. While Tucker and Dale plays heavily off the established stereotypes of the horror genre, 100 Bloody Acres finds pleasure in poking fun at our obsession with "free range" and "organic," in the perils of owning a small business, in sibling rivalry, and in our sometimes inexplicable choices in mates.

Here's the gist

Two Australian hillbilly brothers own an organic fertilizer company. When they start adding humans into the mix, things start to go awry for them. Brother turns against brother while love blossoms between one sibling and a potential victim. Some people die, some people fall in love, and the fertilizer business may or may not succeed. Either way, there are plenty of laughs to be had. Coming in at just about 90 minutes, the story manages not to drag and not to get too absurd before plopping you at a strangely emotional climax.

...have I just used "coming" and "climax" in the same sentence? 12 year old me can't stop snickering...but that awful sex scene might be enough of a buzzkill to sober anyone up...

The fact that everything about this movie is very good is almost outshined by Damon Herriman's performance. He may not be a beautiful man to look at BUT GOD DAMN he is an incredible (versatile) actor who plays "dumb hillbilly" so well I sometimes forget that ISN'T who he really is.

The fact that you've probably seen him on American television has set you (like myself) up for the immense surprise that he really is Australian. Mind = blown.

Watch this one for a good laugh paired with a healthy splash of bloody violence.

You can catch the 100 Bloody Acres trailer here:
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