Directed by Joel Anderson, Starring Rosie Traynor, David Pledger, Martin Sharpe, Talia Zucker. Horror/thriller, Australia, 2008, Approx. 87 minutes.

Release Date TBC.

Set in the small Australian town of Ararat, Australia, in 2005/2006, this film is shot in a factual documentary style, recounting what happens after Alice Palmer (aged 16) disappears one afternoon after an outing swimming in the local dam with her family. Her dead body is eventually found, however a few days after her funeral, the family start hearing strange noises and sounds in their house. A few months later, without any obvious explanation, a faint ghost like image of Alice is found in a photo. As more images are discovered, and assisted by a psychic, the family want to uncover whether Alice may still be alive, or is she a ghost!

The film uses various examples of 'found footage', interplayed with interviews and recollection of events, to explain the story. This all starts with Alice's immediate family (Russell, June and Mathew, her father, mother and brother respectively) explaining the fateful day of 21 December 2005, when Alice went missing, and was subsequently found drowned. The body is identified as Alice by her father.

Shortly after her funeral, a bad feeling starts being experienced in the house. Apart from the noises, June starts having nightmares, and Russell sees a presence of Alice one night in her room. Causing some initial shock to the family (although perhaps explained by grief), a couple of months later, images are found of Alice in a some photos taken after her death. Alice's mum (not having ever seen her dead body), believes that she may still be alive, and her body is exhumed. DNA tests however confirm Alice is indeed dead.

Matthew decides to set up a video camera in the house, and the result is the capture of some footage of an unknown figure walking across the hallway. The family also enlist the help of local psychic, Ray Kemeny, to help try to understand the mysterious happenings. Following a séance and the decision to set up more cameras in the house, the result is that further footage is recorded of images of Alice.

Things take a slightly unexpected turn as we find out the photos/footage may not all be what they seem, however ultimately this leads us to Lake Mungo, where Alice had a school trip a few months before her death, and may have some of the answers the family is seeking.

Whilst this absorbing film will draw some comparison with Paranormal Activity (largely due to the use of the video footage), it needs to be judged on its own merits. Avoiding shock/jump tactics, it presents a slow and effective portrayal of family grief, alongside a story which is both spooky and unsettling as it draws you into Alice’s past, and the subsequent events following her death. Chilling to watch at times, this is a gem of a film, so make sure you check it out before they release the American remake.

Dino Marabese.

This web site is owned and published by London FrightFest Limited.
 © London FrightFest Ltd. 2000-2011
_____________________________________________