I Watch Films: Next Of Kin

 

Next Of Kin

The Montclare estate is a large house in rural Australia, which Linda has inherited after her mother died. It’s been a retirement home for the elderly since she was a child. She’s considering selling it, though it seems an ongoing concern; a new boarder arrives. She’s still trying to make sense of the accounts.

She’s been away and rekindles an old romance with Barney. But weird thing happen. A resident drowns in the bath, from a heart attack apparently, and this triggers old memories. The doctor has been there for years and is keeping secrets. When a long-term employee and the doctor seem to have hidden the causes of death, Linda is afraid and flees to Barney.

The ending turns from psychological horror to violence, chases and a ludicrously over the top confrontation at the end. In between there are some fun bits, possibly closely observed in rural Australia. Short on things to go to for a date, Barney invites Linda to the volunteer bush fire meeting, where the chief is haranguing them, several of the audience are drinking beers and there’s a table of food for the end. I don't see why anyone would make this up, and it feels plausible.

Watch This: For a film that successfully creates a mystery and threat in an unusual setting
Don’t Watch This: The first half of both personal and social weirdness meshes poorly with the slasher ending