This film is based around a true story and the factual novel Manhunt - the story of Stanley Graham. One of the better things about this movie is the lack of sensationalism. Usually in stories of similar content the writers or director choose one standpoint from which to tell the tale. Here though, the writers, Andrew Brown & Harrold Willis, along with the director, Mike Newell, have decided in neutrality. This gives the viewer full control over what they choose to believe.
Newell chooses to keep the pace steady and even. This works well with the concept of setting the facts before the audience. It allows them to have time to consider what's happening in the story and to draw their own conclusions. This is one of the types of movies I prefer. One that wants and requires audience participation. There's nothing new or exciting about the camera work or the direction. Though, Newell does give his public some nice iconic shots to keep their interest.
As for the story, Brown and Wills give the audience a straight-forward facts based tale of a mentally confused man... or was he?
For some reason, during World War II the New Zealand government sequestered fire-arms. Farmer, Stanley Graham, will not give up his rifle. I have to admit the law appears strange. If you were in the National Guard you could keep your fire-arms and even if you were a woman you could keep your guns. Graham's wife is allowed to keep her .22 rifle and later she purchases a .33 to replace her husbands. I'm not sure if it was farmers who the law applied to. Or if Graham was of Germanic descendants. Either way, the law only helps to cement Graham's paranoia that the government and the townsfolk are out to get him.
The townsfolk are ambivalent towards the family. As time passes though they become more concerned and worried and the gossip starts. When Graham and his wife hear the hushed tones of their neighbours as they pass by their paranoia grows. So when anything bad happens on the farm it's not the hand of God or bad luck; it's the work of their neighbours. So when the police come to take away the rifles it's not surprising when things get out of hand.
The way the story is told you're not sure that the townsfolk aren't responsible for some of the family's bad luck. You also get the idea that Dorothy Graham may be a major contributor to her husband's persecution complex. Is she as broken as him? Or is she being a good wife and standing by him, come what may? Sometimes a good wife can get you killed...
The actors are good in their parts. None of them stands out as being better than the rest and this is perfect for this movie. It adds great strength to the normalcy of the characters and situation. This is one of the rare times that being average actually helps propel the story and make the movie stronger.
This is a movie I would recommend if you like reality-based tales. It's enjoyable, thought-provoking, and powerful. I'm still thinking about the story and it's been three days since I watched the film. I'm also thinking about hunting out the book as novels tend to go into more depth... Well worth a watch.
