Home Kills

A darkly original plot in the best New Zealand film for years. Before I retired, I reviewed movies during the heydays of videotape for the local paper. After having seen so many movies it's great to see an original storyline inhabited by credible characters. The actors' low key delivery combines with the cinematography that captures the unique New Zealand scenery - some places familiar where I grew up. Effective dialogue, scripting and editing show cases a film that engrosses the viewer as the plot unfolds with a twist. Like the Paris Olympics results this film punches above its weight. A Gold medal goes to Home Kills.

Home Kills is a darkly funny, quietly gripping rural thriller that captures so much of what makes New Zealand storytelling great. The characters feel lived-in and real, the dialogue crackles with understated humour, and the film leans into its Kiwi identity without ever feeling forced. I loved its dry wit, atmospheric setting, and the authenticity of small-town life-equal parts ordinary and unsettling.

I saw this film in our local independent cinema. It's a real shame this didn't reach a wider audience. Films like this deserve to be seen well beyond our borders. Clever, grounded, and surprisingly tense-Home Kills is a gem.

A surprising and humourous downwards spiral of events that determines the fate of two brothers, set in picturesque New Zealand. If you rate films that are unpredicatble and have credible (!) twists, then give that one a go for sure. Apparently this is a low budget production, but it reminded me of Tarantino/ Coen brothers both in terms of story line (humour, absurdities, tension, goriness, the director showing up in the cast) and realisation. The actor playing main character is doing an amazing job, able to show a number of different sides to him in a very credible way. There were some fabulous camera skill moments, too.

What a great watch. Mix of black humour and thriller. Made me think of old New Zealand films like Smash Palace, mixed with a bit of Tarantino and a smidge of Peter Jackson. The awesome Waikato rural scenery gave the film an earthy vibe.

Note that the themes are dark and there is quite a lot of swearing.

The story is quick to get started and holds your attention. I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. The characters are very likeable and the acting was very good. The group I went to see it with were buzzing after it which is the sign of a good film. If you get a chance go and see it. It seems like it is at a few film festivals around.

Well that wasn't what I was expecting .. It was much better. The actors did a great job. When you think about the title 'Home Kills', the movie was produced tastefully, including the F and C words. The Kiwi humor runs riot throughout the movie. And legal controversy is right there in your face. The story line, without giving anything away, I would say the writter was thinking 100% outside the box to bring the movie to fruition. Filmed in the Mighty Waikato utilising old farmland scenery in the Maungatautari area, among other familiar landmarks to the locals. Overall.. a job well done and congratulations to all involved.