Hollywood made Stallone's First Blood, which spawned a slew of profitable sequels. This simple film is First Blood lite, New Zealand Style. It is difficult to find a protagonist or antagonist in this film. Some will root for Stanley Graham and his family, while others will see them as obviously insane and in need of removal from society. This real life event was tragic for eight families. The seven that lost a loved one, and the one that lost its husband and father. There is also a question about the involvement of the wife in this film, beautifully played by an unknown New Zealand actress. The tragedy of the film is arrogance and insensitivity. The authorities of the village seem arrogant and insensitive to the plight of the wife and children of this disturbed man, And there is a good case that the wife was also disturbed. And what about these two poor children? I guess they wound up in social services. After a slow start and without the benefit of translation and subtitles of New Zealander language, the film kicks into high gear. New Zealand, at times, and in most places, is almost like heaven on earth. But at other times, it can descend into hell on earth. So too, are the people in this story; caught somewhere between heaven and hell. A riviting story worth watching.
