The Faceless Man

I don't know where to begin. As a movie with a well developed narrative and strong character motives it fails miserably. It's like a long violent episode of Fat Pizza, or Psychovillie if you're British. I can't think of an American equivalent. But it's enduring and I got some laughs out of it. Sadly it's not really about the faceless man, he's just tacked on at random intervals, which is a shame because the design is very well done. It's about young city dwellers clashing with country folk while a drug dealer is on the hunt.

At one point they get served filtered coffee by a waitress and that simply doesn't happen in Australia. Apart from that, it's a good cheesy effort in... making whatever this is.

Filmed in and around Melbourne, The Faceless Man is an Ozploitation genre mash-up from the mind of debut feature film director James Di Martino, that sees horror embodied in a horrifying new way thanks to its titular creation, that was born out of the director's own personal experience dealing with cancer, ensuring The Faceless Man is more than just a simple gore-filled black comedy.

It's not to say there's not humour, claret and oddball characters to be found here, as The Faceless Man's inspiration from films such as The Evil Dead and Get Out is apparent throughout (plus a lovingly staged nod to Reservoir Dogs interrogation scene) but Di Martino's film has more beneath the surface that makes it a far more enjoyable ride in the long run, as this crazed creation takes us on a wild journey to the fictional town of Orange Lodge.

Centred around a group of friends drug-fuelled trip to the seemingly rural and relaxing Orange Lodge, that quickly showcases itself as a town overtaken by a bunch of bloodthirsty and far from normal residents, that are led by Roger Ward's King Dougie, The Faceless Man follows familiar genre tropes but also works hard to subvert expectations, as Sophie Thurling's cancer survivor Emily Beckman not only deals with angry crime bosses and upset locals, but fear incarnate in the form of the gruesome looking Faceless Man.

A monstrous and wonderfully crafted creation that is one of the most memorable "big bads" created in an Australian film in some time, Di Martino uses the Faceless Man sparingly but effectively as he begins to torment Emily and her friends as their fears come to life in horrifying and spine chilling ways.

There's nothing overly subtle here as the film is more than willing to confront the beast that is cancer head on, while also lopping heads and introducing us to characters such as Barry the ***(very naughty word) in what's an eclectic array of themes, subjects and ideas and while it doesn't always gel in the most efficient of ways, when The Faceless Man expertly combines its mixing of the surreal with the darkly comic and confronting, it showcases a filmmaker in the form of Di Martino who has here showed himself to be a director unafraid to take risks and do things his own way.

Di Martino is also ably supported by his game cast of Australian acting staples such as Ward (a member of the original Mad Max), Snowtown breakout star Lucas Pittaway and Andy Mcphee as inappropriate joker Eddie Silver Beard, headlining a jam-packed cast list that features a great collection of up and comers and long serving veterans, ensuring that The Faceless Man is a step above its other independent counterparts that often feel rough and unrefined in comparison.

It's truly a journey unlike any other, a local offering that feels born entirely out of the energy and determination of its filmmaker and while there's a lot to be desired in a refinement sense, you can't help but have a great time on The Faceless Man's wild 90 or so minute journey.

Final Say -

Sure to please gorehounds and fans of pitch black horror comedy, The Faceless Man is a memorable debut from Di Martino and one of 2019's most unique Australian offerings.

3 cups of coffee out of 5

This is director James Di Martino's first feature film and he's got a lot to learn. Most of the actors' performances were sub-par and the pacing was its own horror. And what's with the lazy writing, James? WAY too much use of whatchamacallit and even thigamajig by the supposedly threatening bad guys. And finally, the obtuse anti-drug messaging by those that clearly look like drug dealers, just too much that doesn't make good story sense.

Low visual effect and class d production. Story is a mess with pointless killing and no supporting. Pay me money I won't watch.

Trying to get over her cancer diagnosis, a woman agrees to join her friends for a weekend getaway of drugs and partying, but when the town of locals starts to become hostile towards them it becomes the least of her worries as a bizarre figure from her nightmares also starts hunting them.

This was an enjoyable if somewhat flawed effort. When this one works is mainly due to the genuinely creepy and chilling imagery of the titular creature that is shown stalking her. The creatures' presence is featured when she's alone with blinking lights, a distorted hellish soundscape and the barest hints of something otherworldly stalking around her with the excessively long fingers and claws grabbing at her while she's unaware of it being there. These are then preceded by explosively violent blood-vomiting that creates a wholly creepy experience. As well, the film's second-half scores well with the sense of action featured here. As the various forces here begin to converge on the town, with the locals coming to get far more physical about their disdain for the friends' presence there and the criminal gang leaving a trail of destruction shooting anyone they come across this picks up in intensity. Once they get to terrorizing the friends and working in the attempts to get their product while featuring enough glimpses of the figure chasing her, this one gets intriguing and enjoyable when it matters making for a lot to like with the extra bloodshed and action featured here. There are some problems to be had here. The main issue here is the film's overlong running time that tends to come about due to additional sequences or way too many subplots than necessary. The opening at the doctors' office is far longer than needed to sell what's going on between her and her father which could've been trimmed slightly to get to the point faster, much like the cafe they visit which are both required scenes but take too long. As well, the subplot about the drug-runner following after them could've been eliminated as this one manages to intrude on the other plotlines involving the psycho town or the supernatural entity chasing them. The other issue with this one is the complete tone shift throughout that indicates it doesn't know what it wants to do. The inclusion of the various subplots here strike up several different tones with the drug-runner feeling like a crime drama, the psycho town is a black comedy and the creature is a true genre effort and it's never smoothly integrated at all, especially with the creature being the shortest one here and coming off like an afterthought as there are very few scenes with it. These are what hold this one back.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, drug use and a Rape scene.