Suburban Mayhem *** (2006, Emily Barclay, Michael Dorman, Steve Bastoni, Laurence Breuls, Anthony Hayes, Mia Wasikowska) – Classic Movie Review 4530

The 22-year-old Emily Barclay, award-winner as most promising newcomer for In My Father’s Den in 2005, edges nearer stardom for her stirring, unnerving performance in this striking, sexy little 2006 Aussie black comedy as a totally immoral, disaffected 19-year-old suburbanite who plots to kill her dad.

Barclay gets the exact measure of a very tricky character, Katrina Skinner, a wild and conniving, yet dangerously fascinating single mother, a 19 year-old girl without a conscience who effortlessly seems to lure men to their doom. Barclay has got an ideal cast to back her up, led by the hunky Michael Dorman from the hit TV show The Secret Life of US, as her besotted boyfriend Rusty.

Alice Bell’s clever, complex original screenplay is constructed in a series of flashbacks and stories by Katrina’s unfortunate friends, family, fiancé, lovers, cops and local gossips. And it is filmed in frenzied style by director Paul Goldman, who made The Night We Called It a Day about Frank Sinatra’s last tour of Australia.

There’s an early role for Mia Wasikowska as Lilya.

It is strong material, rated R for sexual content, pervasive language, some violence and drug use.

Writer Bell was Barclay’s body double, driving, texting and snorting cornflour instead of speed.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4530

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