Crawl (film)
Crawl | |
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![]() Theatrical film poster | |
Directed by | Paul China |
Produced by |
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Written by | Paul China |
Starring |
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Music by | Christopher Gordon |
Cinematography | Brian J. Breheny |
Edited by |
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Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
Crawl is a 2011 Australian suspense-thriller written, produced and directed by Paul China and Benjamin China. The film is the China Brothers debut feature, and stars George Shevtsov, Georgina Haig and Paul Holmes.
Plot
Slim Walding (Paul Holmes), a pompous bar owner, hires a laconic, nameless Croatian (George Shevtsov) to kill an acquaintance over an unpaid debt. The crime is carried out, but the culprit intentionally leaves behind the murder weapon: an antique pistol belonging to Slim (thus framing him for the homicide). However, as the Croatian makes his getaway, he accidentally runs down a stranded motorist. Now burdened with a bloodied corpse and a wrecked vehicle, the murderer seeks refuge at a nearby, isolated house. There, he holds a young woman, Marilyn Burns (Georgina Haig), hostage.
The Croatian then learns that Marilyn's fiancee is the motorist he has killed. In order to make an escape on a motorcycle (the only vehicle at hand), he ventures back to the crash site to retrieve the man's keys. There, the Croatian murders the fiancee, after discovering he is in fact still alive. Later, Slim realises that his prized pistol has been stolen and that he has been set up. Upon learning the Croatian's whereabouts, he heads off looking for revenge. At the house, however, after freeing a gagged and bound Marilyn, Slim is killed when the Croatian unexpectedly attacks him with an axe.
Marilyn, terrified, attempts to escape the house and soon finds herself involved in a cat-and-mouse chase with the mysterious intruder. Eventually, a fight erupts between the two of them, and the Croatian is subsequently shot dead by the hostage he underestimated.
Cast
- George Shevtsov as The Stranger
- Georgina Haig as Marilyn Burns
- Paul Holmes as Slim Walding
- Lauren Dillon as Holly
- Lynda Stoner as Eileen
- Catherine Miller as Annie
- Andy Barclay as Travis
- Bob Newman as Rusty Sapp
- Paul Bryant as Sergeant Byrd
- John Rees-Osbourne as Constable Rolly
Production
The film was shot on location in Queensland, Australia in late 2010.[1]
Soundtrack
Australian composer Christopher Gordon scored the film.[2]
Release
Crawl played at over thirty international film festivals, including Sitges Film Festival in Spain,[3] FrightFest in the UK,[4] and Brisbane International Film Festival in Australia.[5] Bloody Disgusting released the film in the US on 1 September 2012,[6] and Arrow Films released the film theatrically in the UK on 22 February 2013.[7]
Reception
Crawl has received positive reviews from critics, scoring a 71% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[8] Sean Decker of Dread Central said the film ″rivals No Country For Old Men in gritty style and suspense″ and was an ″assured Hitchcockian slow-burn.″ [9] Journalist Alan Jones awarded the film four stars saying ″not since the Coen Brothers' Blood Simple has there been a more exciting thriller debut...a nail-bitingly effective study in slow-burning terror...scary, sly and sexy...a twisted and skillful homage to film noir.″
Accolades
Award | Category | Subject | Result |
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Screamfest Horror Film Festival[10][11] | Festival Trophy for Best Actress | Georgina Haig | Won |
Festival Trophy for Best Director | Paul China | Won | |
Festival Trophy for Best Cinematography | Brian J. Breheny | Won | |
References
- ↑ "Film Ink – Making Waves on the Gold Coast".
- ↑ "Crawl – SBS: Movie Review".
- ↑ "Crawl – Sitges Film Festival".
- ↑ "Crawl Film Review from FrightFest – Bring The Noise".
- ↑ "Forthcoming Attractions at The Brisbane International Film Festival".
- ↑ "Bloody Disgusting releases Crawl".
- ↑ "Crawl UK Release".
- ↑ "Crawl – Rotten Tomatoes".
- ↑ "Sean Decker, Dread Central – Crawl review".
- ↑ "Crawl to Make World Premiere at Screamfest 2011".
- ↑ "Screamfest Horror Film Festival Winners".
External links
- Crawl at the Internet Movie Database
- Crawl at Rotten Tomatoes