TWO HEADS CREEK
Directed by: Jesse O'Brian
Starring: Jordan Waller, Kathryn Wilder, Kerry Armstrong, Gary Sweet
Shortly after their mother dies, siblings Norman and Annabelle discover that they aren't in fact descended from a family of Polish butchers, but that their erstwhile unknown birth mother was from a small Australian town called Two Heads Creek. Deciding they have nothing to lose, they sell their family shop and head out to find their real family, only to find something very sinister instead…
Two Heads Creek is a film which takes broad satirical swipes at racism in all its forms - from media fueled hatred to state sanctioned policies - while also providing a lot o grizzly fun and culture clash humour.
The film starts with a stark look at the effects of using racist rhetoric to bolster the argument for Brexit. Racist graffiti is spray=painted across the front of the shop, drivers and passengers of cars with St George flags yell abuse at Norman despite the fact that they are patrons of his shop. It’s a very ugly, vile portrait of a council estate area and I'd love to think the film is laying it on a bit thick to punch its point across, but part of me suspects it might be cutting very close to the bone.
Thankfully, the funeral scene brings a certain amount of levity as Norman does his best to provide a traditional Polish wake, surrounded by his mother's friends and family who are all quietly judging him and criticising his sister, Annabelle. Norman and Annabelle couldn't be more different people despite being twins. Whereas Normal has timidly followed the Polish ways and customs of his mother and taken over the butcher shop, Annabelle has flown the nest having felt oppressed by her upbringing and become a model. She is a lot more outspoken and confrontational than her brother, that is for sure!
Getting to Two Heads Creek proves to be something of an ordeal for the pair, having to endure a stroppy customs agent and a day-long bus journey. Once they arrive things don't improve much at all. Their tour bus is full of asian immigrants and the townsfolk seem to be very welcoming of them. However not so much Norman and Annabelle, whose presence makes the locals a little uncomfortable. And with good reason, as the town harbours a dreadful secret.
The people of Two Heads Creek are a strange bunch who wouldn't be out of place in something like Deliverance, while still trying to maintain a veneer of a respectable community. The film finds humour in their banality and day to day existence amidst all the carnage. We also learn that there is a possible feud brewing between the two most powerful families and a coup may be about to commence if they can stop bickering among each other.
There comes a point in the film where the bus driver reveals to Annabelle "the big picture" and its something of a gut punch, especially in today's political climate. For a horror film to spotlight a deadly environment ("travelers, beware of the weird towns cut off from society!"). Is one thing, but then to scale it up in this manner…is insidious. The film satirises the Australian (and other) government's stance on issues of race and immigration. The film shows a government enabling the horrors depicted, either passively (knowing about it and turning a blind eye) or actively (organizing the bus tour for newly arrived immigrants). It’s a truly mind-bending and horrifying concept that has stuck into my head since watching the film.
THE VERDICT
I've focused more on the political satire embedded in the film more than the film itself. The performances are a lot of fun, there's a weird musical number which involves the whole town and gore, gore, lots of gore (that mincing machine…). All entertaining stuff, to be sure, but what will stick with you are the film's political conceits.
RECOMMENDED
8 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)
TWO HEADS CREEK IS AVAILABLE TO RENT/BUY FROM ALL ONLINE MEDIA SERVICES