Xavier Samuel at www.xaviersamuel.net · Twilight Saga 'Eclipse' » The Loved Ones http://xaviersamuel.net your first & largest Xavier Samuel online resource Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:09:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 MovieHole “The Loved Ones” Review http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/11/24/moviehole-the-loved-ones-review.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/11/24/moviehole-the-loved-ones-review.html#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:09:05 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=736 RELATED POSTS]]> Up until Greg McLean’s unnerving ”Wolf Creek” in 2005, the Australian horror genre had been wedged between two cars, a couple of heavy speakers and a mound of trash at the ‘Dead End Drive In’. But with ”Creek”, “The Undead”, “Dying Breed”, “Daybreakers” and now ”The Loved Ones”, it’d seem the downunder frightflick is back from Trenchard-Smith obscurity (either that or we’ve all unconsciously been sent back to 1985 in a mad scientist’s nuclear-run time machine.)

Welcome it is too. Like a supermarket attendant that only knows how to mop the floor, albeit excellently – in the Aussie film industry’s case, we do a terrific drama – it’s always good to try other things, take a risk, show folks you’re capable of working with more than soap, water… and Bill Hunter.“The Lovely Ones” has assumingly been made with the international market in mind- and nothing wrong with that, in today’s cutthroat world of film-enomics it’s always best to douse your flick in as much demographic MetoKote as possible. There’s a reason why Aussie flicks like “Crocodile Dundee”, “Mad Max”, and “Animal Kingdom” have been successful not only locally but overseas and that’s because, though never forgetting or airbrushing over their roots, they tell universal stories with characters that,if you’ll excuse the accents, could easily live up your street — down there in Denver.

“The Loved Ones”, though set in country Australia, is as Hollywood as a film bankrolled on purple ten’s can get. In fact, have the cast of “Gossip Girl” dub over the lead actors accents and one could easily be fooled into thinking director bloody genre piece hails from Kansas or New Mexico.But it is an Australian film and for that we can be proud – particularly as it’s a good one.

“Loved Ones” is, unashamedly so, an old hat yarn about a trodden-on and slightly screwloose young woman (MvLeavy) who with the help of her equally unstable father (John Brumpton) kidnaps the boy rejected her offer to accompany her to the dance. Once they’ve got the poor lad back to the kitchen, pop and sibling pull out all the stops when it comes to torture.

Those who accompanied their friend ‘Mr Cushion’ to screenings of “Texas Chainsaw”, “Hard Candy” or “Hostel” might want to skip this one – it’s a very grisly, up-comes-the-chicken affair.

But more than that, its a wicked film that’s not about to stop for the hyperventilating audience member to catch their breath. There’s not a light moment in the movie – it’s 80 minutes of very tense, very disturbing but very fun action. Sure the screenplay could’ve done with a few more pages spent on fleshing out the characters (the girlfriend we never quite learn anything about nor, for that matter, do we know much about our hero — much easier to root for someone when you’ve been well acquainted) but any holes there have been plugged with sexy and stylish direction, striking cinematography and great tunes.

Up and comer Xavier Samuel (”Eclipse”) makes for a believable victim cum hero, but it’s McLeavy and Brumpton, as the sadistic daughter and daddy duo of destruction, that really steal the show. With ‘Princess’ and ‘Daddy’ they’ve created two of the most frightening and also most original horror villains in recent years. Step aside Freddy, Jason, Michael… er, The Love Guru… there’s a couple of new nightmare-evokers in town!

Source: Movie Hole

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/11/24/moviehole-the-loved-ones-review.html/feed 1 Xavier Samuel at FrightFest 2010 Day 4 http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/09/09/xavier-samuel-at-frightfest-2010-day-4.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/09/09/xavier-samuel-at-frightfest-2010-day-4.html#comments Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:16:33 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=706 RELATED POSTS]]> An extended report of Day 4 of the Festival presented by Horror Channel’s Emily Booth with interviews from Andy Nyman, Twilight’s Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeary and Srdjan Spasojevic.

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/09/09/xavier-samuel-at-frightfest-2010-day-4.html/feed 0 Xavier Samuel at ‘The Loved Ones’ Frightfest Premiere Photos http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/09/02/xavier-samuel-at-the-loved-ones-frightfest-premiere-photos.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/09/02/xavier-samuel-at-the-loved-ones-frightfest-premiere-photos.html#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:43:35 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=702 RELATED POSTS]]> I’ve added new event photos of Xavier Samuel at the ‘The Loved Ones’ Frightfest Premiere on August 31, 2010. These photos were taken by fans at the premiere.

GALLERY LINK:

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/09/02/xavier-samuel-at-the-loved-ones-frightfest-premiere-photos.html/feed 1 Xavier Samuel ‘The Loved Ones’ Trailer Video & Clip with Captures Updates http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/07/09/xavier-samuel-the-loved-ones-trailer-video-clip-with-captures-updates.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/07/09/xavier-samuel-the-loved-ones-trailer-video-clip-with-captures-updates.html#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:44:22 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=634 RELATED POSTS]]> I’ve added new trailer screen captures & updated brand new ‘The Loved Ones’ trailer & preview clip from the movie.

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/07/09/xavier-samuel-the-loved-ones-trailer-video-clip-with-captures-updates.html/feed 2 ‘The Loved Ones’ Review http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/05/10/the-loved-ones-review.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/05/10/the-loved-ones-review.html#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 02:33:24 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=378 RELATED POSTS]]> The Loved Ones is one of the weirdest most messed up (for lack of better NSFW words)movies I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s a horror film that doesn’t quite fit the common definition of the genre for me but actually affected me more than modern day horror films. From Australian writer/director Sean Byrne, The Loved Ones is about Brent Mitchell (Xavier Samuel), a high school senior tormented with the guilt of his father’s death. He tries to escape the guilt and his emotional mother through drugs and metal music and only has his beautiful girlfriend, Holly (Victoria Thaine), to keep him grounded. It’s time for prom and he knows who he’s going to take but this wouldn’t be a fascinating movie if he made it to prom, right? Instead, Brent is sidetracked by a twisted secret admirer that puts him under a disco ball and gives him his very own prom.

The film is definitely like a train wreck…but in a good way. As each scene gets more intense and horrifying, you just can’t turn away. Even when you do turn away (and trust me, you will), the scenes keep going and you have to watch! But you’ll be happy you did because the way the camera moves and the imagery Bryne uses are wonderful and captivating. The movie is gory, bloody, and persistent…it doesn’t let up until the end credits start to roll. The characters don’t use the everyday weapons of choice we’re used to like axes, chainsaws, or other large sharp objects, but instead it terrorizes us with common everyday items like hammers, power drills, and eating utensils. It’s kind of like a do it yourself guide for homemade psychopathic killers.I think the title of this film is spot on and quite clever. There are a few different relationships in this movie between mother and son, girlfriend and boyfriend, and a very curious relationship between father and daughter by Robin McLeavy playing Lola and her dad played by John Brumpton. Robin plays her role freakishly well; you can really tell that she had fun with it. Richard Wilson and Jessica McNamee also deliver great performances as Sac and Mia who are our comic relief. Sac is Brent’s friend who asks Mia to the prom. When various characters go through a number of different emotions and situations, you really see who each of them loves and what they would do for them or because of them.

This review doesn’t say much about the plot and characters on purpose because I don’t want to ruin the story for you. This is one of the rare movies where you can go in completely blind and be shocked at what you see. I didn’t get to see this movie at the South By Southwest Film Festival and many other critics told me I missed out and that The Loved Ones was one of the best films showed there. Luckily that’s all they said and didn’t spoil the movie for me. I attended the San Francisco International Film Festival and this film was part of their late night offerings.

I would implore you not to read too many other reviews especially the ones that go deeper into the plot. Did you read some already? Don’t worry, the beginning of the film moves pretty fast and honestly, some of the early surprises are straight forward and not really surprising so hopefully other critics didn’t give up too much information. Don’t see this movie if you’re squeamish…but if you’re up for something different and can find this movie in your area, go see The Loved Ones.

Source: Advance Screenings

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/05/10/the-loved-ones-review.html/feed 1 Xavier Samuel Talks About ‘The Loved Ones’ & ‘Eclipse’ http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/02/03/xavier-samuel-talks-about-the-loved-ones-eclipse.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/02/03/xavier-samuel-talks-about-the-loved-ones-eclipse.html#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:18:59 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=332 RELATED POSTS]]> I’ve updated an interview of Xavier did an interview with Moving Pictures when Xavier talks about ‘The Loved Ones’ & ‘Eclipse’.

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2010/02/03/xavier-samuel-talks-about-the-loved-ones-eclipse.html/feed 3 Xavier Samuel ‘The Loved Ones’ Interview & Captures http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/11/23/xavier-samuel-the-loved-ones-interview-captures.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/11/23/xavier-samuel-the-loved-ones-interview-captures.html#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:28:35 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=289 RELATED POSTS]]> I’ve added new interview video and captures of Xavier interviewed by Tribute.Ca for his new movie ‘The Loved Ones’.

GALLERY LINK:
- Interviews: Tribute ‘The Loved Ones’ Interview (2009)

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/11/23/xavier-samuel-the-loved-ones-interview-captures.html/feed 3 Xavier at the TIFF ‘The Loved Ones’ Press Conference Videos http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/09/17/xavier-at-the-tiff-the-loved-ones-press-conference-videos.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/09/17/xavier-at-the-tiff-the-loved-ones-press-conference-videos.html#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:39:01 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=217 RELATED POSTS]]> Here a few videos of Xavier at the TIFF ‘The Loved Ones’ Press Conference Videos. Love his accents! You can find more videos here!

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/09/17/xavier-at-the-tiff-the-loved-ones-press-conference-videos.html/feed 3 Xavier at ‘The Loved Ones’ TIFF Premiere Photos http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/09/14/xavier-at-the-loved-ones-tiff-premiere-photos.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/09/14/xavier-at-the-loved-ones-tiff-premiere-photos.html#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:59:54 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=215 RELATED POSTS]]> I’ve added new event photos of Xavier at the event of Toronoto International Film Festival ‘The Loved Ones’ Premiere on September 13, 2009.

GALLERY LINK:
- Events in 2009: 2009 TIFF ‘The Loved Ones’ Premiere

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]]> http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/09/14/xavier-at-the-loved-ones-tiff-premiere-photos.html/feed 2 Xavier Samuel TIFF ‘The Loved Ones’ Article http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/09/14/xavier-samuel-tiff-the-loved-ones-article.html http://xaviersamuel.net/2009/09/14/xavier-samuel-tiff-the-loved-ones-article.html#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:16:40 +0000 Grace http://xaviersamuel.net/?p=210 RELATED POSTS]]> Greetings once again from the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival!

I’ve seen 10 more films since my last entry, so you can imagine why there’s been a slight gap on this blog. I saw two on Thursday, four on Friday, four yesterday, and one so far today. So I haven’t had nearly as much time as I’d hoped to write about the goings-on here on my site. However, I have been tweeting live all day on my Twitter at twitter.com/larry411.

More article can be found at Pro Network / Written By: Larry Richman

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