“….a satisfying onslaught of madness and mayhem that should leave viewers suitably drenched in perspiration.” - Lynden Barber, The Guardian.
Australian remakes are few and far between especially of the horror/thriller variety. So when Mark Hartley the multiple ARIA and AFI award winning director of documentaries Not Quite Hollywood and Machete Maidens Unleashed decided to remake the cult Ozploitation film Patrick (also distributed by Umbrella) many of us waited with baited breath to see what he would produce. Luckily everyone can breathe a collective sigh of relief as Mark has not only reinterpreted this classic film for modern audiences he has also injected it with a healthy dose of Hitchcockian suspense. Just like the original Patrick, this film focuses on the experiences of a pretty nurse Kathy who becomes the obsessive focus of a telekinetic coma patient Patrick. Desperate for attention, Patrick soon falls madly in love with Kathy and spends his days using his telekinetic powers to kill off any potential rivals.
What is so great about this classic Australian remake of Patrick is the way in which Mark Hartley incorporates technology as a plot device. Kathy’s smart phone for example is used by Patrick to text Kathy telepathically, a texting which imbues the film with a sinister ‘Big Brother’ like quality. The use of the smart phone in this way reminds audiences that not only is technology always ‘watching us’ but that it can ‘kill us’. The use of technology in this film also aids some standout performances by a fantastic cast including Rachel Griffiths (Brothers and Sisters TV series), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones TV series), Sharni Vincent (Step Up 3D, Home and Away TV series) Jackson Gallagher (Home and Away TV series) and Peta Sergeant (Winners and Losers TV series). In addition to an all star cast there are also some really exciting special features on both the DVD and Blu-ray including:
- Audio Commentary with Mark Hartley (Director), Garry Richards (DOP) and Justin King (Writer)
- The Spit, The Stunts, The Sex, The Gore – Making-of featurette (27 mins)
- Cast and Crew On-Set Interviews (56 mins)
- Mark and Garry’s Production Diary (29 mins)
- VFX Before and After Showcase (5 mins)
- Patrick (1978) and Patrick (2013) Theatrical Trailers
- Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
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