Also known as: Evil
Angels
Genre: personal
and judicial drama
With: Meryl
Streep (Lindy), Sam Neill (Michael), Dale Reeves, David Hoflin and Jason Reason
(their son Aidan at 6, 8 and 11 respectively), Michael Wetter, Kane Barton and
Trent Roberts (their son Reagan at 4, 6 and 9), Lauren Shepherd, Bethany Ann
Prickett, Alison O’Connell and Aliza Dason (their daughter Azaria), Bill
McCluskey (Greg Lowe), Debra Lawrance (Sally Lowe), Brian James (Cliff
Murchison, the Grandfather), Dorothy Alison (Avis Murchison, the Grandmother),
Bruce Myles (Barker), Neil Fitzpatrick (Phillips), Sandy Gore (Joy Kuhl), Kevin
Miles (Professor Cameron), Edgar Metcalfe (Dr. Brown), Gary Files (Professor
Chaikin), Peter Aanensen (Sims), Roderick Williams (Les Harris), Nick Tate
(Sergeant Charlwood), Mervyn Drake (Inspector Gilroy), Maurie Fields (Justice
Barritt), Charles ‟Bud” Tingwell (Justice Muirhead), Susan Leith (Jenny
Richards)
Director: Fred
Schepisi
Screenplay:
John Bryson (based on Evil Angels), Robert Caswell and Fred Schepisi
Release: 1988
Studio: Cannon
Entertainment Inc., Golan-Globus Productions, Cinema Verity, Metro Goldwyn
Mayer
Rating: PG-13
MBiS score: 8.4/10
Predators Everywhere
QuickView
Story-line: this
true-life movie begins in Mount Isa, Australia, during the summer of 1980.
Michael Chamberlain, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor,
wife Lindy, sons Aidan and Reagan and infant daughter Azaria leave home for a
camping trip in the outback near Ayers Rock. Little do they know that the trip
will end in tragedy for one of them and submit the others to a terrible ordeal.
Pluses:
admirable acting by Meryl Streep (dominant and eminently credible as the grounded
and gutsy Lindy) and Sam Neill (a well-meaning but sometimes fragile Michael),
a consistent supporting cast, efficient and sober direction, a busy, twisty screenplay
that unfolds methodically and logically, excellent cinematography (Ian Baker)
and diligent editing (Jill Bilcock), suitable production values, appropriate
musical support and a strong finish.
Minuses: don’t be fooled by the film’s rather innocent
introduction… there’s plenty of drama coming your way.
Comments: the
modest but worthy A CRY IN THE DARK sheds its initial quietness to illustrate
how personal misfortune can be compounded by public scrutiny, intolerance,
incompetence and sensationalism. Fred Schepisi’s cautionary work, a testament to
one woman’s courage in the face of adversity, proves that human suffering, despite
its apparent cruelty and injustice, brings sanctity to one’s soul. Be brave,
people, be brave…
In memory of Sam Neill (1947-2026).
MBiS
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