The diversity of Australian horror storytelling has always been a fascinating one to follow, because even as we oscillate between the serial killer shock of theWolf Creekfranchise tothe emotional family drama drivingThe Babadook, there’s quite often a sense of grittiness felt across them all. WithThe Banished, writer-director Joseph Sims-Dennett certainly strives for a middle ground between the paranormal and survivalist tension of his country’s past, but also delivers one of the most confusing horror movies I’ve seen in a long while.
The Banishedcenters on Meg Clarke’s Grace, a woman coming to terms with the death of her father, with whom she had an estranged relationship due to her troubled childhood. When Grace learns that her brother, drug addict David, has been missing for some time after venturing into a forest with a group of like-minded people for some unclear reason, she goes in search of him to inform David about their dad’s death. However, after suffering an injury and becoming lost, Grace begins to feel there may be something sinister looming in the shadows of the forest.
The Banished Lost Me Quickly With Its Plot & Never Really Recovered
One of the more common tropes in the current horror landscape is what’s known as “trauma horror”, in which characters come out having learned life lessons after a terrifying event, albeit with different results. For every happier ending ofThe Babadook, there’s also the tragic opposite,like withBring Her BackandHereditary, among others. Not only doesThe Banishedcontinue this trend that has inspired the elevated horror moniker to be born, but it has also shown it might be time to rein in this kind of storytelling.
…I still found myself wondering aloud, “What is the actual point of any of this?”.
Sims-Dennett’s script airs so much more on the side of ambiguity that it’s hard to ever fully invest in Grace and the characters around her. For much of the film, the dialogue dances around saying anything of meaning that gives us a sympathetic or empathetic connection to Grace beyond a base familial desire to help her brother. Even once we finally get a more explicit picture of why she and her father were estranged and how it impacted her relationship with her brother, it doesn’t go deep enough with its commentary.
What’s even more frustrating is just how confusing the movie’s plot plays out, which further buries its exploration of trauma. The first half ofThe Banishedis largely told in a non-linear way, cutting back and forth between the current storyline and the build-up to it. It creates a sense of disorientation at times. But even once we’re all caught up and understand the general catalyst for the plot, the air of uncertainty doesn’t clear. With 30 minutes left of the film, I still found myself wondering aloud about the actual point of it all.
Sims-Dennett’s Direction Nicely Captures The Ominous Nature Of The Forest
Camping Continues To Be A Great Source Of Terror
Though his script may fail to impress, Sims-Dennett’s eye in the director’s chair, combined with Sam Powyer as cinematographer, does at least makeThe Banisheda visually fascinating film to watch. We’ve certainly seen more than enough movies set in the wilderness that, without a unique eye, there’s a risk of the setting being stale, but the movie’s visual palette feels like an authentic approach to depicting the quiet terror of some forests. I was particularly taken by the scene in which Grace injures herself while climbing the side of a cliff face, and the subsequent showing of her internal injuries.
In addition to the cinematography itself, there were moments of welcome surprise inThe Banished’s editing from Sims-Dennett, Andrew Bennett, and Leighton Cardno, who also co-stars in the film as Grace’s former high school teacher, Mr. Green, who agrees to help her find her brother. Without spoiling its actual context, there’s one scene in which Grace begins flashing through everything seen in the film thus far, all of which is intercut with a flickering flame. Though the scene amplified my confusion with the movie’s plot, the actual editing left me as impressed asEverything Everywhere All At Once’s multiversemontage.
Meg Clarke Is A Revelation In Her Leading Turn
The Future Could Be Very Bright For Her
While she may not have been given the best material to work with, Meg Clarke proves to be one of the few bright points inThe Banishedas Grace. The on-the-rise Australian star nicely captures her character’s inner turmoil regarding her family’s past and whether to continue her efforts to find her brother, all the while making her a wonderfully strong protagonist when the film switches to a survival thriller. With her talents on display in the film, it would be a shame ifThe Banisheddoesn’t act as a bridge towards bigger and better things for Clarke.
