Slant

From the very start, you can sense that Australian film Slant is going to offer up something quite unique and interesting to sink your teeth into for close to two hours. And indeed, by the end, not only has it delivered on both those points, but this twisty thriller also provides several laughs, shocks and a lot of crazy fun.

Derek Verity (Nikou) lives at home with his alcoholic-in-denial mother, Vivianne (Thornton) and his seemingly meek (but quite unhinged) older brother Billy (Murphy). Derek has aspirations to become a big-time journalist and, in a crazy stroke of luck, is reluctantly assigned by boss Una (Lister) to cover the story that has the whole of Australia talking, the disappearance of Elizabeth McGowan.

Everyone of course thinks the husband did it, but with no proof and no interviews being given, Derek, in order to get his story before his rival Olyvia (Chapman) can, looks to find an in by befriending Elizabeth’s sister Kaye (Mandalis), who also believes Elizabeth’s manipulative and controlling husband Martin (Pigot) is guilty beyond doubt.

While from this you might now be expecting a set up for a juicy whodunnit thriller that would be sufficiently entertaining in itself, Michael Nikou (writing as well as starring) and director James Vinson decide to pull the rug from underneath that early premise to add in instead a second, equally compelling family drama around the Veritys themselves. Yet, rather than then simply demote the news story thread to a mere subplot, Nikou and Vinson somehow manage to effortlessly balance and create a harmonious double-helix of ideas, the case helping bring to light many things within the Verity family that have remained unsaid for too long, along with all the resentment, anger and truths that eventually come flooding out, with those revelations and evolving dynamics then shaping the course of the investigation in very unexpected ways.

Slant is a film with many, many strengths, and choosing its best facet is almost impossible. However, if one had to, it could almost certainly be its writing. The performances, which are equally truly commendable across the board, make what is already a stellar, slick and quick script really sing. It has that edge that only Australian humour seems to have skillfully delivered by a company of always on-point actors, not to mention twists that will genuinely make you gasp and a real knack for building incredible tension. But what’s most impressive is how Nikou’s script can move through the funny, to the poignant, to the downright bonkers and back again so seamlessly. Some moments descend slightly into farce, but counting those would require less than half a hand; everything else, from the light moments to the dark, is simply a blast.

It's a crazy fun rollercoaster to be on that might shake very occasionally, but thanks to its script, its enjoyable and exemplary cast, and terrific direction, Slant is a brilliant piece of filmmaking that will keep you laughing, keep you guessing and ultimately, keep you entertained.