Somewhat of an anti-exorcism movie, Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism delves into the dangers of when religious zealotry poses as salvation.

The feature film directorial debut of Nick Kozakis, Godless… stars Dan Ewing as Rob, a husband desperate to save his wife Lara (Georgia Eyers) from the throes of a mysterious ailment which he firmly believes to be demonic possession. This leads to Bob utilising the services of self-proclaimed exorcist and faith-healer Daniel James King (Tim Pocock) whose brutal method of unsanctioned exorcism risks much more than Lara’ soul.

Loosely bases on true events, Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism is not for the squeamish, with scenes of psychological and physical torture in the name of salvation hard for some to bear. Yet so terrific is the performance by Georgia Eyres and vital the films’ message of how faith can be exploited by snake in sheep’s clothing, that Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism is a must watch, especially for those tired of the same old exorcism movie song-and-dance.

 

An innovative, entertaining, and surprisingly touching addition to the time-travel movie sub-genre, Time Addicts is a trip-tastic exploration into the ripple effects of drug addiction.

Time Addicts stars Charles Grounds and Freya Tingley as Johnny and Denise, co-dependent dug addicts who go on a trip of a lifetime when they ingest a drug that teleports them through time.

An immersive feature film debut by director and writer Sam Odlum, Time Addicts effectively blends its Terry Gilliam infused aesthetic with black comedy infused sci-fi thrills, Odlum especially displaying a deft hand at writing snappy, curse-filled dialogue which Tingley and especially Grounds deliver with spirited charm.

 

Former Rugby League star turned acclaimed actor and screenwriter Matt Nable made his directorial debut with Transfusion, a haunting, character driven crime drama about wounded men living in desperate times.

Sam Worthington delivers one of his best performances as Ryan Logan, a former special forces operative who is thrust into the criminal underworld by his former commander Johnny (Matt Nable.)

Featuring incredible performances and a beautifully written script full of character and high-stakes drama, Transfusion also delves into the important issue of high-rates of suicide amongst servicemen and veterans and does so with heart and sincerity.

    

An absorbing documentary that engrosses with every twist-filled revelation, Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer explores the secret life of Boris Green, a respected patriarch, Partisan, and Holocaust survivor who may have taken part in revenge killings against Nazi’s living in Australia during the 1950s.

Director Danny Ben-Moshe (Outback Rabbis) chronicles the journey made by Green’s three sons as they delve into the tragic past of their father who saw firsthand the atrocities of the Nazi’s during WWII, and his alleged part in the unearthing and execution of Nazi war criminals who escaped justice and made a new home for themselves in Australia.

On top of startling revelations equal to that of an espionage thriller, Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer also delves into the complex moral and spiritual ramifications of vendetta murder.  

 

Simon Baker’s return to Australia came up trumps for the award-winning actor, with his latest film Limbo featuring a near-unrecognisable Baker teaming up with director Ivan Sen (Mystery Road) for a crime-drama with a cause.

Baker stars as Travis, a jaded detective who arrives in a remote outback town to investigate a 20-year-old cold case murder of a local indigenous girl. The South Australian town of Cooper Peedy plays backdrop to a slow-burn Aussie detective story, with its unique lunar like landscape the perfect setting for this murder-mystery and existential journey.

A haunting exploration into how a corrupt justice system has a deep impact on an indigenous community, Sen present Limbo through beautiful black and white photography and the soul rich performances of its cast.  

 

An intense story of revenge told with stark, intimate filmmaking and powerful performances, The Cost dispels any romantic notions of revenge as action-adventure excitement and delves instead into the moral and psychological consequences of a methodical act of vengeance that spirals out of control.

The Cost tells the story of widow David (Jordan Fraser-Trumble) and his brother-in-law Aaron (Damon Hunter), two ordinary men who are hellbent on avenging the rape and murder of David’s wife Stephanie (Nicole Pastor) at the hands of Troy (Kevin Dee), who recently did a 10-year-stint of a 32-year prison sentence.

Director Matthew Holmes (The Legend of Ben Hall) wisely stays away from the well-trod road of exploitation and instead leads his audience down a path of meditation on the impact a violent act can have on a victim’s family. Themes such as grief, redemption, and vengeance meld to create a slow-burn thinking man’s thriller in which there are no easy answers and best laid plans are often derailed.

 

Not since Memento has there been a neo-noir as engrossing and original as Psychosis. A concoction of George Romero, David Lynch, and John Huston squeezed into a 4:3 aspect ratio frame and presented in stark black and white, Psychosis is the brainchild of South Australian filmmaker Pirie Martin who makes quite the statement with his feature film debut: a genre film with rich artistry and a knack for the surreal.

Psychosis stars Derryn Amoroso as Cliff Van Aarle, a criminal fixer burdened by auditory hallucinations and the responsibility of taking care of his comatose sister. When Cliff agrees to take on a high paying case involving a pair of upstart drug dealers caught in a dangerous situation, he finds himself in the crosshairs of Joubini (James McCluskey-Carcia) a drug kingpin and sadistic hypnotist who seems more monster than man.

With Psychosis, Martin takes traditional neo-noir elements and contorts them to fit his unique vision of a gum-shoe odyssey through the strange and surreal, where costumed vigilantes and masked villains occupy a dark and paranoid world that is as horrific as it is darkly comedic.

 

A potent blend of sci-fi drama and dread inducing thrills, Monolith stars an excellent Lily Sullivan as a disgraced journalist who takes on a job as a host for a clickbait conspiracy theory podcast. Soon this new gig brings with its mind-bending revelations that points to an alien conspiracy.

Featuring style-rich direction from Matt Vesely (his feature film debut), a thought-provoking script from Lucy Campbell, and a strong lead performance by Sullivan, Monolith also delves into the increasingly important issue of how information can be weaponised in a corrupted media landscape.

An ominous foreboding throughout the film gives way to a startling conclusion that not only makes Monolith one of the best Australian films of the year, but one of the best sci-fi movies of 2023 as well.

 

A bittersweet Aussie Christmas movie in which a trio of recovering addicts navigate a not-so-merry season, Chirstmess displays director Heath Davis’ masterful ability to meld grounded drama with witty comedy.

Christmess stars Steve Le Marquand as Chris Flint, a once popular actor whose career and personal life has turned to rubble due to his alcoholism. Fresh out of rehab, Chris moves into a halfway house with his firm but fair sponsor Nick (Darren Gilshenan) and vegan musician Joy (Hannah Joy). When Chris accidentally bumps into his estranged daughter Noel (Nicole Pastor) he relies on his newfound friends to win her forgiveness.

With Christmess, Davis successfully taps into the plight of those for which the merry season is anything but. The characters of Christmess struggle with hurt, regret, and shame, yet Davis always allows that slither of light, of hope, of redemption to be present throughout. Davis does so through thoughtful and witty writing, in which strong character development blends with dry Aussie humour, a combination of pulling at the heartstrings and tickling ribs.

 

A frightening and innovative tale of grief, loneliness, and the dire consequences of messing with the dark arts, Talk to Me could very well be a generational classic that can have an impact on the mainstream.

Talk to Me stars Sophie Wilde as Mia, a teenager still grieving the loss of her mother a year prior. When Mia takes part in a unique séance ritual involving the amputated hand of a psychic encased in a clay cast, demonic spirits begin to exploit Mia’s fragile psyche leading to unspeakable horrors.

The feature film directorial debut of brothers Danny and Michael Philippou (who are also known by their YouTube channel RackaRacka), Talk to Me in its basic form is a demonic possession movie, yet the filmmaking skill and approach to storytelling brings a new lease of life to a worn-out subgenre of horror.