Dir. Patrick Hughes, Australia, 2010, Dur. 96 mins
Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley, Tom E. Lewis
Review by Carlie Newman
A modern day Australian western? This is – sort of – what Red Hill is! Escaping from the city for the sake of the health of his pregnant wife, young police office Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten) turns up at for his first day working in the tiny town of Red Hill, a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, in the hill-country. While being introduced to the town and its inhabitants, his boss, Old Bill (Steve Bisley) is suddenly alerted to a TV announcement about an escaped convict. Bill explains that the escaped convict is an aborigine, Jimmy Conway (Tom E. Lewis). Conway, given life imprisonment for murder, is intent on revenge against the cops who had him imprisoned.
The action all takes place during one day as Shane becomes involved in pursuing the escapee alone as well as alongside other cops and local citizens, who have been armed and instructed to kill Conway on sight. The action builds up to an exciting climax, while Lewis portrays the escaped prisoner with truthfulness in showing us his character with particular reference to the plight of the indigenous population.
The acting is of a uniformly high standard. Ryan Kwanten is just right as the young cop worried about his wife, yet concerned to do not only his duty but also what he believes to be morally proper. Bisley plays old timer Bill as a man convinced that his actions are correct even when questioned by his new recruit.
The music, composed by Dmitri Golovka, with additional music by folk musician, Charlie Parr, is as beautiful as it is evocative of the mood of the film and of the area. The photography of the landscape is lovely with some great shots showing the way the colours of the land change with the alteration of the light as the day moves to evening and then night.
Red Hill (the place is named after the colour of its soil) is a nail-biting thriller of a movie, which is always engaging, of a good length and keeps the audience guessing about the outcome until the end. Director, Hughes, can hold his head high as it invites favourable comparison with westerns of a bygone age. The film is highly recommended.
love to know what you think of some of my work and music videos 
