PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Lost Gully Road is a new thriller from Australia from Director Donna McRae (Johnny Ghost 2011). The film stars Adele Perovic (The Code 2014), John Brumpton (The Loved Ones 2009), and Jane Clifton (Prisoner: Cell Black H TV series).
Synopsis:
Lucy travels to an isolated house in the forest to wait for her sister. They have worked out a risky scheme for their future and all she needs to do is sit it out. However, a sinister presence may have something different in mind.
From the start, it is clear that this film is a one-woman show. Adele Perovic as Lucy is absolutely incredible as she carries the entire movie on her shoulders. She is hiding from a stalker, so she is taking refuge in the isolated cabin with no contact (except her sister who calls her). There is no TV and no internet. Lucy soon finds that her uncertainty and boredom give way to true fear as she realizes that something may be out to get her. It’s a range of emotions that Perovic handles with ease.
Another of Lost Gully Road’s strengths is in setting the atmosphere. I have never in my life seen the lush greens of Australia look so amazing. The lone figure of Lucy walking in the primeval forest in her red hooded coat immediately conjures up images of Little Red Riding Hood being vulnerable in the woods. And, in some ways, she is. We are never really certain who – or what – is after Lucy, only that something seems to be. The images from this film are gorgeous and linger in the mind.
That being said, I really wish Lost Gully Road had gotten to the point a lot faster. I am all for slow burns, but this film felt like the longest, slowest burn of all time. Glacially slow. I even questioned if the story was ever going to go anywhere several times. But I was pleasantly surprised at the end. I’m glad I stuck it out! There is a ton of promise in this film, which was shot on a small budget, so I absolutely look forward to what McRae puts out in the future.
Lost Gully Road is available on DVD and Digital on December 3, 2019.
