Ashton BrownSummary
The Surfer
ASHTON BROWN expects this Nicholas Cage-starring film to be a bunch of cobblers but comes away both impressed and deranged.
Screening now in NZ cinemas.
Look, I didn’t have high expectations going into this. A Nicholas Cage surfing thriller sounded like it was going to be a silly, brainless movie which relies on the recent resurgence of Cage’s popularity.
All of these things were absolutely correct, but what wasn’t correct were my expectations. I freaking loved this movie. It’s got the feel of a thriller from the ‘70s or ‘80s, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, while also catching you off guard with sudden violence and tension and a story that is unpredictable and intriguing.
Filmed and set in Australia, Cage plays the father on the brink of losing everything. His son doesn’t connect with him, his wife wants a divorce, and all he wants to do is take his son surfing at the bay where he grew up.
Sounds like an easy enough task, but unfortunately, literally everyone and everything wants to prevent Cage from having a surf. Everything is out to get him, from the surf club bullies, to dog shit on the water fountain mouthpiece, to giant rats biting him and birds shitting on him. And Cage unravels into a world of chaotic madness that all unfolds in the carpark of the beach.
There are times when the story and direction become so unhinged that you feel like you’re on acid. I often find myself disengaging from films that try on this sort of madcap indie vibes-surrealist approach. It feels hack. But somehow, The Surfer manages to both lean into this style while not overdoing it, resulting in an incredibly well-balanced mix of narrative storytelling and non-traditional filmmaking.
It’s a tricky line to balance, but the direction and performances manage to elevate the script into something more than the sum of its parts, and the result is basically a David Lynch style surfing comedy thriller.
Shout-out to Francois Tetaz for a beautifully over-the-top score that evokes tension and laughs at just the right moments. Director Lorcan Finnegan has nailed what he was going for here and although it certainly won’t be for everyone, those of us who tune into the film’s bizarre delights will have a fucking good time.
