David O'ConnellBlack Sheep
December 11th 2008 03:02
Radical physical transformation has been a concept that horror filmmakers have long used as a metaphor for underlining the decline of mankind in some way, and with the prevalence of genetics in the news, it seems an obvious notion to combine the two into a satire relevant to today.
Black Sheep, a horror-comedy from New Zealand, has a paper-thin plot which loosely utilizes these basic ideas – hardly original certainly, covering ground Peter Jackson and David Cronenberg negotiated in their formative years - but then there is the novelty of the genetic guinea-pigs being the beloved symbol of a nation, the sheep, and writer-director Jonathan King has a lot of fun with his one-joke premise, stretching it almost 90 minutes long.
In the film's brief prologue, we see a young boy terrorized by his older brother with a sheep’s carcass, causing such trauma that a lifelong phobia of the animals is created. The boy grows up to be Henry Oldfield (Nathan Meister), and he’s now returning home after years away to sign over his share of the family’s farm to his despised brother Angus (Peter Feeney), who has geared his operations on the property to the genetic testing of sheep.
Things take a turn for the worse when a canister being escorted across the grounds by his researchers is stolen by a couple of environmentalists, Grant (Oliver Driver), and Experience (Danielle Mason). Their clueless snatch-and-grab sails headlong into disaster when Grant loses control of the canister, causing it to break open and he’s soon the first victim of the mutant baby sheep inside. He’s bitten and before long, an infection spreads through the grounds, creating hybrid humans and a giant, woolly wave of fluffy white killing machines!
There are plenty of gory moments, especially a major set-piece when Angus’s announcement of his vision before a gathered group of benefactors is reduced to Meal-Time for a ravaging pack of ovine chargers! The vicious sheep heads and other effects - the work of Weta Workshop - are quite impressive and though the tone of the film always remains gorily light-hearted, these creations would be capable of causing genuine fear under the right circumstance (as if the relationship between New Zealand men and their sheep in the real world isn’t scary enough!!)
A host of funny moments stand out too, including Henry’s makeshift use of sheepskin carseat covers to camouflage his stealthy progress on hands and knees through a sheep-infested field, only to be mounted by a sexually-excited male member of the populace!
Danielle Mason shines as Experience, the tomboyish blonde with the new-age, esoteric environmentalist outlook; she’s given some of the funniest lines and is pleasant on the eye as well.
Meister and Feeney as the two brothers are solid, especially Meister as the troubled Henry, though as to be expected there’s not a great deal of depth to the characterizations; they plough into their roles head-first, with viguor, however and prove to be entertaining targets for the marauding sheep as they circle the luscious green fields like blood-speckled vultures deprived of flight, an insatiable mad hunger humming between their ears!
Though not even close to a classic of the genre, Black Sheep is still an enjoyably gross and perverted romp across the New Zealand landscape with a winking eye over its shoulder to the genre’s antecedents, the desire to entertain foremost in mind - and with that as a gauge of success, director King can be said to have done a commendable job.
Black Sheep, a horror-comedy from New Zealand, has a paper-thin plot which loosely utilizes these basic ideas – hardly original certainly, covering ground Peter Jackson and David Cronenberg negotiated in their formative years - but then there is the novelty of the genetic guinea-pigs being the beloved symbol of a nation, the sheep, and writer-director Jonathan King has a lot of fun with his one-joke premise, stretching it almost 90 minutes long.
In the film's brief prologue, we see a young boy terrorized by his older brother with a sheep’s carcass, causing such trauma that a lifelong phobia of the animals is created. The boy grows up to be Henry Oldfield (Nathan Meister), and he’s now returning home after years away to sign over his share of the family’s farm to his despised brother Angus (Peter Feeney), who has geared his operations on the property to the genetic testing of sheep.
The horror is unleased by Grant (Oliver Driver) who becomes a first victim
Things take a turn for the worse when a canister being escorted across the grounds by his researchers is stolen by a couple of environmentalists, Grant (Oliver Driver), and Experience (Danielle Mason). Their clueless snatch-and-grab sails headlong into disaster when Grant loses control of the canister, causing it to break open and he’s soon the first victim of the mutant baby sheep inside. He’s bitten and before long, an infection spreads through the grounds, creating hybrid humans and a giant, woolly wave of fluffy white killing machines!
Experience (Danielle Mason) and Henry (Nathan Meister)
There are plenty of gory moments, especially a major set-piece when Angus’s announcement of his vision before a gathered group of benefactors is reduced to Meal-Time for a ravaging pack of ovine chargers! The vicious sheep heads and other effects - the work of Weta Workshop - are quite impressive and though the tone of the film always remains gorily light-hearted, these creations would be capable of causing genuine fear under the right circumstance (as if the relationship between New Zealand men and their sheep in the real world isn’t scary enough!!)
A host of funny moments stand out too, including Henry’s makeshift use of sheepskin carseat covers to camouflage his stealthy progress on hands and knees through a sheep-infested field, only to be mounted by a sexually-excited male member of the populace!
Danielle Mason shines as Experience, the tomboyish blonde with the new-age, esoteric environmentalist outlook; she’s given some of the funniest lines and is pleasant on the eye as well.
A crude but funny scene! Watch your rear Henry!!
Meister and Feeney as the two brothers are solid, especially Meister as the troubled Henry, though as to be expected there’s not a great deal of depth to the characterizations; they plough into their roles head-first, with viguor, however and prove to be entertaining targets for the marauding sheep as they circle the luscious green fields like blood-speckled vultures deprived of flight, an insatiable mad hunger humming between their ears!
Though not even close to a classic of the genre, Black Sheep is still an enjoyably gross and perverted romp across the New Zealand landscape with a winking eye over its shoulder to the genre’s antecedents, the desire to entertain foremost in mind - and with that as a gauge of success, director King can be said to have done a commendable job.
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Comment by The Rusty Can
Everything
Really enjoyed reading your review, David.
Thanks,
Rusty.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I agree pretty much with your review. Mine's here
Jonathon is an acquaintance of mine, he's married to an old friend, so I squeezed a Q&A out of him.
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Thanks for the links Bryn, loved your review, and excellent interview also. I see Jonathan ended up getting Sam Neill for his new film, hopefully it turns out well. He's got a very solid cinematic sense, and a great sense of humour too.
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Adventure Toes
Techno Stuffs
boxing sound
Business Rope
Fun Places 2 Travel
By the way, do you mind if I sing this song?
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.
One for the master,
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Steve
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
A more repulsive representation of the rural Australian male you'll never see! But nature has its revenge in the form of that ferocious pork-bellied assassin!! God, what a classic! And then there was Arkie.....................