Crushed (2015)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Absolutely the worst movie.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

My quick rating - 3,6/10. Since I have to round up, it is tough even having to put 4 on this. The acting was just that painful to watch. It was almost like the actors and actresses were trying to make all the dialogue sound unrealistic. Cue card reading would've been more convincing than this was. After a supposed accident at a winery (yep, Australia is just known for their vineyards, and now, really bad acting) a daughter heads home to get to the bottom of what looks to be a homicide. In doing so, she uncovers some dark secrets in the murder mystery. Basically all the elements of a murder mystery are missing. I may have cared more if the acting wasn't so distracting. I could get a better conversation having Alexa and Siri going back and forth with Cortana as a mediator. Suffice it to say, you suffer through a lot of wasted time to get to a somewhat surprise ending, but not due to the murder. I should spoil it but I don't do that. Your life will still be complete if you miss this one, don't worry.

CRUSHED is an indie thriller set in and around an Aussie vineyard. The acting is okay and the plot isn't too shabby, but the film is a bit too slow and low key for its own good; put this down to the lack of available budget which means the filmmakers cut corners at times. As a rule, however, it's a lot better than most independent films which go for a basic, often juvenile approach by comparison.

The core of this movie is a well-written script with enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. This is a modern take on the Alfred Hitchcock-style thriller. Sarah Bishop is a standout as a young woman, Ellia, who returns home for her father's funeral only to find that he was murdered and her mother is the prime suspect. Alone and isolated, Ellia must not only solve the mystery of her father's murder but also deal with the traumatic event that caused her to flee the family vineyard. Megan Riakos wrote the script and directed it, and the result is a tight, cohesive thriller that is also visually stunning. Crushed is an exciting movie that is a refreshing change from the formulaic action movies and derivative comic book franchises so common in the big multiplexes today.

Set in beautiful Australian wine country, the location almost becomes another character in the film. A young woman returns home after she finds out about her father's death. She begins to realize that his death wasn't an accident and becomes determined to figure out who killed her father and why. You are taken on an emotional journey, as Ellia questions whether she can trust her closest friends and family. This film is brilliantly written and filmed, and keeps the audience questioning everyone's motives until the end. Written and directed by an Australian woman, with a cast of amazing Australian actors, this film really shows off what the Aussies can do. Definitely a must see! Crushed received FOUR NOMINATIONS for the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival: * Best Thriller Feature Film - Crushed * Best Actress - Sarah Bishop * Best Feature Director - Megan Riakos * Best Screenplay - Megan Riakos