Storage (2009)

Better Late Then Never

An action-packed slog

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

First off, it's not believable at all that the main character would fall for the reasoning of his uncle about the paedophile, or the case of the supposed murderer, and this takes away any credibility that there may have been. Second, this Dexter-like uncle is just an unbelievable character in the way he's 'evolving' throughout the story. And then there's that scene with the waterboarding as a means to get the truth, which is too obvious a comment on current realities - in itself there's not much wrong with that, but hey, I thought I was watching a simple suspense thriller without too many pretensions... including a sex scene hinting at prostitution, but with some sort of 'true love'-twist - I don't know what to make of that (even though Saskia Burmeister is very easy on the eye - but don't get to attached to her...!).All in all the acting is pretty reasonable, and there are a few nice kills in it, but that's just not enough to make it a film that sticks with you. It's all just pretty standard stuff, but it has a nice opening scene though, including a very small part of 'Death Wish II'.I wouldn't recommend it, but it wasn't a total waste of time for me either.

When I finished watching STORAGE I thought to myself this wasn't bad at all, this film was actually good considering I haven't really ever seen an Australian film that I could say was good but STORAGE was certainly an exception.STORAGE, although its a good film does have one flaw and that is a lack of suspense in the final act, the first half builds nicely, it sets up the mood, creates atmosphere, develops each character fully and keeps you guessing for quite a while and has a set of very good plot twists, the film even tries to side step the obvious genre clichés, these are all the positive things but the only thing that keeps it from being a great thriller is the lack of suspense towards the end, if I could be more specific without spoiling it, with the exception of one shocking moment its the most predictable part of the film.Overall, despite the one flaw STORAGE is worth seeing and is worthy of a broader audience, I definitely recommend this film if you want to see it.

Storage is set in Australia where Jimmy (Matthew Scully) witnesses the murder of his father during a mugging, Jimmy's uncle Leonard (Damien Garvey) says that he can stay with him. Leonard gives Jimmy a job in the city storage facility that he owns & manages, Jimmy immediately falls for sexy secretary Zia (Saskia Burmeister). While on his first day mopping the floor Jimmy hears someone cry out, taking a look inside one of the storage units Jimmy sees a customer named Francis (Robert Mammone) with a gun in his hands. Francis confronts Jimmy & his uncle Leonard steps in in calm the situation, Jimmy is convinced that Francis has murdered someone & is hiding the evidence so decides to break into his storage unit later that night. As the situation spirals out of control Jimmy learns some nasty secrets much closer to home as the shocking truth behind the storage unit is revealed...This Australian production was written, produced & directed by Michael Craft & is an unusual little thriller that could have been a little tighter but still comes across as quite effective at numerous times. The plot takes the idea of jumping to conclusions & the trouble that can cause to extreme lengths, it's during the first hour or so when Storage is still played as a mystery that it's at it's most effective since the twist's & turns it eventually take don't quite add up. The idea that the first hour or so was all a set-up by a certain person makes no real sense, how did that person know Jimmy would react the way he did or that Francis would for that matter? How did they know Jimmy just wouldn't call the police or turn a blind eye? I mean it's just that persons plans seemed to exclusively rely on a lot of coincidences & random things happening to work. Also why did that person let Jimmy in on his dark little secret so soon? Despite feeling so strongly that they should go after Francis on the basis of virtually nothing why didn't Jimmy call the police when he saw what happened to Francis? Jimmy had plenty of opportunity, it's almost like the character took a complete 360 degree turn in the space of a night & the ending is also baffling considering the previous 90 odd minutes. Having said that there is still much here to enjoy, the first hour as I said builds up really nicely, the twist may surprise some but it's nothing original although there is one shocking moment at the end in which someone I thought would live doesn't. At 90 minutes the first hour is all build up while the last thirty features a lot of running around storage unit corridors, overall I thought Storage was a neat little thriller that maybe doesn't stand up to close inspection & when you break it down isn't even that original but it's well written enough with good character's & memorable moments to be worth a watch.There's not a lot of gore here, there's some guts & a slit throat in a bad dream, a few bullet holes in people's heads, someone's head is bashed in with a hammer & there's a bit of blood splatter. There's some really good moments here actually, the bathroom torture & murder scene is intense & quite gripping actually, the shocking murder of one of the main character's had a fairly big impact on me & the start which just jolts into life & tragedy is well shot. At the start Jimmy & his father are at the cinema watching some Charles Bronson vigilante flick but I didn't recognise what film it was, maybe it was one of the Death Wish films which seems very appropriate considering where Storage goes.Apparently shot in Queensland in Australia this is well made with slick production values & good special effects. The acting is pretty solid, Damien Garvey puts in a good performance & Saskia Brumeister is really hot in this as a sexy love interest who is quite forgiving of Jimmy considering he got her fired.Storage is a good little thriller that centers on the dangers of jumping to conclusions & the serious consequences, I'm not going to go as overboard as some on the IMDb (as usual) since the twist's don't quite gel as good as they might have & there are some debatable decisions made by certain character's. However I still liked it & think the positives overcome the negatives, a good effort.

I saw this at a film festival and it was with out a doubt the high light of the festival. I had no expectations going into the film and was absolutely intrigued by the story. Its twist and turns were completely unpredictable, it left the audience with a cramp in the lower back for they were sitting on the edge of their sit the majority of the film.The real thrill from this film is how realistic it is, with the whole story line being completely possible. Though this film wasn't enjoyed by my parents they don't really have taste for good films (for example Sin City, Pulp Fiction, the Departed or even Scar Face were not films they enjoyed). So if your 16 to late 30s with a taste for film this one will quench it like solo.Id like to think I've been desensitize to what film can produce but this film hit me on a deeper level then just damage or death to the human body. The film constantly has many paths the characters could take but its so unpredictable that even as you get to the end and try and predict what's going to happen you will still get it wrong.In conclusion I highly recommend seeing this film, you will laugh, cover face and be shocked. I now have a fear of going near self storage places, my doctor says its Cleisiophobia but who knows.