Out of the Blue

David Gray went on a shooting spree in 1990 murdering thirteen residents in Aramoana, a coastal town south of Dunedin. Robert Sarkies' exceptional film, Out of the Blue, follows the journey of the gunman over this 24 hour period while capturing the quietness of the town and the impact of such a tragedy on a small community. The event unfolds slowly, with discipline, and not a frame is wasted. Australia cinematographer Greig Fraser's work is remarkable. The large, mostly unknown ensemble is superb, as are all aspects of the film - editing, score etc. Sarkies has created a brilliant film; the horror and tension of the massacre is superbly juxtapositioned alongside the inexperience of the local police officers, their lack of resources and the colours of the local characters. The film is void of cliche and unfolds naturally - Sarkies obviously respects the emotional gravity of the event and doesn't pull cheap tricks for thrills, instead he opts for subtlety. The characters are instilled with a quiet, unassuming dignity; they are all incredibly brave, and this film, no doubt, does the real residents of Aramoana justice. This is a stunning, yet tragic film and one of the finest films to come out of New Zealand. It is certainly one of the best films of the year.

9.5 on the DaveScale.

(dir. Robert Sarkies, New Zealand, 100 mins)