The Loved Ones (film)
Encyclopedia
The Loved Ones is a 2009 Australian horror film written and directed by Sean Byrne and starring Xavier Samuel
and Robin McLeavy
.
As graduation approaches, Lola Stone, the quietest girl in school, also asks Brent to the prom but is turned down. Hours before the dance and under the glittering light of a disco ball, Brent wakes up to a nighmarish sequence of events. Brent has become the prom king at a macabre sadistic dance where he is the entertainment.
for short filmmaker Sean Byrne. The Ambience Entertainment production was completely shot in Melbourne, Victoria. The film stars Xavier Samuel
, Jessica McNamee
, Robin McLeavy
and Richard Wilson
.
It was originally given an R18+ by the Australian Classification Board
, but through an appeal by the Review Board
, the rating was successfully overturned and given an MA15+ due to the comedy aspect of the film, mitigating the sadistic aspect and impact of the violence.
The original soundtrack was composed by Australian experimental musician Ollie Olsen
. Other bands and musicians whose songs are featured in the film include Cosmic Psychos
, Sophie Koh
, Kasey Chambers
, Parkway Drive, British India
, Witch Hats
, Little Red
and Little River Band
.
on 13 September 2009 and on 3 April 2010, as part of the Hong Kong International Film Festival
. In America, it was screened at the AFI Film Festival on 31 October 2009, Dallas International Film Festival
2010, SXSW Film Festival 2010
, and the San Francisco International Film Festival
on 2 May 2010. The first DVD copies was released in the United States in November 2009 over the American Film Market
.
Xavier Samuel
Xavier Samuel is an Australian actor. He has appeared in leading roles in the feature films September, Further We Search, and Newcastle, and played Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third movie in Stephenie Meyer's The Twilight Saga film series.-Early life and education:Samuel was...
and Robin McLeavy
Robin McLeavy
Robin McLeavy is an actress from Sydney, Australia and NIDA graduate.- Career :Robin graduated from NIDA in 2004. Robin starred as Lola Stone in the critically acclaimed Australian horror The Loved Ones, directed by Sean Byrne...
.
Plot
After high schooler Brent Mitchell (Xavier Samuel) wraps his car around a tree, killing his father, he escapes into a grief-filled world of guilt. He is kept grounded by Holly, his girlfriend and date to the upcoming prom.As graduation approaches, Lola Stone, the quietest girl in school, also asks Brent to the prom but is turned down. Hours before the dance and under the glittering light of a disco ball, Brent wakes up to a nighmarish sequence of events. Brent has become the prom king at a macabre sadistic dance where he is the entertainment.
Cast
- Xavier SamuelXavier SamuelXavier Samuel is an Australian actor. He has appeared in leading roles in the feature films September, Further We Search, and Newcastle, and played Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third movie in Stephenie Meyer's The Twilight Saga film series.-Early life and education:Samuel was...
as Brent Mitchell - Robin McLeavyRobin McLeavyRobin McLeavy is an actress from Sydney, Australia and NIDA graduate.- Career :Robin graduated from NIDA in 2004. Robin starred as Lola Stone in the critically acclaimed Australian horror The Loved Ones, directed by Sean Byrne...
as Lola Stone "Princess" - John BrumptonJohn BrumptonJohn Brumpton is an Australian actor who has appeared in a large number of local productions.-Writing career:He co-wrote the feature film Life and he won the International Critics Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival.-Theatre:...
as Daddy - Richard WilsonRichard Wilson (Australian actor)Richard Wilson is a British-born Australian actor.-Early life:Wilson moved from the UK to Australia when he was six and currently resides in Sydney. He used to live in the Blue Mountains.-Acting career:...
as Jamie - Victoria ThaineVictoria ThaineVictoria Thaine is an Australian television and film actress and former playwright.- Filmography :* Wilfred * The Loved Ones * Rain Shadow * Gone * 48 Shades...
as Holly - Jessica McNameeJessica McNamee-Career:McNamee is best known for her leading role of Sammy Rafter in the award winning and top rating television series Packed to the Rafters. Before this she also appeared in the television soap opera Home and Away as Lisa Duffy playing the love interest of real life good friend Rhys Wakefield's...
as Mia - Andrew S. GilbertAndrew S. GilbertAndrew S. Gilbert is an Australian actor best known for his AFI Award-winning role in Kiss or Kill and other supporting work in Look Both Ways and The Dish and his recent role as Gavin Braithwaite on the ABC series, Bed of Roses. He is also known for his collaboration with Director David Caesar on...
as Paul - Suzi Dougherty as Carla
- Victoria Eagger as Judith
- Anne Scott-PendleburyAnne Scott-PendleburyAnne Scott-Pendlebury is an Australian television and film actress, who played the role of Hilary Robinson in the soap opera, Neighbours during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
as Bright Eyes - Fred Whitlock as Dan
Production
The Loved Ones is the first feature filmFeature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
for short filmmaker Sean Byrne. The Ambience Entertainment production was completely shot in Melbourne, Victoria. The film stars Xavier Samuel
Xavier Samuel
Xavier Samuel is an Australian actor. He has appeared in leading roles in the feature films September, Further We Search, and Newcastle, and played Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third movie in Stephenie Meyer's The Twilight Saga film series.-Early life and education:Samuel was...
, Jessica McNamee
Jessica McNamee
-Career:McNamee is best known for her leading role of Sammy Rafter in the award winning and top rating television series Packed to the Rafters. Before this she also appeared in the television soap opera Home and Away as Lisa Duffy playing the love interest of real life good friend Rhys Wakefield's...
, Robin McLeavy
Robin McLeavy
Robin McLeavy is an actress from Sydney, Australia and NIDA graduate.- Career :Robin graduated from NIDA in 2004. Robin starred as Lola Stone in the critically acclaimed Australian horror The Loved Ones, directed by Sean Byrne...
and Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson (Australian actor)
Richard Wilson is a British-born Australian actor.-Early life:Wilson moved from the UK to Australia when he was six and currently resides in Sydney. He used to live in the Blue Mountains.-Acting career:...
.
It was originally given an R18+ by the Australian Classification Board
Australian Classification Board
The Australian Classification Board is a statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government which classifies films, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia since its establishment in 1970. The Australian Classification Board was originally incorporated...
, but through an appeal by the Review Board
Australian Classification Review Board
The Australian Classification Review Board is a statutory censorship and classification body overseen by the Australian Government which can review classification decisions made by the Australian Classification Board concerning films, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in...
, the rating was successfully overturned and given an MA15+ due to the comedy aspect of the film, mitigating the sadistic aspect and impact of the violence.
The original soundtrack was composed by Australian experimental musician Ollie Olsen
Ollie Olsen
Ollie Olsen 1958, Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian composer, synthesist and sound designer who has been producing and performing rock, electronic and experimental music for the past thirty years...
. Other bands and musicians whose songs are featured in the film include Cosmic Psychos
Cosmic Psychos
The Cosmic Psychos are a punk rock band based in Melbourne and rural Victoria in Australia. An underground band that has only ever achieved limited recognition.-Description:...
, Sophie Koh
Sophie Koh
Sophie Koh is a singer and songwriter based in Australia.-Brief Biography:Born in New Zealand, Sophie Koh grew up both there and in Singapore. After finishing university in Melbourne, Australia, she headed north to Darwin , where she won Triple J's Unearthed contest in 2003. Returning to...
, Kasey Chambers
Kasey Chambers
Kasey Chambers is an Australian country singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of steel guitar player Bill Chambers, and the sister of musician and producer Nash Chambers.-Solo success:...
, Parkway Drive, British India
British India (band)
British India are an Australian indie rock and garage rock band. The band formed in Melbourne in 2004, comprising lead vocalist, lyricist and guitarist Declan Melia, guitarist Nic Wilson, bassist Will Drummond and drummer Matt O'Gorman...
, Witch Hats
Witch Hats
Witch Hats are an alternative rock, classic rock and post punk band based in Melbourne, Australia.-Formation & Wound of a Little Horse :...
, Little Red
Little Red
Little Red is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia consisting of Adrian Beltrame , Dominic Byrne , Quang Dinh , Tom Hartney and Taka Honda .-Biography:...
and Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
.
Release
The film screened at several festivals, including Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
on 13 September 2009 and on 3 April 2010, as part of the Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
. In America, it was screened at the AFI Film Festival on 31 October 2009, Dallas International Film Festival
Dallas International Film Festival
The DALLAS International Film Festival, presented by DALLAS Film Society, is a film festival that takes place annually in the state of Texas, in the United States. It takes place in April of every year. The 2011 DALLAS International Film Festival will be held March 31-April 10, 2011...
2010, SXSW Film Festival 2010
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
, and the San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival is the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas. Organized by the San Francisco Film Society, the International is held each spring for two weeks, presenting an average of 150 films from over 50 countries...
on 2 May 2010. The first DVD copies was released in the United States in November 2009 over the American Film Market
American Film Market
The American Film Market is a film industry event held each year at the beginning of November in Santa Monica, California. About 8,000 people attend the eight day event to network and to sell and acquire films...
.
Reception
The Loved Ones won the Toronto International Film Festival Midnight Madness Peoples Choice Award in 2009 and has a rating of 96% on the website Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...