The FiFi Report 149

Suburban Mayhem…..directed by Paul Goldman
AWARDS: Nominated for 12 AFI Awards
Genre: Mockumentary black comedy.
Who: Emily Barclay, Michael Dorman, Robert Morgan, Anthony Hayes, Steve Bastoni The Plot: Australian Suburbs 2006. Narcissistic, amoral uber-bitch is slutty and cunning (and single mother.) ‘She uses her body to get what she wants, all done with a sparkle in the eye and a sneer on the lips. She stomps around feigning grief or sexual arousal. A hellcat, a master manipulator of men, she lives at home with her father.” Her brother is jailed for murder. She wants him out. She yells at everyone. Sleeps with everyone. Takes drugs. Lies. Steals. Yells at everyone. Plots to murder her father. Screws everyone. Repeat. Then repeat again. The end.
Acting: “ You have to give credit to director and cast. They are all just superb, but Emily Barclay is simply mesmerising as the demon Cat.” At The Movies
Photography: Vigorous camerawork ‘Director Paul Goldman has fun playfully including small animated touches and inventive montages. Nicely saturated colors lend the picture a temporary upbeat buoyancy, well contrasted with the TV quality of faked video interviews and a post-punk Aussie soundtrack "
Design: Australian Suburbia at its worst. It’s so 70’s and eighties it’s almost groovy again.
Wardrobe: Slutty. She wears lopard print ( not Prada) lots of cleavage, mini skirts, lace and high boots. Think Dannii Minogue on a good day.
Salon de Beaute: She goes from blonde to black, with luscious red lips, serious eye makeup and eyeliner. Over the top. Tacky. Think Courtney Love meets Donatella Versace.
Botox: You need a triple dose to get through all the yelling, the violence, and Mayhem Waterproof mascara: Fake lashes will be the only way to get you through this nightmare.
Bloodnguts: I think so. I had my eyes closed and my hand over my face.
Mind drifted to shopping : About three quarters the way through the film. An Hermes watch bag is just so much nicer to think about than awful sex, violence, and murder. Smokin’ smooches: It’s hot. It’s smokin’ Call the fire brigade
Car chases: Lots of cars hooning around. It is Suburban Mayhem after all
Best Review: “This exhilarating film is so brave. It walks a dangerous line between comedy and alienation and, because of the convincing performances, delivers a perfect balance” At The Movies.
Best Worst Review: “ If you’re going to spend 89 minutes with a wild animal, something about that character should engage or intrigue you. Nothing here does." HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"What starts as a predictably enjoyable ride through the hothouse world of suburbia unexpectedly loses steam half way through Suburban Mayhem."VARIETY
See it or donate to the Prada Bag fund? Leaving the cinema all you dream of is heading straight to The Mothership of Prada for some beauty, peace and harmony. Only see this if you can handle it.
http://www.suburbanmayhem.com/