Cactus (2008 film)

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Cactus
Film poster
Directed byJasmine Yuen-Carrucan
Written byJasmine Yuen-Carrucan
Produced byPaul Sullivan
StarringTravis McMahon
David Lyons
Bryan Brown
Shane Jacobson
CinematographyFlorian Emmerich
Edited byMark Perry
Music byNerida Tyson-Chew
Production
company
Open Space Films
Distributed byHoyts Distribution
Release date
  • 1 May 2008 (2008-05-01)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryAustralia
BudgetA$1,200,000

Cactus is a 2008 Australian mystery-thriller film, it is the directing debut for Jasmine Yuen-Carrucan.[1]

Synopsis[edit]

Cactus is a road movie centred on a kidnapping.

Plot[edit]

The movie begins with John Kelly pulling Eli Jones (David Lyons) from his city residence, drugging him and driving across regional Australia for three days. On the journey, John and Eli begin to interact and talk, as well as having a run-in with a rogue cop and encountering "Thommo", a trucker.

Cast[edit]

  • Travis McMahon as John Kelly
  • David Lyons as Eli Jones
  • Bryan Brown as Rosco (the 'outback Cop')
  • Shane Jacobson as Thommo
  • Zoe Tuckwell-Smith as Sammy
  • Daniel Krige as Mal
  • Celia Ireland as Vesna
  • Seymon Eckert as Katie
  • John Martin as Petrol Attendant
  • Steve Rodgers as Spuddo (voice)
  • Wayne Walker as Ute Driver
  • Cheyenne as Charlie Sparkles
  • Craig Bartlett as Radio Operator
  • Robert Whiteside as Bar Patron
  • Russell Hunt as Bar Patron
  • Robert Shearim as Bar Patron
  • Elspeth Baird as Gardening woman

Production[edit]

The directing debut of Jasmine Yuen Carrucan was shot in New South Wales in the cities of Bathurst, Broken Hill, Cobar, Sydney and Wilcannia.[2] Bryan Brown worked on it as executive producer.[3]

Style[edit]

The film uses many of the classic road movie motifs such as break downs, fuel stops and long stretches of empty road,[4] with a cinematography that is conventionally modern.

Release[edit]

The film premiered on 1 May 2008 in Australia.[5] It was part of the Brooklyn International Film Festival in June 2008 and the Munich Film Festival on 28 June 2008.[6]

Cultural references[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Meet the Contenders – the feature films in the running for the L'Oréal Paris 2008 'Best Film' AFI Award". Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  2. ^ "London Australia Film Festival: CACTUS". Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  3. ^ Andrew L Urban, "BROWN, BRYAN & MCMAHON, TRAVIS", Urban Cinefile. Retrieved 11 November 2012
  4. ^ Knight, Anneli (1 May 2009). "Australia's best road movies". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Cactus | New Town Films". Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  6. ^ * OFFOFFOFF film festival BROOKLYN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
  7. ^ Gibbs, Liam. "Cactus (2008)". Two Flat Whites. Retrieved 13 April 2010.

External links[edit]