Predicament: DVD Review

Predicament: DVD Review

Predicament

Rating: M
Released by Vendetta Films

Adapted from the novel by New Zealand author Ronald Hugh Morrieson, this is the tale of naive teen Cedric Williamson (newcomer Hayden Frost).

Cedric is bullied at school and has an odd family life (to say the least). His father (Tim Finn) is building an enormous tower in their front yard from rubble, as he copes with the loss of his wife.

One day Cedric meets Mervyn Toebeck (Heath Franklin aka comedian Chopper) and the pair forms a friendship, with Mervyn abusing the bond to bludge off Cedric and his family.

When pasty white oddball Spook (Jemaine Clement) shows up, the trio hits upon the idea of blackmailing the locals - and Cedric's determined to use the scheme to get revenge against the Bramwells (the developers who stole his family land).

But the revenge plot goes a little wrong.

Wannabe Gothic comedy it may be, but Predicament remains a difficult and divisive watch. Sure Clement and Franklin make good watching, and while the scenery is beautifully realized and shot, there's little that's actually engaging in the film itself.

Which is bitterly disappointing - I can't exactly pinpoint why Predicament doesn't do anything for me; but it is a curio of a film.

Extras: Trailers, featurettes and cast and crew interviews - nothing sensational.

Rating: 5/10