Rent Boar (2018)

Fun horror-thriller - Boar review by Alphaville

Well-made Aussie movie about a nasty big pig. It’s generic stuff but well above average, with effective characters and a well-drawn bush community in peril. In tone it’s more akin to Tremors than an out-and-out horror movie. The boar itself is a suitably gruesome B-feature monster. Using humour as well as drama, writer/director Chris Sun gets you involved with the ensemble cast and keeps you guessing about which of the likeable characters is going to be gored next.

Hogs and kisses. - Boar review by NP

If a horror thriller can be described as a ‘hoot’, then this is surely it. Set in the Australian outback, we are introduced to a host of well drawn characters, all of whom have some genuinely hilarious dialogue. I won’t reproduce any of it here, as it does tend to be a little ‘earthy’, but it will have you laughing.

Not that this should be thought of as a comedy or in any way lightweight; you are, however, invited to have a good time with it thanks to the performances and script. The titular creature itself isn’t always as convincing as you desperately want it to be, but it never lets the rest of the film down – and on occasion, is a truly frightening presence.

Minimal CGI here, folks – and when it is used, it’s sparing enough to convince. Attention paid to the half-eaten corpses is commendable also. My score is 7 out of 10.

Not all that 'boaring' - Boar review by AER

Strewth, this comedy-horror from Australia follows in the footsteps of Black Sheep, whereas it works better in the funny bits than scary ones. The parts of the film set in the pub where the dodgy locals exchange stupid stories about a deadly monster pig in the bush are very funny, everything else is pretty shonky. Dodgy acting from the principal cast is only highlighted when the older pros like Ernie Dingo (The Fringe Dwellers), Chris Haywood (The Cars That Ate Paris), Steve Bisley (Mad Max), and from nominal lead John Jarratt (Wolf Creek / Picnic at Hanging Rock) turn up and show the rest how its done.

The action-scenes are long and repetitive, but the creature effects are pretty good. All-in-all, this is a Friday night throwaway and it should have been a lot more fun. 10 minutes of funny banter save this from being unwatchable....

2 out of 10