Back in 2008 director, Jon Hewitt (Acolytes, Darklovestory) blew me away with his film Acolytes, I film I still believe one of the finest films ever made in Australia. Now he has blown me away again with a film that is low-budget filmmaking at its very best. X may not be a film that everyone can stomach but if you love gritty thrillers that are brilliantly written then this is the film for you.
Holly Rowe (Viva Bianca – Panic At Rock Island, TV’S Spartacus: Blood And Sand) is a call-girl who started her career in Sydney’s seedy Kings Cross over ten years ago. She has made her way from the streets and become a high-class hooker, now tonight is her last night on the job, then she is retiring and taking off to Paris. Then there is Shay Ryan (Hanna Mangan Lawrence – Thirst, TV’S Bed Of Roses), a young country girl who has been forced to come to the Cross and prostitute herself to make a living. Through fate the two girls meet and take on a job together, however while on that job they see something they shouldn’t see and suddenly both women find that their lives are at risk.
Hewitt brings amazing realism to this film with the use of his traditional style of filmmaking and the fact that he had the guts to shoot most of it guerilla style. Some will pick similar themes to his film Redball, however X is a much better film and deserves all the praise it can muster.
Much of X working so well can be accredited to the fact that Hewitt and wife Belinda McClory (Darklovestory) have written a brilliant script. Not only does it contain three-dimensional characters that you really care about but they have not forgotten that a good thriller needs suspense. There are moments in this film where the fact that Holly and Shay’s lives are at risk has you on the edge of your seat. And because Hewitt doesn’t bow to popular filmmaking rules you simply never know what it is going to happen next… and that’s the way a film (especially a thriller) should be.
The two leads, Hanna Mangan Lawrence and Viva Bianca put in the performances of their lives. I have been a firm believer for a long time now that Lawrence is one of the finest young actresses that Australia has to offer and her performance in X only enhances that belief. She puts in a brilliant performance that is worthy of award nominations, and hopefully this is the role that will show Hollywood what she has to offer. She is well supported by Viva Bianca who also puts in a credible performance and announces herself to Aussie producers.
X is gritty and confronting but is proof that Australians can make brilliant films. This is a sensational thriller that takes the audience on a journey with the characters at hand. If you’re a fan of suspense don’t miss this film.
Year: 2011
Director: Jon Hewitt
Stars: Hanna Mangan Lawrence, Viva Bianca
Classification: TBC
Runtime: 85 mins
Rating: 