Ab Film Review & The Last New Wave

On this episode, Andrew chats with the filmmaking duo Glenn Fraser and Amelia Foxton about their latest film Mother Tongue, which screens at the upcoming A Night of Horror International Film Festival alongside Ursula Dabrowsky's The Devil's Work on September 28 2023. Mother Tongue tells the wickedly humourous tale of Alex (Chiara Gizzi) and Jade (Amelia Foxton), a couple who are trying to have a child, yet struggle to do so. After trying all manner of methods, and finding that biology is not on their side, they decide to turn to the realm of the occult with the assistance of suburban bloke Brian (Stephen Hunter) who works his mastery on bringing a baby - of some kind - into their lives. Told with a darkly comedic stretch, alongside a trio of excellent performances that makes the struggle that Alex and Jade are collectively going through all the more believable, Mother Tongue is a treat of a film. In the following interview, Glenn and Amelia generously discuss their working process together, outlining the impo

Filmmaker JJ Winlove has managed an impressive feat for Australian film: having two films released in the same year. With the emotional June Again featuring a trio of excellent performances from Noni Hazelhurst, Claudia Karvan, and Stephen Curry, joining the immersive cinematic experience Crossing Paths, an interactive journey through Sydney as the audiences decides which of the twelve characters stories to follow. Screening to sold out audiences at the Sydney Film Festival, Crossing Paths promises to be an engaging and discussion provoking experience. In this interview, JJ talks about what it means to be a New Zealand director making films in Australia, how Crossing Paths was created, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode I chat with director Ingvar Kenne about his haunting film The Land, which screened in 2022 at the Sydney Underground Film Festival and Europe's Snowdance Film Festival where Ingvar won the Best Direction Award. The Land follows Jeremy, played by Steve Rodgers, and Neets, played by Anna Lise Philips, a couple who have a life that many would envy. They have a three-bedroom house, they have a busy family, and they've been married for fourteen years. They also have a remote property in the middle of nowhere which Jeremy visits with his distant friend Simon, played by Cameron Stewart, who returns after a long sojourn overseas. His returns sets Neets on edge as Simon seeks to atone for something that happened long ago. As they head out to 'the land', Neets is left with the children, who she swiftly leaves with her mother - who she appears to have a fractious relationship with - so she can spend some time by herself. Yet, it's out on 'the land' that Jeremy and Simon's friendship is both fortified and

On this episode Andrew turns into a bit of a fanboy as he chats with writer and director Tim Carlier about his feature film Paco. This charming and quirky flick follows Manny, played by Manuel Ashman, a sound recordist who is working on a film set one day and has the worst thing happen to him: one of the actors has walked off with a radio microphone. As many people continually tell him, that's a 'very bad thing'. As he heads off after a long day of filming to find his awol radio microphone, Manny discovers a world of sound - aka Adelaide - and the many creative colleagues and friends he knows as he tries to zone in on the audio of the missing mic. Paco then turns into a charming road trip of a film that sway into all realms of art, including a party which in reality is one large theatre game, and a roaming music video that's being shot around Adelaide. There's an energy and a charm to Paco that simply sweeps you off your feet. Andrew first watched it at Perth's Revelation Film Festival where he had no idea wh

On this episode, Andrew talks with co-directors Indianna Bell and Josiah Allen about their first feature film, You'll Never Find Me. Building on their impressive short film work with Call Connect. and The Recordist, You'll Never Find Me sees a visitor, played by Jordan Cowan, who knocks on the door of Patrick, played by Brendan Rock. She's lost and it's pouring outside, and in the middle of nowhere, his caravan is the only source of sanctuary that she could find. Or is it?What follows is a twisting, turning character piece where two figures push and probe each other trying to figure out just who the other is. It's a double-hander that plays a lot like a card game, with bluffing, truth revealing, and ultimate tension playing out. I've long been a fan of what both Indianna and Josiah have managed to do with their filmmaking brilliance in South Australia. Call Connect. is a short film that easily stands as one of the most riveting and powerful shorts I've seen, and The Recordist is no different. The two have cra

On this episode, Andrew talks with Nick Kozakis, the director behind the unsettling horror film, Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism. Based on true events, Godless tells the story of Lara, played by Georgia Eyers, and her husband Ron, played by Dan Ewing. Lara has been living with delirious episodes, and instead of following the advice of medical practictioners, Ron instead seeks out the work of Daniel, played by Tim Pocock, an unofficial exorcist. What follows is a horrifying, unsettling and unnerving series of events. In the following spoiler filled interview, Nick Kozakis talks about how he and screenwriter Alexander Angliss-Wilson worked together to present a story like this on screen, also about the importance of having an impactful poster campaign, and also about his own experience with religion, as well as how he worked alongside the supporting cast to explore the ambiguity within the narrative. While this following discussion does contain spoilers, it does not impact the experience of watching the film. G

On this episode, Andrew talks with the filmmakers behind one of the most anxiety provoking films of the year: Birdeater. Jack Clark and Jim Weir are co-directors, with Jack writing the script for this story about a bachelor party that takes horrifying and wild turns. Part thriller, part character piece, always intense, Birdeater is a film that owes its existence to the legacy of the classic Aussie film: Wake in Fright. In the following discussion, Jack and Jim talk about the influence of Wake in Fright on their film, while also touching on their desire to explore modern masculinity. The pair also talk about the troubles they faced in making the film, and the genuine possibility that they might not have been able to finish production on it. There's a truly unsettling nature to Birdeater, yet it's delivered in a masterfully captivating manner. Birdeater screens at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 12, 14, and 16, before heading to Cinefest Oz on Saturday 2 September.See omnystudio.com/listener

documentary King Coal. Told in an intimate and reflective manner, King Coal details the history of the all powerful fossil fuel in Appalachia, stretching back in time to the foundation of the mining region and utilising the imagery of the coal miner's daughter to explore the myth and dominance that the black rock has on the region. King Coal never condemns those who have worked in and relied on the mining industry as a source of income or stability, with Elaine's supportive narration being one that highlights the importance that coal once held for those in the region, while also spotlighting the need to navigate a path out of relying on it. It's with the focus on two young girls who grow up in the region that we follow this tale of coal and the almost fanatical adoration that people in the region still hold onto it. There's a touch of fantastical realism to King Coal which is amplified by the stunning cinematography that reinforces just how nourishing nature can be. In this interview, recorded ahead of King C

On this episode, Andrew chats with American filmmaker Lola Blanc about her new short film Pruning. This creepy flick follows a Fox News adjacent political commentator, played by Madeline Brewer, who finds herself in a moral conflict when a mass shooter cites her as an influence for their actions. Over fifteen minutes, Lola Blanc forces viewers to question the morality of those who spout reactionary and inflammatory comments in the media, all the while trying to distance themselves from the violence that is inspired by their words. In this interview, recorded ahead of Pruning's International Premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival, Lola talks about creating the main character with Madeleine, where her interest in exploring the fractured mindset that emerges from these kinds of fringe voices comes from, and then around the halfway mark we head into spoiler territory as Lola talks about some of the more fantastical and unsettling elements of Pruning. Aside from being a filmmaker, Lola is also an accomplished musi

On this episode, I get to chat with Danny and Michael Philippou aka RackaRacka about their bonkers and brutal horror film debut Talk to Me, which lands in cinemas tomorrow. This fucked up flick is a possession story mixed with a touch of social commentary. Ultimately though, it's a film with no safety nets. It’s not mucking about at all. Talk to Me intends to make you have one of the most unsettling nights watching a horror film, and the best part is that the Philippou’s know that you’re going to enjoy doing it. Talk to Me is a new benchmark for horror films. It instantly stands as one of the grittiest, grimiest, gruelling and grotty, goretastic Aussie horror films ever. Sign me up for whatever the hell these Philippou brothers are going to create, because if it’s anything like this, then it’s going to be a bloody great time.In the following interview, the Philippou brothers talk about how they crafted the film, what they learned from their explosive YouTube career, what working with screen legend Miranda Ott

This interview contains discussion of mental health issues and suicide. Albany based filmmaker Adam Morris returns to the region with his second feature film, Frank and Frank (or the Valley and the Walrus: Ruminations on the Mystery from Soup to Nuts). This introspective and explorative film follows Frank (Myles Pollard), a faith and financial influencer whose life is in turmoil as he faces a potential divorce as he heads out on a talking tour. In the throes of despair, Frank chances upon a stranger, also named Frank (Trevor Jamieson), and the two quickly become salvations for one another. Frank and Frank is a film that explores masculine emotions in an open and honest way, with Pollard's Frank struggling to keep the ground under his feet - both figuratively and literally, as we see him try and reconcile with his faith one day by building a backyard crucifix to hoist himself onto, as if that will be the solution to his problems. The two Frank's share hard truths and engage in a soul searching journey togeth

On this episode, I chat with WA local Ben Young about his new film, Devil's Peak, which features Robin Wright, Billy Bob Thornton, Hopper Penn, Jackie Earl Haley, and regular collaborator, Emma Booth. It's a thriller set in the Appalachian Mountains and focuses on a family torn apart by drug related crime. In this chat, Ben talks about working with mother-son relationship with Robin and Hopper, as well as the grounded nature of someone like Billy Bob Thornton. He also gives open advice about finding the right creative path forward as a filmmaker.Devil's Peak is the opening night film for Perth's Revelation Film Festival on July 12th, with the night kicking off at 7pm at Luna Cinemas Leederville. Visit revelationfilmfest.org for more details.We've got extensive coverage from the festival taking place this week, with interviews with filmmakers like soda jerk, Robert Machoain, Adam Morris and Myles Pollard. To read or listen to those interviews, head over to thecurb.com.au.For now, here's a slice of the tra

Robert Machoian is an independent American filmmaker who continues to stun with a body of work that is emotionally shocking, and at times, darkly comedic. His previous film, The Killing of Two Lovers, stands as one of the towering achievements of modern American indie filmmaking, and it's with that strength and the fortitude of low budget filmmaking that he turns the story of a man trying to do the right thing for his family into a darkly comedic tragedy with The Integrity of Joseph Chambers.Robert collaborates once more with Clayne Crawford, with Clayne playing the titular character. Joseph is a skewed version of David from The Killing of Two Lovers: dedicated to his family and their safety, yet unlike David, he is filled with a pride and misguided machismo that he believes will be enough to support his family in the event that there is some kind of massive event where food or supplies are no longer widely available.Yet, while on the surface this may seem to narratively be a COVID-adjacent film, The Integrit

On this episode I chat with new author Monica Vuu about her first novel, When One of Us Hurts. This is a tight thriller set in a small coastal town. Tragedy has struck the region with a baby being abandoned at a lighthouse, while a teenager has drowned. The novel unravels in captivating fashion, following two characters - Livvy and Marie. Monica's writing vividly brings the their stories to life, leading to a gripping conclusion. In this interview, Monica talks about how she started writing, and the transition from living in Dubai to moving to Tasmania with her partner. When One of Us Hurts is published by Pan Macmillan Australia and a copy of the book was provided for this interview. When One of Us Hurts is now available through all good bookstores.https://www.thecurb.com.au/when-one-of-us-hurts-author-monica-vuu-talks-crime-and-tasmania-in-this-interview/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Andrew chats with director Luzia Schmid about her stunning documentary Trained to See, which is screening at the Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival. It will launch at the in person screening on June 17, with online sessions available to everyone in Australia afterwards. Trained to See tells the story of three American women journalists - Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller, and Margaret Bourke-White - who each documented the Second World War in a fearless manner, putting themselves on the front line to capture their stories. Throughout Trained to See, we hear their stories from correspondence and journals that they kept during the period, and ultimately get to see the difficulties they faced as the power of misogyny arose during the war. This is both a powerful and engaging film, and is one of the finest archival documentaries of the year. As mentioned, Trained to See is available to watch for Australian audiences via CDocFF.com.au, alongside other great films including the brilliant football-focu

Flyways is a visually stunning and emotionally enriching film about three different groups of endangered migratory shorebirds from around the globe. Each of these birds fly thousands of kilometers around the globe through migratory routes, traversing hemispheres and continents to reach breeding grounds. Often they will fly days without food or water. Directed and shot by Randall Wood, Flyways is a passionate film that presents parts of the avian species that are threatened by humanity alongside the many bird watchers and scientists who eagerly follow their journeys. These scientists use tracking devices and location data, and occasionally, if luck is their side, visual verification from humans, to monitor where the birds move. Flyways plays out like a blend between Travelling Birds and Jennifer Peedom's River and Mountain, acting as a plea for mankind to respect nature and to consider just how we impact the living world around us. With a soaring score by Cezary Skubieszewski, and gentle narration by Mia Wasik

The Blue Caftan screens at Perth Festival from March 20th to 26th, before having a theatrical release in cinemas. Maryam Touzani’s sublime and sweet drama, The Blue Caftan, is a film that will stick with me for a long time. Filmed in Morocco, a region of the world where gay relationships come with a criminal sentence, this tells the story of Halim (Saleh Bakri), a maalem, or a master tailor, who works with the support of his wife Mina (Lubna Azabal) to craft stunning, intricate and personal garments. In this interview, Maryam talks about how the titular garment, the Blue Caftan, was created, how she presented the sense of touch on screen, and about the power of giving her actors the space to explore emotional intimacy. Throughout the film, we see Halim work on crafting the titular ‘blue caftan’ for an extremely demanding client who cannot understand why he’s taking so long. After all, the machine made garments can be constructed in half the time and, to their eyes, look just as good. Halim and Mina have a t

Kaya, welcome to The Curb podcast. My name is Andrew Peirce and this podcast is recorded in Boorloo, Perth, Wadjuk Nation, and I pay respect to the elders past present and emerging.On this episode, Andrew talks with director Clayton Orgles, whose latest film Dissociation, a retelling of the HP Lovecraft story The Picture in the House, is screening at the Long Shorts, Short Longs session at the WA Made Film Festival. This impressive short horror film utilises the countryside of Western Australia to unsettling effect, with central performances from Angela Leta Kaye and James Hagan conjuring particularly unnerving characters.in this interview, Clayton talks about how his work on music videos has informed his filmmaking work, the role horror plays in his work, as well as how he created the imagery of the film. The Long Shorts, Short Longs session is now sold out, but there is a waitlist available, so head over to the WA Made Film Festival facebook page for further details.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i

On this episode, filmmaker Molly Haddon talks about her brilliant indie family drama The Longest Weekend, which tells the story of three siblings Lou (Mia Artemis), Avery (Elly Hiraani Clapin), and Rio (Adam Golledge), who are each going through a personal crisis and congregate at their mother's (Tammy MacIntosh) home to support one another and work their way through familial tensions. The Longest Weekend is a wonderful performed triple hander, with rich dialogue and narrative that comes from a script written by Jorrden Daley. On paper, this sounds like it might be a rather leaden experience, but there is frequent levity throughout the narrative, and the true to life bonds between each of the characters helps make the story of a family being gradually pulled back together after being stretched apart by the machinations of life feel genuine and grounded. In the following interview, Molly talks about the production process of the film, how she worked with each of the characters, as well as talking about the sup

Andrew heads down the rabbit hole with the travelling exhibition at Boola Bardip WA Museum in Perth, ACMI's Alice in Wonderland exhibition. Featuring a mammoth array of archival materials from since Lewis Carroll's iconic and formative book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was first released in 1865, this exhibition takes you on a magical journey with early silent era films, to Jan Svankmajer's haunting and eerie stop motion feature, to Disney's animated version, all the way to the recent Tim Burton entries. Along the way, there is a wealth of knowledge about the various different versions of the story, whether it be through drug awareness campaigns, anime, or even x-rated musical comedies: you name it, it's here in some capacity. Yet, don't let the mention of X-rated musical comedies make you feel that this is solely an adult experience, as kids of all ages can find something to enjoy here, with a mystical maze like hallway experience with small doors, a spectacular Mad Hatter tea party experience where a