A Cry in the Dark

A Cry in the Dark

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DVD details

• Condition: New
• Format: DVD
• Anamorphic; Closed-captioned; Color; Dolby; DVD; Widescreen; NTSC

DVD Reviews of A Cry in the Dark

DVD Review: Hysteria
Summary: 4 Stars

Fred Schepisi's film derives its power from its absolute realism. He does'nt attempt fancy camera-work but instead focuses on the anguish and heartbreak brought on the accused parents, played brilliantly by Sam Neill and Merl Streep. He opens the film with a shot of the barren and oppressive Australian outback, immediately thereafter he gives domestic scenes in the Chamberlain household. They are a picturesque family with faces that beam of happiness and satisfaction as they plan to take a trip to the outback, it is there that their youngest daughter Ezaria is stolen and killed by an Australian wild dog named the Dingo. All the initial public sympathy for the parents evaporates, and vicious gossip spreads across the country. Since people usually assume the worst of what they don't understand, they assume that the couple's church the Seventh-Day Adventists requires ritual sacrifices, wild rumours ensue as the one claiming the name Ezaria to mean "sacrifice in the wilderness". As Lindy's father quiet eloquently puts it "The lies go round the world while the truth is still putting its boots on."

The most important piece of eveidence that convicted Lindy in the public's mind was her unwillingness to act the role of what they precieved to be a "normal" grieving mother. As played by Merly Streep in arguably her best performance, she is a woman unwilling to censor herself, to play the part. The couple's blind faith equips them to cope with the tragedy to an extent no member of the public could ever comprehend. Sam Neill as Michael is equally good in a more understated performance as a man who has his faith severely tested.

Fred Schepisi is one of the most erratic directors in cinema. I haven't seen all his films, but THE CHANT OF JIMMIE BLACKSMITH 1978 is one of the most brutal and powerful films I have ever seen. How he can go from films like that one and A CRY IN THE DARK to I.Q. and Fierce Creautres is beyond me. I suppose even the great ones run out of steam sometime. However, his accomplishment here is undeniable, he manages to do what Oliver Stone failed to do in his overwrought mess Natural Born Killers, he shows how a judgemental fickle public can destroy real lives.

As effective as this film is, it isn't perfect. The visual style enhances realism, therefore there is no poetry to the tragedy as there was in Atom Egoyan masterful THE SWEET HEREAFTER. I recognise that style wasn't what Schepisi was aiming for, but its lack makes re-watching the film a second time a less enticing prospect. Still, I higly reccomend that you see this film at least once, and next time you find yourself debating the guilt or innocence of strangers, remember this film and take a long hard look in the mirror.

Description of A Cry in the Dark