The Locals (2003)

Sadly Over-hyped

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Stunning. The twist... I admit, I watched this movie a LONG time ago, but it had such a profound effect on me... I can hardly explain it.The ending... Where the locals end up being ghosts... and so are they... and they find their own bodies... thinking back on the section of the movie I'd already seen...I'm just so glad I found this movie again, as I forgot the title. I honestly recommend this movie to be watched more widely. The title is quite tacky, and it really does deserve a better title.I will now go buy this movie online, and wait patiently for it to arrive; because having it on my shelf will be a small sort of collector's achievement for me.

Even though I am a kiwi, I did not appreciate this movie.. or even enjoy it...Yes New Zealanders are good at making low budget movies (and recently not so low budget)but this one just does not hit the spot. Its not scary, its just stupid.It left me thinking, surely that could have been done better, the basic story/idea is good (3 points for that) but the execution is very poor.Patchy acting and continuity, some very odd editing in places, probably due to go having the real shot in the can...Sorry again, we can do better and have, and will do again..

"The Locals" is one of the best movies from New Zealand that I have ever seen. A brilliant director and writer: Greg Page, and excellent new actors: Dwayne Cameron and John Barker. It's not like other horror films that I have seen and I've seen loads. The unusual location and the fact that it's playing in the dark is great. All the hide and seek in this film makes you wanna run with the characters. And Peter McCauley is so scary and untouchable. Why are the no more other movie from Greg Page he's funny. The commentary on the DVD is the best ever. Greg Page wants you to make listen him over and over again. First time I saw "The Locals" was a surprise for me and I'm sure for everyone who watched it. I like the idea of a farmer who has captured all inhabitants of the little town and only let them go when his bones left the area. BEST MOVIE EVER!

The plot: Two friends go on a vacation to a New Zealand countryside where they encounter two women who offer them to go to a party. After their vehicle gets jammed on the roadside they decide to stroll the area looking for assistance when they stumble upon seeing a grisly murder inside a house. When the killer sees them through the window he calls upon his "undead" posse to track them down and join their zombie coterie.There is nothing much to rave about in this movie, it is essentially an extended chase film with no real fright scenes in it, and doesn't appropriate for any character development. All the viewer is subjected to is seeing how the film's characters outflank the zombie clan throughout the entire film to compensate for the movie's obvious limited budget. Lack of special effects or action is what greatly hampers this movie from being a cult classic of any kind. The humor in this film will be totally lost on the viewer as well. It is neither cheesy or a stylish film by any means and the special effects with the evolved time lapse on the decayed corpses in the car were laughably awful. It was maddening near the end of the film to anticipate the unleashing of the clan and something that no casual or die hard horror film fan should have to endure. I give it a 3 for location the rest is trumpery!