These Final Hours (2013)

The Gist

When a meteorite crashes into the Earth it sends a cloud of toxic and burning gas across the Earth. One-by-one cities and countries are destroyed. One of the last places left alive is Perth (Western Australia) and even they know that they only have a few hours as left as the toxic plume travels towards them.

These Final Hours is told through the eyes of one of Perth’s residents, the self-centered James (Nathan Phillips). As a lonely radio DJ counts down the last hours James is left wondering whether he should spend them with his pregnant mistress Zoe (Jessica De Gouw) or go to a drug-fuelled party with his girlfriend, Vicky (Kathryn Beck). Then just to confuse him even more he finds a third option, helping young Rose (Angourie Rice) find her father amidst all the mayhem after he rescues from some would-be rapists.

The Review:

The cinema world’s take on the end of the world has always been varied. In recent years we’ve had comedies like Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World and The World’s End, then there have been the mega blockbusters like Deep Impact and Armageddon. Now from first-time feature film director Zak Hilditch comes perhaps one of the grittiest end-of-the-world films you are ever likely to see.

It takes watching These Finals Hours to realise just how unbelievable most Armageddon movies have been over the years. Hilditch gets a strange naturalistic feel to this film and as an audience you almost find yourself transported right there beside James. As he drives through streets and watches people settle scores with each other, people living out their darkest fantasies in their final hours and listening to a radio DJ re-living his regrets on air you begin to realise that in some strange way Hilditch has captured exactly what the end times on Earth would be like. And to his credit he does insert a couple of car chases and actual physical chases but ultimately this is a character piece film rather than a big action blockbuster.

Hilditch’s direction with These Final Hours reveals him to be one of the most promosing directors around at the moment. He captures an eeriness with this film, a mood that we have really only felt before in 28 Days Later. But like directors Larry Clarke or Lars Von Trier Hilditch is not afraid to reveal the darker side of humanity with this film. James’ journey leads him through chance meetings with the clinically insane, would-be pedophile rapists, mass family suicides and even to drug-fuelled orgy. No he isn’t the kind of director to make such a film a ‘nice experience,’ but instead he does the rare thing of making a film so natural it almost feels like you are watching a documentary.

These Finals Hours is also loaded with suspense. Despite his flaws you quickly warm to James and when you soon realise that Hilditch is not afraid to bump off characters at whim you soon start to realise that this may not be a film with a happy ending, so you are soon finding yourself on the edge of your seat realising that James or Rose may be the next to go. The suspense that Hilditch manages to conjure up while James is creeping through his sister’s home or having a tense stand-off with Vicky is right up there with any intense horror or thriller, and this only intensifies the viewing enjoyment.

Also making These Final Hours such a great film are the performances of the main cast. Nathan Phillips again shows why he is still one of Australia’s best kept secrets. Over the years he has put in some really powerful performances in films such as Wolf Creek and Balibo and here in These Final Hours Phillips is again on-song with a gritty performance that really shows just how talented he is. He is also well supported by young Angourie Rice who puts in a strong performance well beyond her years. Hilditch really puts her through her paces, especially in some strong scenes with the talented Sarah Snook at the party but Rice doesn’t flinch and instead shows that she is an actress with a huge career ahead of her.

The Verdict:

These Final Hours is one of the better Armageddon movies that you are ever likely to see. It’s natural feel and brilliant script takes it into some pretty dark places and therefore the film won’t be enjoyed by all audience members, but if you don’t mind a bit of grit in your cinema this is easily going to be one of your favourite film of 2014. Better still this is a film that has unearthed a genuinely gifted director in the form of Zak Hildtich, a filmmaker that is certainly someone to keep on your radar.

The grit and naturalistic feel of These Final Hours makes it a film that its audience isn’t likely to forget in a hurry. This is a film that has deserved all the buzz it has generated from the festivals it has screened at.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jozEpGIrzeU

Certificate: CTC

Director: Zak Hilditch

Starring: Nathan Phillips, Augorie Rice

Running Time: 87 minutes

Release Date: TBA