The Moogai
| The Moogai | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jon Bell |
| Written by | Lucy Campbell |
| Starring | Shari Sebbens |
| Cinematography | Sean Ryan |
Release date | 21 January 2024 |
| Country | Australia |
The Moogai is a 2024 Australian feature horror film based on a short film of the same name, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024. Written and directed by Jon Bell, the film stars Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt.
Synopsis[edit]
The story is about a young Aboriginal mother who thinks that her child is possessed, and includes Indigenous Australian themes related to the Stolen Generations (a government policy of forced removal of Aboriginal children from their parents) and The Dreaming.[1] Moogai is the Bundjalung word for "ghost".[2]
Cast[edit]
- Shari Sebbens as Sarah
- Meyne Wyatt as Fergus
- Tessa Rose as Ruth
- Clarence Ryan as Ray Boy
- Christian Byers as Constable Flatley
- Toby Leonard Moore as Dr Barnes
- Bella Heathcote as Becky
- Alexandra Jensen as Miss Miller
Production[edit]
Bell's short film of the same name won the Midnight Shorts Grand Jury Award at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival, as well as Best Director at the 2021 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival.[3] The film is available in Australia on free streaming service SBS on Demand.[4]
The film was co-produced by Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings, of Causeway Films. South Australian special effects company KOJO Studios was responsible for the visual effects. Marty Pepper of KOJO, who served as, executive director, post-production, created a replica of the set at his own property in Willunga to create effects during post-production.[1]
Release[edit]
The film premiered in the Midnights section of the Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2024.[3][5]
Reception[edit]
Reviewers of the Sundance premiere gave The Moogai mixed reviews,[6][7] with the RogerEbert.com reviewer suggesting that "tightening the effects" would help the film, and hoping that it would be further refined before its theatrical release.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Keen, Suzie (2 February 2024). "Made in SA: films and TV shows to watch out for in 2024". InReview. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "The Moogai (2020)". Letterboxd. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Program Guide". 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Watch The Moogai". SBS On Demand. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Toth, Julianna (6 December 2023). "THE MOOGAI is headed to Sundance! – Umbrella Entertainment". Umbrella Entertainment. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Bradley, Laura (25 January 2024). ""The Moogai": The Terrifying Horror Movie That Could Be the Next 'Babadook'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "[Sundance 2024] THE MOOGAI -- Australian Horror May Be Fizzling Out". disappointment media. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Tallerico, Brian (25 January 2024). "Sundance 2024: In a Violent Nature, The Moogai, Krazy House". rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
External links[edit]
- The Moogai at IMDb
- The Moogai at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Moogai at Causeway Films
