Blackrock (1997)

I watched this movie in school back when I was in year 7 and was affected by the movie but more so in the way that I lorified partying and glazed over the important message of 'this is what can go wrong'. This later happened to me at schoolies - thankfully I am still here today. I think parents should watch this with their children and teachers too at the crucial changes of age during the teenage years. Might help keep them wary.

Well acted youth oriented Aussie movie based on a real life rape and murder case, I believe. The young actors are good - the teen surfing culture seems to be pretty accurate. Script by the late Nick Enight and director Steven Vidler based on Enright's play staged, originally, by the Sydney Theatre Company. Linda Cropper shines as a single mum. Three and a half stars.

It was ok, worth a watch.

An interesting movie a must for parents and teens to watch together has a very strong message while still being very entertaining.

I didn't know what to expect of this film but it was very powerful and although the end was a bit of a cop out the rest of it explored the constraints and obligations our friendships can have on us very well, sometimes with devastating effects.

Excellent premise sets up a gritty, real-life film, with similarities to many teenage novels that deal with choices in exceptional circumstances. Jared is played well by Breuls, who was seen earlier on "Home and Away" but had been in the screen wilderness since, and who manages to hold his own in a bumper cast which includes Hollywood star Ledger, and acclaimed actors Davis, Field, Haywood, Hopkins, Horler, Napier, Lyndon and Howard. The lifestyle of the surfie teens is set up well, giving an accurate portrayal of the hedonistic sex-drugs ritual many of them put themselves through - boredom is suggested as a decisive driving factor here. But the main element of the film deals with Jared's choices - does he stay silent to protect a mate, or will his conscience win over? It's difficult to find a bad component of this film, which was very unlucky not to win Best Film at the AFI Awards for that year. Enright was approached in 1991 by Brian Joyce (director, Freewheels educational theatre company in Newcastle) to write a play about the consequences surrounding the recent rape-murder of teenager Leigh Leigh at a beach party? he initially refused, but eventually wrote the play "A Property of the Clan", first performed in 1992, which he then adapted into "Blackrock" for the Sydney Theatre Company after actor John Howard (who later would appear in the film) and Wayne Harrison approached Enright and offered to help develop it. The initial performance of "Blackrock", at Wharf I on 30 August 1995, included Lyndon, who played Jared, and Smart (Cherie), as well as acclaimed actors Paul Bishop, Daniel Wyllie, Teo Gebert, Joel Edgerton, John Walton, Kym Wilson and Angela Punch McGregor.

This is a movie that makes you realise as a young woman how stupid we can be I think mothers every where should make there daughters watch this....I was sick at how many times this could have been me

Surfing who dunnit, rather sordid in places but reasonably well done. Seems fairly true to life, good if you like that type of movie.

A gritty and ultimately tragic comment on the lives of young Australians, their values and the consequences of their behaviour. Darkly and grainily shot. Greart writing by Nick Enreight.

A true story can sometimes cut so close it breaks open loosely healed wounds and it is this simple honesty of the film that shines as its greatest asset when coupled with the in your face and close to what could easily be anyones home. It is hard not to feel the anguish and strain of those involved hearts in this topical for the time Australian drama

3.5 Stars.