The Pact (2002)

I know Sigrid Thornton can be pretty grating in some roles (and what’s up with those vitamin ads?) but she is normally associated with quality projects. Or that’s what I thought until now…

Susan is a wild and crazy teenager who goes train surfing with three other buddies until one of them dies in a gruesome accident. The three remaining friends make a pact to do something notable with their lives in 15 years time. Flash forward 15 years and Susan, who looked like Saskia Burmeister a minute ago, is now played by Thornton (not buying it, but no matter). She gets an unwelcome visit from Wilga, one of the train buddies, who has taken their pact rather seriously and has also become somewhat unhinged, killing people all over the place and framing Susan for it. She – of course – goes on the run from the cops who – of course – don’t believe her side of the story and – of course – drags along her 11 year old daughter and a tiny, yelping DOG! (The plot does supply a reason for the dog later on and it’s a doozy!)

Eventually, they find refuge with a handsome farmer Roy (Peter O’Brien), a religious chap who likes to say grace before meals but is apparently not religious enough to say no to an unabashed root with Susan in his shed.

The main problem with this film is its script – it’s so amateurish that it’s often unintentionally funny. The cynical cops are completely cartoonish, motivations are unclear and dialogue, when not delving into the thriller cliché textbook, is plain hilarious. My favourite line: Susan (wistfully): “I haven’t driven a tractor in years.”

Yes, I knew it was a small Aussie film that no one has ever heard but the world is full of small Aussie films that no one has ever heard of and a lot of them are great. The Pact is not in that category.