In Lorcan Finnegan’s existential surf-noir “The Surfer,� our titular wave worshipper (Nicolas Cage) learns the hard way that you can’t go home again. Riffing on Australian New Wave classics like “Wake in Fright,� Irish filmmaker Finnegan and writer Thomas Martin place their star in a sun-blasted car park overlooking the tasty tubes of the fictional Luna Bay, Australia, and let him unravel under the mental torment of a local surf gang led by the charismatic Scally (Julian McMahon).
“Don’t live here, don’t surf here,� is the threat barked at our nameless surfer and his teenage son (Finn Little) when they step onto the sand at Luna Bay, boards in hand. He was hoping to paddle out and show his son the house he’s planning to purchase, on a cliffside above the water. It’s his childhood home, the place he grew up before his father’s death required them to relocate (hence his American accent).
This flick isn’t a masterpiece, not even a vulgar one, but it’s cheeky and entertaining enough in its giddy hyper-violence, thanks almost entirely to the star turn of Josh Hartnett, who has proven in his recent renaissance that he’s especially great in bozo mode. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: Josh Hartnett saves 'Fight or Flight' from crash landing
This one will likely only appeal to fans of the genre who appreciate reverence and twists on this kind of material, but it’s bloody � if lightweight � fun for those who enjoy this kind of good old-fashioned romp in the woods. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: 'Until Dawn' a gory romp in the woods
