Lead Me Astray

Lead Me Astray is not your usual indie thriller. While the small budget may be blindingly obvious at times, it is offset by the meticulous detail and crafting that went into all aspects of production.

Inspiration from the gritty ‘Ozploitation’ genre (a low-budget film type born of the burgeoning Aussie film community of the 70s and 80s, that spawned the likes of Razorback and Mad Max), is evident in all aspects of the film––from the synth-driven musical score, to the surreal lighting.

Troubled protagonist Alexis Willard, portrayed by the NIDA-trained Jace Pickard, is a 23-year-old veterinary student whose violent and troubled past comes back to haunt him after he inadvertently kills a gang member whilst defending his girlfriend Lacey (Alannah Robertson) from an assault. The truth of his past slowly unravels, culminating in a deadly game of cat and mouse in an abandoned prison.

The riveting, suspenseful action of the prison sequence is a testament to the sheer will and determination of director of Tom Danger and his team to produce an excellent thriller, in spite of the odds.

This film may not have the simplest plot to follow, but the pay-off is a spectacular twist at the finish line. Occasional corny scripting and the high concept personas of the gang of ‘bad guys’ should be accepted as part of the charm of the genre.

In October the film has had its Sydney premiere and was selected for the 2015 Yonkers Film Festival in New York. The creators continue to submit to numerous film festivals, vying for local and international attention.

The team hope to take what they’ve learned into producing their next bigger, better and bloodier production. Lead Me Astray has the essence of a project that will be looked back on as the starting point of some very interesting film and acting careers. (AM)

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