New Australian supernatural thriller to debut at SXSW Sydney

With feature films now routinely costing multiple millions of dollars, it’s hard to imagine anything passable could be made for less than a seven figure sum. However, Australian film maker, Parish Malfitano, has just proven that, with passion, determination and the right talent, you can make a great film for the price of a modest Italian wedding. 

Salt Along The Tongue is Malfitano’s second feature film. His first, Blood Shot Heart, gained him loads of acclaim, getting thumbs up from critics and making waves on the festival circuit. The expectations have been high for his follow up and Salt Along The Tongue does not disappoint — hence its selection in the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival. 

A semi-finalist in the Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition, Salt Along The Tongue is a well-written suspense drama that proves you don’t need expensive special effects to create an evocative, creepy cinematic experience. 

Told though flashbacks and gradual revelation, a story emerges of childhood trauma, family estrangement, evil curses, and the triumph of love — even from the grave. 

The plot centres on identical twin sisters, Mina and Carol (played by Dina Panozzo), and Mina’s daughter, Mattia (Laneikka Denne). When Mina suddenly and inexplicably dies, young adult daughter, Mattia is sent to live with her aunt, Carol. 

Mina and Carol were once close. They used to have a low-budget cooking show they hosted together. After both their parents died, a deep rift formed between them. Mattia is received icily by Carol, although Carol’s girlfriend, Annika (Caroline Levien) tries to be more sympathetic. 

There is an everpresent sense of malevolence in the air, with shadows in the dark, violent physical attacks, and reference to the Italian superstition of “malocchio”, the evil eye. 

Malfitano builds suspense slowly, with intrigue upon intrigue. While he employs some classic jump scares and sqeam-inducing techniques, the director mostly relies on psychological tools to create an oppresive feeling of dread. 

That said, there are definitely some lighter moments, even a few laughs. One interesting (and refreshing) aspect of the characters is that they all come from a diverse cultural background and there is are conventional relationship structures. And, the entire cast is made up of women. 

This cultural diversity is not token, either. Culture, including European, Asian, LGBTQI, and social fringe communities, is integral to the aesthetic of the film. Character motivations are driven by their beliefs, by emotional etiquette, and by innate, deeply-rooted instincts. 

Food is another very powerful theme in the film: the preparation of it, the enjoyment and sharing of it, the adverse reaction to it. 

The film appears to be set in the 1970s, if the fashion, decor, and mustard-yellow Toyota Corona are anything to go by. The soft matt patina of the film and it’s overall style definitely give it a nostalgic quality. Setting the story before the advent of modern technology allows it to focus legitimately on character interactions and mundane activities. 

Malfitano is an intuitive film maker who is as interested in depicting multi-dimensional characters on screen, as he is on creating disturbing scenes of horror. 

Salt Along The Tongue will keep you thinking, conjecturing, discussing for a long time after the credits roll. 

The world premiere screening at SXSW Sydney on Friday October 18 is sold out. Further screenings to be announced. 

www.crispfilms.co/narrative/salt-along-the-tongue

★★★1/2