The Surfer: An Underwhelming Seaside Tale Of Hostile Localism

Moviegoers will learn one golden rule after watching Aussie flick The Surfer – never prejudge a movie by the trailer as it’s not always an honest representation of the actual movie.

The purpose of movie trailers is to give audiences an idea of what the movie’s about, basically to entice them to come along to the cinema, purchase a ticket at the box office and watch the film. The trailer for this movie accomplishes this quite successfully and should have audiences arriving in droves to cinemas – but will they be satisfied that their hard-earned cash was well spent?

The trailer for The Surfer gives the false impression that it’s a high drama, intense, violent and action-packed movie, but barely 20 minutes after the opening credits it inadvertently transforms to high comedy, offering improbably scenarios with gaping black holes and ultimately bordering on outlandish.

Admittedly the synopsis is quite alluring. Hostile localism is explored when a man takes his teenage son to an idyllic beach he frequented in his younger years, with the intension of spending quality time surfing. However, a surf gang intervenes shouting, “Locals only! You don’t live here!  You don’t surf here!” Refusing to walk away he is warned, “You have to know when to back down else it could get a lot worse….”

Any sane person would quickly walk back to their car and drive to the next beach but not this overly courageous individual. He remains on the beach for the next couple of days and unfortunately audiences (except for the intelligent few who walk out of the cinema) are forced to sit through all his implausible minor misadventures and misdemeanors as he attempts to access the surf.

He is told, “You don’t belong. This is a tight knit community, and you have to prove yourself!” –  and so, the nonsense commences!

It’s obvious a movie has failed when audiences laugh in all the wrongs scenes, especially when it’s meant to be a serious psychological thriller.

Filmed entirely outdoors, the picturesque beach locations, perfect blue skies and gorgeous sunsets are mesmerizing, and the overlong close-up shots of Kangaroos, kookaburras and other native Australian animals highlight this cinematic offering is a postcard to the world.

However, missed opportunities abound in this Australian Irish co-production directed by Lorcan Finnegan. The script especially requires a complete rewrite as it’s hysterically bad and most performances from the ‘partying wax heads’ are unrealistic and simply spawn laughter.

Nicholas Cage who is credited as producer heads the cast which also stars Julian McMahon. Cage portrays the unnamed man who’s on a mission to surf the waves at any cost. A multi-award-winning American actor, he delivers a satisfactory performance considering the feeble script he has to work with.

However, the lingering mystery is, how does Mr Cage keep a straight face as the sheer silliness of the narrative accelerates? More intriguing is, did he not read the script before signing on as bad script choices can potentially shatter careers?

The most intelligent piece of dialogue in this deplorable film is when one of the characters in a very forgettable scene exclaims “Fuckin pathetic!”, which honestly sums up this entire movie…

The Surfer

*1/2

In Cinemas May 15.  Then streams exclusively on Stan June 15.