Predicament: DVD Review
Predicament
Rating: M
Released by Vendetta Films
Adapted from the novel by New Zealand author Ronald Hugh Morrieson,
this is the tale of naive teen Cedric Williamson (newcomer Hayden
Frost).
Cedric is bullied at school and has an odd family life (to say the
least). His father (Tim Finn) is building an enormous tower in
their front yard from rubble, as he copes with the loss of his
wife.
One day Cedric meets Mervyn Toebeck (Heath Franklin aka comedian
Chopper) and the pair forms a friendship, with Mervyn abusing the
bond to bludge off Cedric and his family.
When pasty white oddball Spook (Jemaine Clement) shows up, the trio
hits upon the idea of blackmailing the locals - and Cedric's
determined to use the scheme to get revenge against the Bramwells
(the developers who stole his family land).
But the revenge plot goes a little wrong.
Wannabe Gothic comedy it may be, but Predicament remains a
difficult and divisive watch. Sure Clement and Franklin make good
watching, and while the scenery is beautifully realized and shot,
there's little that's actually engaging in the film itself.
Which is bitterly disappointing - I can't exactly pinpoint why
Predicament doesn't do anything for me; but it is a curio of a
film.
Extras: Trailers, featurettes and cast and crew
interviews - nothing sensational.
Rating: 5/10
