The Moogai

The monster itself is quite an accomplishment, but the boom in horror movie-making has made us pretty blasé about the grotesque creations the genre can conjure up. Unfortunately, this well-intentioned film isn’t as scary as it’s trying to be.

The horror works on multiple levels, with the scariest moments informed by the lived experience of Aboriginal people.

This film, with its strong Indigenous themes, is a solid addition to the recent burst of well-received independent Australian horror movies.

Not everyone has understood exactly why this is such a brave, confident movie, but everyone needs to know that – despite this – Jon Bell is exactly the kind of filmmaker Australia is lucky to have right now, and desperately needs.

Sadly, its attempts to express the lingering pain and far-reaching historical trauma behind these experiences are rendered moot by dull and tensionless filmmaking.

A film that comes apart relatively early due to an unconvincing lead performance and shallow writing before it really spins off the rails with creature design that should be a cautionary tale for anyone who tries to make a film like this in the future.

Tapping into Indigenous lore and an ensemble of well beloved talent carry a considered lens. At times, it felt as though, the potential to dig deeper was simplified for a broader understanding.

Delivers a compelling setup and shines as an Indigenous horror story. Strong performances anchor the film, but its unrealised potential leaves lingering “why” questions.

It all builds to a satisfying, if wholly predictable, ending, but it at least offers a little more resonance – and bite – than last year’s more high-profile, Down Under psychological horror Run Rabbit Run.

Jon Bell's First Nations suspense drama is disquieting at times, but not scary enough, despite its top cast.