An interesting, thrilling ride, with many surprising moments of humor. It's a weekend getaway that doesn't go as planned. And when things go astray, the film gets even more entertaining. Kudos on a well shot, written and acted film. I was hooked early and the film never let me go. A very strong recommendation on this one!
21 Reviews
A series of increasingly uncomfortable events!
Anmer9330 March 2022
A very interesting and deeply uncomfortable film. This has a unique blend of an intense relationship drama, in the vein of Blue Valentine, with major horror vibes. It plays with the 'isolated couple in the woods' sub-genre of horror in very effective ways, as the deterioration of the central couples relationship is set against the backdrop of paranoia and a potentially malevolent external force. Scenes are given lots of time to develop, usually slowly spiralling to a point of pure excruciating discomfort, that on occasion I actively had to stand up from my sofa and do a silly little walk around my living room. The line between well executed direction, performance improvisation and a naturalistic script is blurred to a point that I don't know where to put my compliments. All of those things I guess. Standout performance for me was Nick Pages-Oliver, such a great presence. Only criticism, I probably could have stayed in this world an extra 20 mins or so. Well done to the filmmakers involved.
Definitely worth a watch
honeybunnykins2 April 2022
It's been a while since an Aussie thriller took me by surprise. An intriguing premise, nuanced dialogue and strong performances. The kind of movie that is comfortable making you feel uncomfortable. Highly recommended.
Thrillcore
robschifferli5 April 2022
Aussies know this genre well but sometimes miss the mark. Rob Livings knows how to build tension with his films and you can tell that the actors have the comfort to ad lib their lines. Believable and a controlled piece. Good tempo and original. Must see. Try it.
Nicely done Indie Thriller
mikadoog4 May 2022
This was such an interesting movie. It is a very natural and well acted slow burn of a relationship drama that makes you sort of uncomfortable. The couple is surprised by a rather bizarre character and a feeling of anxiety ensues. It has good camera work and sound and the acting is well done.
Fraught with tension and paranoia
Movies_And_Frights15 April 2022
Very well directed paranoia stressed me the F out, most thrillers usually do. This one had me stressed, it did its job well. Very naturalistic performances and some wildly uncomfortable scenes. It does a fine job of capturing the dark territory a relationship can find itself in when doubt and paranoia take over. A very well done (and beautiful) indie film.
Hilarious and well paced
bearandkid-0700211 April 2022
This film is awesome! A triumph of low budget filmmaking and a joy to watch throughout. Nick Pages-Oliver is on fire in this. As Robert Livings 2nd feature, this solidified for me that every project he works on will have his magic touch, and he's got a great career ahead of him.
Weekend Healer is a slow-burn gem!
juliepiercreates5 April 2022
a non-stop thrill ride
mich1elle2 April 2022
Charmingly Unsettling
david_ryan_kinsman5 April 2022
Endearing, voyeuristic, moody, and quirky. The whole atmosphere of Weekend Healer is a little disarming but easy to digest. The characters, though heavily flawed, are all too relatable as they navigate relationship conversations we have all suffered. Watch with your lover at your own risk!
natural yet uncomfortable thriller/drama
marceldorian4 April 2022
The movie starts off as a relationship drama set in the woods where a couple retreats to work on themselves until a stranger appears and then it slowly moves into the thriller territory. The dialogue and the eerie atmosphere pull us into this the lives of our couple. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, give this one a go.
Good Indie Film!
thyg-657685 April 2022
I'm surprised in how much I liked this film! At first I was reluctant to give this film I'd never heard of a try but I definitely started to get sucked in after a short while. All the performances felt very natural, almost the dialogue was semi improvised. It had some very funny parts every once in a while to break up the tension as well. I'd recommend this as a good watch if your looking for an indie film!
Really enjoyed this film!
AtTheMovies5215 June 2022
Not your average weekend!
alexclaus714 April 2022
A very funny and slightly bonkers film! What starts off as a relaxing country getaway soon descends into a frightening and often very funny thriller. A well made film with engaging and naturalistic performances and solid pacing and direction. Well worth a look!
Seriously, so good!
roblesharhold31 March 2022
So...I am sitting here blown away by what I just watched. That was one of the MOST NATURALLY written dialogue films I have ever watched. It was as if we had copied word for word conversations we eavesdroped on. Writing dialogue is tough, and these guys did it brilliantly. But not to be overshadowed by the AMAZING performances of the actors. Sometimes, you don't need a 10 million dollar budget, super heros and big names to tell a great story. Glad I stumbled upon this one! It's a great watch.
Subtle and Thoughtful
lee_yang_18 April 2022
Weekend Healer is a subtle and thoughtfully told relationship drama. It's a slow burn with a litany of plot & character metaphors. If you're in the mood for a more engaged experience, this might be the movie for you. The film is understated in all of its elements, and they all go hand in hand with one another, even to the point of the color.
Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat!
filmpurgatory24 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
When I first saw the trailer to this film, I thought it was going to be a horror film in the same vein as 2019's The Lodge, due to its color grading, tone and editing. However, the film was more of a thriller and a bit of a comedy. This is a clever way to subvert the audience's expectations, which in of itself is a very difficult task to do and can often ruin the film if not done properly. However, Weekend Healer not only succeeds in subverting our expectations, it does so spectacularly.
This film shares many similarities with Sofia Coppola's On The Rocks. Both films deal with a main character who thinks their partner is cheating on them and let their feelings of jealousy cloud their perception of reality and drive a rift in their relationship. The key difference is that Weekend Healer offers a far more realistic outcome of Mark's insecurity and jealousy compared with the slightly more optimistic On The Rocks.
One thing I enjoyed about the cinematography was the balance of close ups and aerial shots. The distant shots give a good window into the characters and their feelings. This rings especially true for Mark, whose suspicions drive the conflict. We as the audience see everything through his eyes. For example, every time Rob appears on screen, ominous music would play in the background, almost indicating a threatening presence to the audience.
Additionally, the dialogue is very natural, and makes the characters feel like real people. They both stutter and repeat themselves, much like people do in real life. Speaking of the characters, they are all compelling to watch. Mark is an interesting POV character in his unreliability and entitlement. Katie is very likable and sympathetic, and Rob does a great job balancing the suspicion that the audience has with a very likable, well-meaning man that would be fun to be around.
Weekend Healer is a film that not only subverts your expectations, it also keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing what's going to happen next. The characters are interesting and mostly enjoyable to watch, and the writing only adds to their believability. Robert Livings shows great range as a film director, perfectly adding subtle horror elements in a comedy thriller. With great cinematography and performances, this movie is worth a viewing!
This film shares many similarities with Sofia Coppola's On The Rocks. Both films deal with a main character who thinks their partner is cheating on them and let their feelings of jealousy cloud their perception of reality and drive a rift in their relationship. The key difference is that Weekend Healer offers a far more realistic outcome of Mark's insecurity and jealousy compared with the slightly more optimistic On The Rocks.
One thing I enjoyed about the cinematography was the balance of close ups and aerial shots. The distant shots give a good window into the characters and their feelings. This rings especially true for Mark, whose suspicions drive the conflict. We as the audience see everything through his eyes. For example, every time Rob appears on screen, ominous music would play in the background, almost indicating a threatening presence to the audience.
Additionally, the dialogue is very natural, and makes the characters feel like real people. They both stutter and repeat themselves, much like people do in real life. Speaking of the characters, they are all compelling to watch. Mark is an interesting POV character in his unreliability and entitlement. Katie is very likable and sympathetic, and Rob does a great job balancing the suspicion that the audience has with a very likable, well-meaning man that would be fun to be around.
Weekend Healer is a film that not only subverts your expectations, it also keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing what's going to happen next. The characters are interesting and mostly enjoyable to watch, and the writing only adds to their believability. Robert Livings shows great range as a film director, perfectly adding subtle horror elements in a comedy thriller. With great cinematography and performances, this movie is worth a viewing!
Really Good
catheraneskillen8 May 2022
This was an interesting take on a frayed relationship and the catalyst through the third character that brought things to a head. The characters had dimension and I found myself by turns rooting for them, being annoyed with them, fearful for them and then laughing at their behavior. It was a great ride and the three main actors were superb. Hats off to Rob Livings for a job well done.
Hilarious and haunting
jordanpao116 April 2022
A haunting getaway led by some of the strongest performances you'll see coming out from Perth, WA.
Weekend Healer tracks a couple's fight to steady their turbulent relationship as they reach ends meet with their recluse host... and bandits. The minimalist filmmaking approach serves as a charming vehicle to the lives of Katie and Mark's relationship, grounding the relationship in a sense of hyperrealism while inviting horror conventions to be toyed with in a refreshing and down right entertaining way.
Weekend Healer is a trip not to miss.
Weekend Healer tracks a couple's fight to steady their turbulent relationship as they reach ends meet with their recluse host... and bandits. The minimalist filmmaking approach serves as a charming vehicle to the lives of Katie and Mark's relationship, grounding the relationship in a sense of hyperrealism while inviting horror conventions to be toyed with in a refreshing and down right entertaining way.
Weekend Healer is a trip not to miss.
Great Indie Film!
rnundlall3 April 2022
Subtle & Genius
danepyates6 April 2022
I still don't know if its a comedy or a thriller but it'll have you on the edge glued to your screen the whole ride! Both hilarious and suspenseful. The acting and direction is amazing, it'll make you rethink relationships, it'll make you uncomfortably awkward but you're not going to want to leave! Totally recommend/10.
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