Incident at Raven's Gate
Incident at Raven's Gate (also released as Encounter at Raven's Gate) is a 1988 science fiction arthouse feature film directed by prominent Australian director Rolf de Heer.
| Incident at Raven's Gate | |
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 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Rolf de Heer |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | an original screenplay by James Michael Vernon |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Steven Vidler |
| Cinematography | Richard Michalak |
| Edited by | Suresh Ayyar |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Filmpac Holdings |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | AU$2.5 million[1] |
The cast of Incident at Raven's Gate includes long-term Australian stage and screen actor Max Cullen as a policeman and Terry Camilleri as an astrophysicist attached to Special Branch, investigating unexplained radar signals in a remote South Australian country town.
Plot
At Raven's Gate, a farming property, enthusiastic hydroponicist Richard Cleary (Ritchie Singer) is trying innovative farming practices. He is also trying to accommodate his brother Eddie (Steven Vidler), newly out of jail and more interested in Richard's wife Rachel (Celine Griffin)[lower-alpha 1] than in working on the property.
Strange events on the property and a minor crime in the town attract policeman Taylor (Max Cullen) and Special Branch investigator Cummings (Terry Camilleri). Eddie has the misfortune to cross local cop Skinner (Vincent Gil), for dating the target of his affections, barmaid Annie (Saturday Rosenberg).
Tensions in personal relationships and mysterious events (bird kills, disappearing water supplies) build. Raven's Gate is assaulted by an alien force, and a number of deaths occur amongst the protagonists.[2][3] The film closes with the stunned survivors Eddie and Rachel standing outside Raven's Gate homestead, newly restored by Special Branch, and the soundtrack playing the Easybeats song Friday on My Mind.
Production
Incident at Raven's Gate is a genre-crossing film: part thriller, part science fiction, and part psychological drama.[2] It was shot on location[1] and made in South Australia, with South Australian Film Corporation support, for a budget of A$2.5 million.[2] The filmmakers say only $1.1 million was spent on the actual film, and the rest were fees for executive producers, writers and producers.[1]
It was co-produced by de Heer and Marc Rosenberg, who wrote the script from a screenplay by James Michael Vernon.[2] It was filmed in South Australia's Riverland and Murraylands, and Carrington, New South Wales.
Critical reception
The movie achieved only limited release and did not receive the critical acclaim of many other de Heer films.[2] It nevertheless managed three nominations at the 1988 Australian Film Institute Awards.[4]
- Other reviews
- Hutak, M. (1989). 'Incident at Raven's Gate', Film News, April, no. 3.
- Stratton, D. (1988). 'Incident at Raven's Gate', Variety, August.
See also
Notes
- Also known as Celine O'Leary
References
- Stratton, David (1990). The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry. Pan MacMillan. pp. 283–84. ISBN 9780732902506.
- Hawker, Phillipa (1995). Murray, Scott (ed.). "Incident at Raven's Gate". Australian Film 1978–1994: A Survey of Theatrical Features. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, Australian Film Commission and Cinema Papers.
- "Seldom Seen review: Encounter at Raven's Gate". Twitchfilm.net. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
- "Incident at Raven's Gate: Information". vertigoproductions.com.au. Vertigo Productions. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
External links
- Incident at Raven's Gate at Rolf de Heer's production company Vertigo Productions
- Incident at Raven's Gate at Oz Movies
- Incident at Raven's Gate at IMDb