A majestic rainstorm illuminates the city backdrop throughout much of this Australian supernatural horror. A downpour can add so much atmosphere and unease to scenes if handled effectively - and here, Director (and Writer) Michael Petroni uses it very well indeed.Sam Neill is an actor who has quietly built up a massive body of work. He is always solid, reliable and a powerful presence onscreen. Casually sophisticated and authoritative, he is typically fine here, playing Duncan Stewart, sceptical of the sinister possibilities that are unfolding. Neill's in good company - Adrien Brody is excellent as tortured Psychologist Peter Bower, who happens upon young Elizabeth, a patient who holds secrets of her own.This unleashes a whole series of sightings, glimpses, jump scares and apparitions. And yet the overall effect is more of a slowly unfolding mystery than a 'straightforward' horror (if there is such a thing), elevated by the performances from the universally excellent cast and rich production values. The film doesn't quite live up to the moody success of its early scenes, but it keeps things simmering nicely.The finale and climax either work or they don't, depending on your point of view. After such a carefully built-up - and occasionally ponderous - storyline, the last moments step up a couple of gears to provide what I thought was a pretty satisfying endgame, even if the 'twist' at the end is fairly routine.

This is a nice little horror film. It has elements of the Changeling (1980), a bit of Sixth Sense, a bit of Jacobs Ladder and even a bit of Flatliners, and a bit of a Beautiful Mind... without ever achieving the heights of any of these classic films. It is probably closest to the Changeling (1980) in style... a slow build up that combines mystery and classic ghost story.It makes great use of sound which is the essence of a good horror film. It is let down by the cheap jump scare tactics. It would've been a lot better had they left the horror makeup at home too. It was doing really well on the creepy front when it maintained the human appearance... but when it went into demonic mode it destroyed the best parts of the film.I've given it 8/10 because it is a good film and it does make excellent use of sound... can't stress enough the importance of sound in horror... it is much more important than the visual.Don't expect a slasher movie... those are not true horror... they're thrillers. For me horror needs to be subtle and contain an element of the supernatural, and it needs to make you feel uneasy long after the film. If it doesn't raise the hairs on the back of your arm at least once then it is rubbish. This film ticks the boxes for a decent horror and it is only let down by the cheap shots... and his father is not a very good actor.

This was clearly not my cuppa tea, but seen as part of AACTA member screenings for 2016, 'Backtrack' has some significant qualities, most of all the committed performance of Adrien Brody who not only keeps the viewer thoroughly hooked and tense, but delivers a surprisingly convincing Australian accent in this horror/mystery/supernatural melange of a movie. Casting George Shevtsov as the father to Brody's character was a stroke of genius as there are few actors on the planet with the sort of aquiline features that the Oscar winner has. And to find an actor in Australia who has the gravitas to match! This lends important authenticity to an otherwise pretty bizarre and twisted tale. There is something very nasty & violent at the core of 'Backtrack' despite Brody's sympathetic portrayal, I was mostly disinterested in the content; especially the zombie/ghost inclusions.Like I disclaimer-ed, this is not my sort of movie, but the soundscape is suitably moody and tense, and the camera work with masterful editing give this film its very self conscious and abrupt narrative. Having Sam Neill in the cast is always a bonus, but the film is all too often too moody and arty for its own good, with the viewer left scrambling to make head or tail of what has or hasn't happened to the protagonist. The score is a little too intrusive and signposting the text and the subtext, instead of allowing the ideas to present naturally. I can see 'Backtrack' finding an audience, as it is most definitely a genre piece and there is a hunger for this sort of entertainment. It is well made, and on the whole well acted. Robin McLeavy is especially convincing in a supporting role and has terrific presence on screen. I watched the movie as Adrien Brody is a great actor, but there's enough tragedy and dysfunction in the world for me to be too engaged or enraptured with 'Backtrack' and its psycho horror tale. At the end of the movie, it is for all intents and purposes, a pretty conventional mystery dressed up as much more. For the aficionados only@!

I found this movie by accident on a rainy Sunday. I love Adrien Brody and have watched everything I can find with him in it. He can be funny or dramatic. I do not know why he isn't a bigger star. He is a lot better than some that are! This movie allows him to show a wide range of emotions. Backtrack is very creepy. Just when you think you know what's going to happen the movie surprises you again. Brody is so good in this movie. You feel his pain and anguish. It is riveting and scary...a mystery right up to the end. The villain was someone I never suspected. I was really at the edge of my seat. Well done. We all need more Adrien Brody!