Post Strike Cinema 24' - The Moogai

Happy Halloween! What better way to spend the night after getting hit by a flash storm, than seeing a local horror film. The Moogai opened tonight with select sessions at select cinemas.

Written and directed by Jon Bell, based on the 2020 short film of the same name. Starring the Australian version of The Office's Shari Sebbens, Meyne Wyatt, Tessa Rose, Clarence Ryan, Toby Leonard Moore and Bella Heathcote.

The Moogai had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival back in January 2024, I though thought Halloween was a way better time to check out the local horror picture.

The Moogai is about a young Aboriginal mother who believes that her child is possessed, and includes Indigenous Australian themes related to the Stolen Generations (a government policy of forced removal of Aboriginal children from their parents) and The Dreaming.

Moogai is the Bundjalung word for ghost.

So is The Moogai scary enough for a Halloween release? Well no, but it is a damn fine tale told for modern audiences of the shame of Australia's past. Which is indeed if you watch Ryan Murphy's long running series, American Horror Story, this could be titled Australian Horror Story. Our sad origin story.

I am currently binging the Australian version of The Office, where Shari Sebbens plays a much different role, so it was nice seeing her in a different role.

Meyne Wyatt is also great as Fergus.

For me this was short, sharp and to the point. Great new local flick, 3 Stars.