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The Last Wave

The Last Wave

1977
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 46m
A Sydney lawyer has more to worry about than higher-than-average rainfall when he is called upon to defend five Aboriginals in court. Determined to break their silence and discover the truth behind the hidden society he suspects lives in his city, the Lawyer is drawn further, and more intimately, into a prophesy that threatens a new Armageddon, wherein all the continent shall drown. (imdb)
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The Last Wave

1977
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 46m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 60.64% from 468 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(467)
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Rated 18 Nov 2019
70
67th
A somewhat inaccessible and messy but by no means uninteresting Australian mystery, that stylistically and thematically bridges a gap between the masterpiece Don't Look Now and the decidedly not a masterpiece Knowing (whether or not that was a gap needed bridging, I'll let you decide).
Rated 25 Apr 2023
70
65th
There was just a little bit too much of a disconnect for myself as I don't have a very rich knowledge of the Aboriginals or even Australia as a whole so the film left me with questions that I didn't feel it appropriately answered, for example, what in the hell is a vegemite sandwich?
Rated 04 Sep 2022
87
85th
It has a Criterion and can be found completely on YouTube but is still a hidden masterpiece of folk horror. There is a brilliant economy in its constant, ambient rain and growling didgeridoos - laying bare a social unconscious just barely awake to its primordial history and suppression of indigenous thought. It has a leaning towards uncomfortable Noble Savage tendencies, but it’s made up for by careful direction and authentic acting by its non-professionals. Just let it wash over you.
Rated 28 Jan 2007
85
95th
A socially and philosophically interesting, high-quality mystery and thriller, involving the Aboriginal occult.
Rated 30 Aug 2009
58
34th
There is a decent movie buried underneath the meandering plot and vague dreamlike scenes, but the (rather bland) story takes ages to develop and I felt apathy throughout thanks to the far from engaging delivery. Digeridoo ambient sounds pretty creepy, I'll give you that.
Rated 07 Apr 2010
76
41st
"Hey man, do you ever, like, stop and think about...heavy stuff? Like, you know...what's REALLY 'real'?" I normally detest films based on the whole "what's reality" premise (hello "Vanilla Sky"!), so all the credit in the world goes out to Peter Weir for churning out a moderately suspenseful flick here, even if it falls well short of his superior "Picnic at Hanging Rock". Chamberlain and the amateur actors put in a solid day's work and the dreamy sequences are equal parts surreal and unnerving.
Rated 23 Oct 2018
7
61st
Proof that, whatever material he handles, and whatever the budget, Weir has a way of churning out good movies just with his storytelling prowess.
Rated 01 Feb 2022
60
62nd
A man comes to realise that dreams contain a significance that is not just psychological, but social, cosmic and apocalyptic (cf., TAKE SHELTER). Very deliberately paced, with some of that stilted quality that seems peculiarly Australian, but still manages to conjure a sense of the uncanny and foreboding. Even so, there is something a bit odd about building a climax around the idea that behind Australian Aboriginal culture there are mysteries and prophecies brought across from South America.
Rated 29 May 2007
90
92nd
A masterfully suspenseful film that successfully expresses the heart of Aboriginal culture as well as delves deep into the psyche of the protagonist.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
82
73rd
Wicked cool and creepy flick.
Rated 29 Sep 2007
60
21st
Classic, huh? Usual Peter Weir BS. Not as bad as Dead Poets Society, at least.
Rated 05 Oct 2008
78
84th
You are SOL if you are expecting a "Hollywoodish" thriller. 'The Last Wave' is slow-moving, creepy and can get rather confusing towards the end. There are some aspects of the movie which aren't spelled out for you, but Weir lets you arrive at your own conclusions about them.
Rated 04 Dec 2008
80
56th
A film worth seeing, the Australian Aboriginal influences are used to create a creepy, otherworldly atmosphere.
Rated 21 Jan 2009
60
46th
trippy
Rated 04 May 2009
75
54th
An interesting, if not entirely satisfying, chiller.
Rated 31 May 2009
5
80th
Who....are..you?
Rated 08 May 2010
86
59th
Interesting and original, but too many loose ends.
Rated 30 May 2010
75
90th
This essentially simple film is extremely atmospheric and well shot, it's value shows when contrasted with the crowd of contemporary films with similar topics. Made me remember the Weir experience.
Rated 21 Dec 2010
82
88th
Atmospheric mystery with some wonderful dreamy imagery, quite haunting, and an understated performance from Chamberlain. Linked in theme and mood to "Picnic at Hanging Rock".
Rated 01 Jan 2011
6
81st
Aesthetically, it's amazing. It really does feel like a place on the brink of being consumed by a biblical flood. The endless storm, the crumbling architecture -- it's a film worth watching just for the ominous mood. The story, however, is undeniably cheesy. Aboriginal cults, prophecies, dream projections, oh my! With a better story, it could have been an effective chiller. Instead, it's an atmospheric, though not altogether unnerving, film. Ends on an memorable note.
Rated 18 Jan 2011
80
66th
80.000
Rated 08 Oct 2013
80
64th
79.500
Rated 31 Jan 2014
75
62nd
I have no idea why I downloaded this to watch, but it was a beautifully atmospheric, amazingly enjoyable load of old tosh. I struggle with films where I am left to piece everything together for myself, particularly if I am not familiar with the culture and memes being discussed, but even though I didn't really understand what the hell was going on, the music, lighting and editing made for a truly gripping and unique experience. Might give this a second viewing, and try to understand it better!
Rated 24 Apr 2015
87
86th
Mysterious and baffling as fuck, with a shit-ton of rain to emphasis the fogginess of the situation and its slipping away from reality (though they could've used fog as well). Works as well as a horror film than most horror films I've seen, this masterfully builds an uneasy form of suspense and doom through some very odd scenes that only gradually reveal the context they are in -- superb directing!
Rated 11 Oct 2015
81
64th
Weir is a very good director and the sense of mystery he creates is top notch, reminiscent of the disquieting atmosphere of Picnic at Hanging Rock. The performances are great too and, along with the cinematography, it all adds up to a compelling film that is very easy to watch even in the creepiest most foreboding moments. I wish the narrative had a bit more meat to it, but that's a issue I have with a lot of mysteries that care more about mood than resolution.
Rated 11 Nov 2015
50
24th
have seen this and not that long ago but can't remember much, guess that's a bad sign
Rated 28 Oct 2017
50
35th
Passes the time.
Rated 07 Aug 2019
72
80th
A very intriguing and atmospheric movie that had an eerie vibe that reminded me of Wolfen. The acting was pretty good, the music fit the movie, the story was decent but the mood was hypnotically amazing.
Rated 25 Aug 2020
75
41st
Uneasily draws out the cultural roots our spirits are connected with. The unexplained happenings, answered by men of faith and spirituality, in the end shapes this mysterious destiny for mankind. We may be unaware of the qualities that exist within anthropology, but there remains evidence of culture all around us.
Rated 26 Mar 2021
70
57th
peter weir is an incredible director.
Rated 11 Apr 2021
7
66th
"your middle class condescension towards the aboriginies is revolting" but then it turns out he was right?
Rated 22 Jun 2021
100
99th
A tremendous psychological thriller that melts the "flood myth" of aboriginal culture into the bourgeoisie. The most original movie I've ever seen. Pure magic, a jaw-dropping masterpiece...
Rated 02 May 2022
65
60th
An ambitious film of the like rarely made in this country with a reasonably strong visual style and mood that is hard to describe. Unfortunately, the acting is a bit stiff, and the mythological aspects of the story become sillier as it progresses, especially in the final act, and it is easy to get the sense that it could have projected a stronger feeling of doom and gloom by capitalising more explicitly on the environmental problems/context of the 1970s.

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