Fair Game (1986) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

Australia 1985
Director: Mario Andreacchio
Cast: Cassandra Delaney, Peter Ford, David Sandford, Garry Who, Don Barker, Carmel Young
Rating: Australia (M)
Release Date: 24 July 1986; 17 September 2008 (DVD)
Running Time: 1 hour 23 minutes

The Movie Review

Fair Game film still 1


FAIR GAME
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Now this is what I called a forgotten gem... It's a wonder that no one knows about this movie and apparently almost non-existent in any lists over the internet :-) Fair Game can be considered also as a part of Ozploitation (Australian Exploitation) genre. Fair Game delivers some awesome stunt moves from actors --who pose also as stuntmen-- have already show their daredevil ability right from the early scenes, kudos to David Sandford. Asking around about this movie here and there proved to be useless, eventually thanks to IMDb which provide information about it :)

Jessica (Cassandra Delaney) is a very energetic and idealistic girl who runs the Corella wildlife sanctuary in the Australian Outback. One day, the area is interrupted by the presence of three kangaroo hunters who not only kill the wildlife animals to skin them but also harass Jessie by invading her privacy, mocking her and even to take a picture of her sleeping naked. At first their fight is not so serious and these three men, Sony (Peter Ford of Mad Max (1979)), Sparks (Garry Who) and Ringo (David Sandford) are more of big bullies who toy with this petite brunette. But after they brutally kill so many animals, Jessie decides to do something very dicey and will enrage these guys even more even to the extent of really hurting her. What will happen to Jessie?

Almost No holds barred, Fair Game is a gritty and realistic portrayal of what sick people can do to other human being. Fair Game is a strong action thriller movie which definitely not for everybody for its shocking contents. And although Fair Game may seem like a wet dream for PETA activists, but there are some violent scenes pertaining animals that they might refrain themselves to see. But let's set aside about the animals, because violent/humiliation scenes pertaining the lead actress (Cassandra Delaney) is also very graphic, that the BBFC had to cut 57 seconds of the movie. What scene? Jessica is tied up to their truck and stripped almost entirely naked and they drive the truck through the outback until she passes out. See... It's wicked. But apparently this nude scene is just a part of gratuitous nudity contents in this Aussie flick, because there are also more nude scenes by Cassandra. But to call it cheap is a definite misunderstanding! Why...? The action sequences are daring and amazing!

There is something very 80s about Fair Game, wardrobe, head band, the music score, the soundtrack but what stands out above most modern movies are the raw stunt scenes. Yes, those scenes make Fair Game still entertaining even after 25 years. The action sequences are very memorable... The stunts are crazy and extremely dangerous, such as in one scene that let's say that had David Sandford reacted a little bit late, he would have plunged to death in an instant! The action is already on almost right from the get-go, even before the movie even goes into 5 minute mark. And the cinematography of the unique landscape of Australian Outback also provides logic for all the absence of police officers that gives way for the thrilling hunting scenes between the Jessica and the bandits.

Filmed entirely in South Australia and produced with an estimated budget of AUD 1,260,000, Fair Game had apparently experienced some unfair moments when it garnered revenue for a miniscule amount of only AUD 13,902 (Australia). Fair Game was directed by Mario Andreacchio as his directorial debut; Andreacchio's latest work was screened last April in Jakarta titled The Dragon Pearl (2010). I recommend Fair Game for all action lovers, and even though rather shocking but at least it's definitely not sadistic as Wolf Creek (2005).

> Is Australian Outback really that dangerous?: Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback (2007).

> The lighter side of Outback : Kangaroo Jack (2003).

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com
Twitter: @movielogy
posted: Wednesday, 28 December 2011 05:42 am