Arson. Blackmail. Revenge. Sounds like a helluva time, ay?!?
If such a cocktail happens to be your brand of sauce, I suggest copping a look at the international trailer for Nash Edgerton’s neo-noir revenge thriller THE SQUARE, which has just crossed the wire. Why? Not only does AICN’s Harry Knowles tout the flick as the best film noir since BODY HEAT, another quote draws comparisons to the masterful Coen Brothers. If either assertion is even halfway accurate, THE SQUARE is definitely something I need to catapult to the top of my Netflix queue as soon as it’s released.
Scripted by Nash’s brother Joel and Matthew Dabner, the Aussie thriller centers on an adulterous couple whose scheming leads to arson, blackmail and murder. Check it:
Escaping the monotony of a loveless marriage, Raymond Yale becomes entangled in an affair with the beautiful and troubled Carla. Ray’s moral limits are tested when Carla presents him with the proceeds of her controlling husband’s latest crime. This is their chance: Take the money and run… If only it were that simple.
The seed is planted by Ray, fearing he will lose his love, engineers the plan. Hiring the professional arsonist Billy becomes a fatal error, and the plan goes horribly wrong. Alarm bells sound and suspicions are raised but, miraculously, the dust looks to settle. After all…nobody knows.
Then the first blackmail letter arrives.
The couple’s nerves are tested as both Carla’s husband and the mysterious author threaten to throw open their secret. With the blackmailer’s deadline approaching, they are going to find out just how far they are willing to go for love.
Sounds messy. Which is to say, the only way a film noir should operate.
David Roberts, Claire van der Boom (below), Joel Edgerton, and Anthony Hayes play the primary leads, with support offered by Lisa Bailey, Lucy Bell, Paul Caesar, Thomas and Mia Cippendale, Amanda Crompton, Maree D’Arcy, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Luke Doolan and Brendan Donoghue.
Enter THE SQUARE in limited release on April 9th!
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