Let's give Netflix Streaming the cold shoulder today on account of how it put us through the emotional wringer last week and forced me to eschew my much needed beauty sleep! Let's go visit our unreliable and fickle old pal YouTube instead! I usually don't feel entirely comfortable wrapping a post around a YouTube movie as you never know when they too will skip out on you, but today's flick is so good it has inspired me to throw caution to the wind. I also sometimes worry that if I get folks to watch something for free (!) then somebody somewhere, a bag lady perhaps, is not getting her royalty check! Karma-lamity! The thing is this one isn't on DVD anyway and my theory is if you watch it on YouTube now, you'll be happy to buy it if it ever does become available and then save that hypothetical bag lady! You can't save her if you don't know the movie exists! Yes, I'm only pretending to care!
Anyway, today's fantastic flick is called NEXT OF KIN! If you've already seen it you know what I'm talking about and if you haven't, get ready for your next favorite thing in the world. Just listen to these incredible stats! It's from Australia, it's a lady vs. awesome house tale, it's from 1982 the magical year for perfect movies, the cinematography is outstanding, it has one of the best horror scores of literally all time (Viva KLAUS SCHULZE!) and the strapping love interest is the psycho from WOLF CREEK (thumbs up JOHN JARRATT!)!!! I would not be terribly surprised if NEXT OF KIN was an influence on TI WEST's HOUSE OF THE DEVIL. It's got the same lazy stroll pace and then just when you are all warm and snuggly, it crashes your cranium with an iron frying pan. Although, allow me to say, I think NEXT OF KIN carries the superior clobber! It's a lightening bolt! It's a veritable goth-gasm! Nobody deserves to be as happy as it's sure to make you! I'll let you in on a secret. I've watched this movie a couple times now and I'm still unclear about why folks want to kill this lady. I'm not sure it matters. Now, think of a movie in your head! NEXT OF KIN is better than that movie!!! It's my favorite type of thing except this time it's actually done well! It's proof positive that there is gold in them there hills just waiting to be unearthed! Watch it now!!!! Or don't!
Love Next of Kin! I kept buying the vhs of it because the title is kind of generic. I think I had three copies at one point. It's super creepy and atmospheric. Definitely worth a watch!
Also, I'm not sure what Netflix titles were removed but the "Streamageddon" from last week was mostly misreported. A lot of the titles that were pulled came back. It was a licensing thing, and I know they lost some stuff, but my TV movie list is kind of awesome. Most of it was replaced, so you may want to check out what was in your queue, because some of it might be back! Fingers crossed!
A,
I remembered you're a fan of this too! It really is beautifully done! I can't stop listening to the score! Schulze was once a member of Tangerine Dream which makes perfect sense!
Oh that Netflix, It looks like a lot of titles really did depart (Burn, witch, Burn, Blood and Lace, Sugar Hill) but for some reason Secret Screams was spared- I'll take it!
On the good news front they've added SHAKMA !
Wait! Holy Toledo, THE APPLE was spared too!!! Thank you Amanda you made my day!
"Next of Kin" came out on DVD through the distributor "Reel DVD" in Australia back in 2005. I understand it had a nice anamorphic transfer with no extras. Unfortunately, it's currently out of print.
sounds cool!
and to put further fuel on the hypothetical baglady theory…when it comes to the fickleness of youtube vidoes, Mactubes is pretty much my BFFFFFFFFFF x 1000.
if you catch my drift. wink wink, nudge nudge, etc.
After watching Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (available on Canadian Netflix), I've been slowly picking my way through some of the movies featured. Just watched Patrick a couple nights ago. Next of Kin and The Survivor (which was also available on Youtube, but has been removed) are next on the list.
Oh, my! This movie was CRAZY. Crazy good! My head is still spinning from that ending.
Thanks for posting a link to the soundtrack. I've long been a fan of Klaus Schulze and was not familiar with this work.
Next of Kin is great! I also found out about it through Not Quite Hollywood a few years ago, and I've re-watched it several times since. The last shot of the film is simply breathtaking.