Tensions flair between a couple living in the outback when their son and daughter disappear during the night in this Australian mystery thriller. The film is drooped in atmosphere with eerie aerial shots that emphasise the isolated nature of the outskirts town, some very moody skies and an absolutely haunting music score. There is a constant sense of something sinister afoot, and as the two parents learn increasingly shocking things about their children in their quest to find them, their disappearance serves as a catalyst: a wake-up call for just how out of control their kids are and how they have failed as parents. Everything progresses at a deliberately slow pace and it is understandable why some might not take kindly to the film since it plays out as more of a Michelangelo Antonioni mystery movie than a standard Hollywood thriller. There is, however, a lot going on beneath the surface and the chief drawback of the film, if anything, is how elusive this all remains by the end. There is the slightest hint of childhood sexual abuse, the vaguest suggestion of the kids being afraid of their own parents - but frustratingly, nothing is ever clear. The ambiguity with regards to their daughter's disappearance is, on the other hand, an excellent touch, highlighting that the film is primarily about the parents and their gradual, mutual realisation that they are not entirely satisfied with their lives and each other. Indeed, while the small town setting initially seems to represent freedom and escapism from past mistakes, in the end, the setting only forces them to confront their inner demons face-on.
