As far removed from the Geordie capital as you can get, this sun-drenched ode to surfing from down under offers up a bevy of hunks riding the crest of a wave during the day and other things when night falls.
And it all revolves around seventeen-year-old Jesse, a good looking kid forever living in the surfing shadow of his older brother Victor; an ace on a long board who's hardly impressed by his step-brother coming third in the local trials. Not that anything appears to impress these Aussie bros, with Jesse equally tough on his twin sibling Fergus; a teen fixated on the good looks and body of Jesse’s best friend Andy. Only as guys and gals head off to the dunes for a weekend of sun, surfing and sex, it isn’t long before the raging hormones of adolescent youth climax in ways not expected.
Capturing the love of the sport for all its worth, here writer and director Dan Castle delivers breathtaking, if at times clearly homoerotic underwater cinematography, an ensemble of expert surfing doubles, together with an opening reel of expletives that cannot help but emphasise the macho tone of the Australian surfing scene.
Yet between the beach and the sea, Castle charts a compelling coming-of-age story, as sibling rivalry, loss and ultimately brotherly love take centre stage. Only and unlike such features as Shelter and Tan Lines, here the homosexual aspect of the story is underplayed, a lack of overt gay content that Castle compensates for by lacing his work with more blue-eyed hunks in trunks, let alone bare-arsed Aussie cheek, than what you can shake a BelAmi camera at ... well almost.
And whilst mum and dad are present, it is with adorable Gramps as finely played by Barry Otto of Strictly Ballroom fame where the real heart and soul of the picture lies, one augmented by a series of secondary characters doing their best with what little meat they have on their cinematic bone. Then again, this is a Lachlan Buchanan / Jesse and Xavier Samuel / Fergus piece, even if Reshad Strik shines in the form of troubled big brother Victor. For in the end, this feature arrives like an adrenaline rush of testosterone filled sunshine on a bleak winters’ day, being a well made slice of the coming-of age pie, even if Castle remains a right little cock teaser, forever playing out the issue of whether Fergus gets off with Andy, who may or may not be gay himself. Suffice to say, stay tuned to the end credits. Enough said.
Gay Visibility - underplayed, if homoerotic in parts.
Nudity - bare-arsed Aussie cheek.
Overall - file under ... 3+ stars.
starring: Lachlan Buchanan, Xavier Samuel, Reshad Strik, Kirk Jenkins, Israel Cannan, Ben Milliken, Debra Ades, Rebecca Breeds, Gigi Edgley, Joy Smithers, Jaymes Triglone, Woody Naismith, Scott Campbell, Zachary Garred with Anthony Hayes, Shane Jacobson and Barry Otto stunt surfing by Perth Standlick, Marc Adam, Mitch Resevsky and Jesse Adam
As far removed from the Geordie capital as you can get, this sun-drenched ode to surfing from down under offers up a bevy of hunks riding the crest of a wave during the day and other things when night falls.
Yet between the beach and the sea, Castle charts a compelling coming-of-age story, as sibling rivalry, loss and ultimately brotherly love take centre stage. Only and unlike such features as 