FORESIGHT KILLER INSTINCT

Stars: Martin Cunningham, Duncan Cunningham, Michael Edward Williams,  Trevor Dent, Elizabeth Murphy, Graham Kilsby, Mitchell Havilland, James Harris, Matthew Carnio and Byron J Brochmann.
Writer: Aaron Cassidy.
Director: Duncan Cunningham.

Rating: 3/5

The low-brow, high-camp Ozploitation ethos is alive and well if Duncan Cunningham’s screeching revenge opus Foresight Killer Instinct is any indication. The film equivalent of a garage band formed solely so mates can belt out free-form heavy metal riffs, this occasionally hilarious, gleefully bloody and largely nonsensical vision is a fun, foul-mouthed ode to truly independent cinema that has already proved an internet sensation (the forum perhaps best suited for such personal ‘artistic’ expressions).

The plot, for what it’s worth, involves good-guy husband Glenn Parsons (Martin Cunningham), an average Joe who moonlights as the local psychic, helping the ragtag small-town police force identify the district’s murderers. Things go bad for the clairvoyant when he identifies thuggish corrupt cop Lance Steel (Michael Edward Williams) as a killer; to teach the pesky psych a lesson, Steel rapes and murders his wife and puts a bullet to the head of Parson, who barely survives.

It is all too much for the trans-medium, who is nursed back to health by a kindly priest (Trevor Dent) before unleashing his vengeance upon a local serial killer, some wayward bikies and what’s left of the crooked cops. Subplots involving undercover cops, internal affairs investigations, local drug rackets and hookers (lots and lots of hookers) are entirely perfunctory and drift in and out of proceedings on a whim. Which is not to suggest their staging is not given due respect; on the contrary, every frame of Cunningham’s work is energised and played to hilt by a committed if obviously non-pro cast.

That said, a great deal of Foresight Killer Instinct does not call upon the actors. Clearly the mantra of the production was “Don’t worry, we’ll fix it in post” (or, more in line with the vernacular of the film, “We’ll f***ing fix it in f***ing post”); there are one too many lengthy passages bolstered by jittery camera effects, faded flashback sequences, overlit psychic visions and close-ups of the furrowed, growling visage of the warped anti-hero (who, bald and donning a black hood-and-robe, resembles Paul Bettany’s titular crusader in Scott Stewart’s Priest). Even at 94 minutes, Cunningham’s debut is a bit self-indulgent and would benefit from some further pruning.

Where Duncan Cunningham does succeed with his feature debut is in his understanding of the craft (blocking and framing of key scenes suggests a natural talent has been unearthed) and willingness to deliver for his target audience. There’ll be something to offend everyone (feminists and cat-lovers, in particular, should stay well clear) but, when dealing with a work about as far removed from the mainstream as you can get, one senses that was kind of the point. 

Foresight Killer Instinct will screen as part of Monster Fest 2013 on Saturday, November 23. Visit the website for further details. 
Read the SCREEN-SPACE interview with director Duncan Cunningham here.