It doesn’t take much for director James Ashcroft to create the most horrific of situations from the simplest of ingredients laid bare in the early stages of the eerie Coming Home in the Dark. A loving family, an idyllic New Zealand locale, and a duo of passing strangers provide all that is needed for Ashcroft’s…
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An agonising drama if ever there was one, Mass details the type of conversation that instantly makes you feel sickeningly uncomfortable. And then to watch it unfold in a suffocating location for 110 minutes is a test of endurance that audiences may be unprepared for. The tragedy at the centre of the conversation is one…
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In How It Ends, the joint-directorial effort from Daryl Wein (Lola Versus) and Zoe Lister-Jones (The Craft: Legacy), the question is proposed of what would you do if you knew the world was coming to an end?. It’s a question that has familiarity to it, but Wein and Lister-Jones have the smarts and wit to…
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When a filmmaker decides to venture into the topic of filmmaking as a narrative, their efforts can be fascinating in terms of storytelling. When the horror film Censor had been announced as an entry for Midnight Madness at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, it was particularly intriguing for a few reasons. Firstly, the topic of…
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There really is no way for yours personally to say this in a pithy fashion so it is best to just say it straight. One of my most anticipated films this critic wanted to see was In the Same Breath by director Nanfu Wang, a talented documentary filmmaker whose work in indicting the government workings…
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There’s a series of odd interludes dispersed throughout Pascual Sisto‘s unnerving thriller John and the Hole that suggest the story at hand has been passed down over time as something of a fable, one that impressionable young children may construe as a challenge on how they view their own relationship with their supposed elders. It’s…
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For nearly over a century, Freshwater locals and visitors flocked to the iconic Harbord Beach Hotel. Now the venue has been reborn a fresh new look and additional dining experiences, opening doors as Harbord Hotel for one of the biggest openings Sydney will see this year. With an expansive main bar, a sun-soaked terrace and…
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After more than five years, Jarryd James is back with his hugely anticipated second album P.M. and it doesn’t disappoint. Bursting on to the scene in 2015 with huge hit single “Do You Remember”, James’ long play builds on that with exquisite R&B tracks full of mood, texture and reflection. Recording P.M. took James some…
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With more than 150 TV series, almost 450 movies, and 4 original creations straight outta the gate, Disney+‘s latest expansion is set to double the streaming services offerings from the end of February. Covering more general entertainment than the Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel focused content we’ve seen so far, Star is promising a lot…
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I wish I liked The Medium more than I do. Polish studio Bloober Team have attempted to parlay their talent for horror, glacially-paced exploration, and strong writing into a single title. The result is a game with a great hook, caught somewhere between a Silent Hill throwback and a walking simulator. Sadly, despite its detailed…
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Although Malcolm & Marie was one of the first films to be announced as a “made during COVID-19” production, it thankfully has nothing to do with the global catastrophe. Instead, writer/director Sam Levinson (creator of HBO’s Euphoria) has opted for an in-house tragedy revolving around the titular couple (John David Washington‘s Malcolm and Zendaya‘s Marie)…
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More than 8,000 love stories and break up mementos have been sourced by the eternally playful folk behind QT Hotels & Resorts for a temporary museum dedicated to relationship relics of the past. Twisting the idea of Valentine’s Day, QT Gold Coast will turn into “Heartbreak Hotel” from 1st to 21st February, showcasing a pop-up…
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High Ground is the latest film from Stephen Maxwell Johnson, whom is best known for his 2001 acclaimed film Yolngu Boy; a powerful coming-of-age story about three Aboriginal men who strive to become great hunters as they deal with social, economic and especially filial factors in maturing from adolescence to adulthood. Since then, Johnson has…
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There will always be a place in the musical world for thought provoking rhythm, blues and jazz. The general downbeat nature of the style allows for introspective and reflective songs to reach the masses; and allow any listener to relate to the music irrespective of their preferred taste. For Arlo Parks, she welcomes all music…
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Over half a million sad ghosts follow artist Lize Meddings‘ Sad Ghost Club on Instagram. With a focus on positive mental health and making sure even the saddest of ghosts never feels alone, Meddings’ art has transitioned from screen to page, in the first volume of The Sad Ghost Club. Aimed at younger readers, the…
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Adelaide-based indie-pop quintet Broken Waves are about to drop “Drag Me Back”. This is the first single off their debut EP, so we are naturally thrilled that they have chosen to premiere it at the AU review. This electro-funk track is a formidable and enticing taste of what’s to come for the band. “Drag Me…
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If 2020 was the year that conference festivals were dealt the unexpected and either had to cancel or quickly adapt, 2021 is the year they have to settle into a new normal. For now, this means events that are entirely run online- and hopefully, as the year progresses, hybrid events that will see us start…
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Famous for powder soft snow and fun-tastic slopes, Hokkaido is at the top of most Aussies’ summer travel list. Swapping out thongs for ski boots, it’s common for top ski resort areas like Niseko to turn into mini Australian villages with the sheer influx of tourists. But Hokkaido, technically a prefecture, is home to many…
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The Great Emu War Casualties are about to drop their latest single, “I’m A Yes Man” off their forthcoming EP, Vanity Project, and we are stoked to be premiering it on the AU today. The enigmatic trio released 10 new tracks in 2020, with their previous release “Flies In my Eyes” being the first taster…
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What defines Port Macquarie? In the scope of New South Wales, a state with some of the beautiful coastal towns in the country, Port Macquarie may not seem all that distinctive. Until you get there. Make the four-or-so hour drive from Sydney (5.3hrs from Brisbane), like many do throughout the year, and you’re rewarded with…
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Charismatic, bedazzling, intelligent, salacious and unbelievably natural on stage. Reuben Kaye’s self-titled cabaret drag solo show has it all. Humour, theatre and brute/obscene honesty as well as an entrancing level of crowd interaction. Described as “the evil love child of Liza Minnelli and Jim Carrey”, Kaye is one of the headline acts at this month’s Fringe…
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Given the date, we thought it appropriate to showcase a track which sadly has as much relevance in 2021, as it did when first released in 2016. “January 26” by A.B. Original perfectly encapsulates the rage which we should all feel about the injustices perpetrated by white settlement, and the failure of our governments to…
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It is with no small amount of amusement that I tell you, Magic Mike Live has been one of the most difficult reviews I’ve ever had to write. It would be easy for me to sit here and wax lyrical about how attractive the dancers were (because they were) or how much the crowd of…
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Since opening a Sydney flagship store late last year, Tokyo Lamington has opened up to various interpretations of the namesake treat held so dearly in the hearts and minds of Aussies nationwide. The humble lamington has seen some head-turning interpretations from the speciality dessert store, which has been introduced a “Melbourne Bushfood” series, introducing a…
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Swedish rock ‘n’ rollers The Hives have always been known for their charismatic and energetic live shows and this week they’ll play a Sydney show as part of their World’s First World Wide Web World Tour 2021. But the shows won’t be your standard online stream, with The Hives differentiating themselves with a unique level…
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Despite a talented cast that consists of such reliable names as Matthias Schoenaerts, Joel Kinnaman, Ryan Phillippe, and Maika Monroe, Brothers By Blood (originally known as The Sounds of Philadelphia) is an all-too ordinary mob story that seems unfortunately content with coaxing by on familiarity. Masculinity, faith, loyalty, redemption, brotherhood, a criminal underworld…it’s stock standard…
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A nonlinear storyline, a dash of supernatural suggestion, and committed performances across the board, The Sister switches enough of the standard murder-mystery thriller concept for it to earn viewer interest over the course of its four sharp episodes. Within minutes of Neil Cross‘s screenplay unfolding on the screen – the writer adapting from his own…
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Prepare for another social season. Bridgerton, the romantic, scandalous, and quick-witted series that became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows of all time, will be returning for a second salacious season, as stated by the society papers of Lady Whistledown. “Dearest readers, The ton are abuzz with the latest gossip, and so it is my honour…
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Watching a movie underneath the stars whilst being submerged in a hot spring pool? Where do I sign up? A movie experience like no other, this February the Peninsula Hot Springs in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula return to host a movie season like no other as every Friday night in February – plus a special Valentine’s…
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Jarryd James hit international recognition with his debut album Thirty One back in 2015. His lead single “Do You Remember” has been streamed over 111 million times since its January 2015 release and picked up Best Pop Release at that year’s ARIAs, alongside four other nominations for Jarryd. To say his debut was successful is…
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