Hit Play: The Smuggler (2016)
by Jennifer Drewett
There are some topics that are hold controversy when depicted on film. Sex, drugs, fame and all out hedonism are a few things that can cause monocles to pop and break into glasses. Now that society has eased up on those issues, it’s the accuracy of the representation of each topic that earns itself scandal rather than the mention of the topic itself. In a way that’s a sign of progress. One could go on about the irritating nit picking that some do when it comes to the way some films show certain things but even a critic like myself has to draw a line. There are some things in films that we just aren’t supposed to take all that seriously.
Jurrasic World is a prime example of a film a lot of critics hated because they took it far too seriously. Some films just need to be seen as the silly bits of fun they are. This is perhaps what the newly released film The Smuggler is trying to do.
The Smuggler is an independant film from Australia about a regular but naive man called Ray (played by Angus Sampson) who ends up in trouble after being used as a drugs mule in Thailand on behalf of an Australian dealer. He’s detained by federal police and out of fear he decides to withhold the drugs in his stomach as long as he can. How long will he go before he explodes?
The film comes off initially with a bit of a light-hearted premise but that doesn’t come through as the film progresses. There’s a lot of darkness and the stakes are gradually revealed to be pretty high for more characters than just the protagonist. It’s a slow burn narrative that is far more compelling than one may expect. It’s not full of inane whacky moments audiences may find from films like The Hangover or American comedies where character(s) end up in a sticky situation. The humour is a bit more sophisticated and the story isn’t quite as riddled with cliches. The darker topics are handled in a pretty straight forward manner without hyperbolic orchestral scores or over the top imagery. There’s are a few points during the film where it reaches a depraved level of disgusting. It illustrates a great point without trying to get a cheap laugh. A lot of that comes to a nicely written script with a director to match.
Throughout the film there are two opposing authority forces: one are the Police officers and the other is the crime lord Pat (played by John Noble) and his cronies. In most films, one is meant to root for either one or the other but in this the audience comes away rooting for neither which feels intentional. The drug lords are incredibly violent and aren’t above using whatever tactic necessary to get what they want. The Police officers are incredibly violent and aren’t above using whatever tactic necessary to get what they want. There’s honestly very little distinguishing the two. Some may find that offensive to suggest that the Police are nothing more than honourable but audiences should remember the time this story is set. Certain methods of interrogation and ways of dealing with criminals that are not allowed in today’s society were used 30 years ago. It’s a pretty risky move but it pays off to cement the viewers into the predicament Ray faces.
This film is not for the faint of heart and should be undertaken with a bit of caution. Nonetheless, it’s a compelling and fascinating film from start to finish.
The Smuggler (The Mule) is out on DVD and Blu-Ray now!