Accidents Happen!

Accidents sure do happen when Billy Conway is around!
Billy Conway is played by young Australian actor Harrison Gilbertson and Sebastian Gregory plays Doug Post, the supposed troublemaker friend of Billy's brother, who now lies in a vegative state in hospital care. Both characters are central to the story along with Geena Davis's role as the mother, Gloria Conway.

The film although filmed in Australia with a predominantly Australian cast bar Geena Davis, is set in a small town in North America. This film to me is reminiscent of Richard Kelly's break-out film, Donnie Darko.
It has the same snappy and uber cool teenage characters that are easy to fall in love with along with a killer soundtrack and a sense of doom and darkness to the film mixed with oddly lighter moments.

Billy Conway appears to be a change agent for danger, beginning with his family's car accident and the ultimate demise of his sister and serious injury of his brother as he reached over his parent's whilst driving and set the car off course. Subsequent to this event Billy tries in his own way to come to terms with the results of the accident as does each member of his family in different ways. Billy's family separated and his other brother, Larry Conway twin to the confined Conway brother turns to drinking and the constant hope that his twin will recover.

As the story proceeds Billy strikes up a friendship with his injured brother's old friend Douglas Post whom his mother views as a troublemaker and bad influence on her children. Again bizzare circumstances strike Billy and he becomes the centre of a serious "accident".

The younger cast members of this film are compelling to watch and it's good and surprising to see Geena Davis back on the lime-light.

I look forward to following the careers of both Sebastian Gregory and Harrison Gilbertson along with director Andrew Lancaster's future work. I find it a little sad that the film was purposely set in America in order to encourage wider release and viewing however it's refreshing to see the new Aussie talent out their. Although I love Ben Mendelsohn, Claudia Karvan and the other usual suspects they are starting to hit the age where the teenage role won't be so believeable anymore.