'Animal Kingdom' an all-round gem

Director: David Michod

Cast: Guy Pearce, Jackie Weaver, Ben Mendelsohn, James Frecheville

Cert: 15

A gripping, gritty family drama from Australia to underline, once again, just how good that country’s film can be, even without the ‘advantage’ of big-name stars.

The drama of this particular Melbourne family is that they are all psychopaths, ruled by the evil, mother-from-hell Smurf (the brilliant Weaver) and her twisted sons.

Into this warped world steps teenage grandson Josh (Frecheville) whose mother has died from a drug overdose, having tried to distance him from the relatives.

The theme is, of course, that you can’t choose your family, though Josh might have a friend in a good cop (Pearce) who tries to rescue him.

Powerful, disturbing and an all-round gem.

Star Rating: 5/5