On paper, the premise for Swallow sounds almost too-grotesque to be relayed without resorting to some type of gimmick. In reality, Carlo Mirabella-Davis‘s slow-burning thriller transcends its potentially nauseating core to deliver a deep, at times dark tale that wholly understands and respects its unique subject matter. The film surrounds the delicate Hunter (Haley Bennett),…
The NSW Government has made the decision to shut Bondi Beach for the time being. The rather blunt closure comes after a sweltering Friday during which the golden sands exceeded Australia’s recently introduced outdoor-gathering limit of 500, necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19. Photos of a packed-out Bondi Beach went viral yesterday, with beachgoers…
Doom Eternal is a lot of fun. It’s a game that looks directly to the wildly popular Doom 2016 for its cues on just about everything. It introduces a suite of new mechanics that give combat greater depth. It asks you to face your enemies head-on and to never shy away from the challenge. Rip….
A key fixture of Australia’s literary scene, the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) celebrates the very best in homegrown literature and publishing. This year, as we collectively navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, the ABIAs team have made the decision to forego their usual awards ceremony. Instead, they’ll be livestreaming the event, turning it from a 500 guest…
“What’s that song playing outside?” asks Jay Som, aka Melina Duterte. The crowd at her debut Brisbane show was confused: is she referring to the grunge cover band bleeding through the windows, or the bass of the karaoke night thumping through the floorboards of The Foundry? “We should play one of those songs, too,” she…
*The AU Review will continue with its planned SXSW 2020 coverage. We have been in contact with the respective representatives for available films in order to give them the coverage they intended. Perhaps diving a little too heavily into the metaphorical stance on storytelling, Claire Oakley‘s Make Up is a self-discovery tale dressed up like…
Not content with just releasing her debut eponymous EP back in January, Brisbane singer-songwriter Hartley is back with a brand new single. Co-produced alongside Ninajirachi, “Bittersweet” is a playful bop all about wanting those things you know aren’t good for you. That extra slab of chocolate, bottle of wine, that certain someone you have your…
By virtue of unfortunate comparison to Pixar’s impeccable back catalogue of masterpieces, every new film from the studio faces a dauntingly high bar to clear. Last year, Toy Story 4 somehow managed to defy all expectations and walk off with the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in the process. Sadly, Pixar’s first of two…
Geralt of Rivia is a Witcher. He makes his living travelling from town to town, hunting down the monsters that stalk the land. After a particularly nasty encounter with a striga, he recovers in a secluded temple. While there, he reflects on past assignments and an uncertain future. First published in the early 90s and…
In response to the current situation with Covid-19, Etihad Airways has introduced “Etihad Credit” to give guests the freedom to delay their travel plans. It simply works by permitting a free cancellation and is offering the original value of their booking to be used as credit towards their next trip. As the situation continues to…
February saw Dutch contemporary classical composer Michel van der Aa release his debut indie-pop album. Time Falling saw the composer collaborating with the ever talented and versatile Australian singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke. Today we’re incredibly excited to bring you the exclusive premiere of the music video for album track “What A Dream”. Time Falling is billed…
Taking place entirely on social media, ISOL-AID has been speedily pulled together with a cracking Aussie line-up to adapt to a post-covid world. As the coronavirus continues to decimate industries around the world, the live music scene has been dramatically effected due to the understandable need to practice strict social distancing. In a bid to…
One of the biggest film casualties of the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal has been Alfonso Gomez-Rejon‘s The Current War; a lavish period biopic which was surely due to be Weinstein’s great big Oscar hope of the 2017 season. After premiering at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival to a tepid response, Gomez-Rejon was furiously…
Shacks & Palaces is the new solo project from The Temper Trap bassist Jonny Aherne. The Australian-born, Brooklyn-based artist has already dropped the project’s debut single, “Once Upon A Hilltop”, and a delightful music video to accompany it. With the world pretty much doing into lockdown, “Once Upon A Hilltop”, is the uplifting slice of…
*The AU Review will continue with its planned SXSW 2020 coverage. We have been in contact with the respective representatives for available films in order to give them the coverage they intended. The Midnight Shorts Competition has long been an audience favourite at SXSW. A bite-sized marathon of twisted ideas that usually fuses gore, overt…
*The AU Review will continue with its planned SXSW 2020 coverage. We have been in contact with the respective representatives for available films in order to give them the coverage they intended. Detailing a tragic situation with a sobering, uncomfortable realism that has the potential to test even the most patient of viewers, The Surrogate…
Melbourne 5-piece Fancy Face released their debut single “Slip Up” last month, and today we’ve got the Exclusive Video Premiere for this high-octane ball of fun. It’s just the tonic for these gloomy times. I love this video – I would have got it up online earlier but I’ve been watching it on repeat this…
Berlin-based composer and producer Ben Lukas Boysen returns in May with his long-awaited third album Mirage. Ahead of its release the producer has teased the album, through new single “Medela”. Mirage follows Gravity (2013) and the acclaimed 2016 full length Spells. The latter was as admired by his peers as by his fans. Indeed, since…
I write this sitting in self-isolation in Toronto, Canada – as countries around the world are closing borders, scrambling to “flatten the curve” as the reality of the spread of Coronavirus sinks in. I, like too many, had been rather blasé about the whole thing – I mean I was sanitizing surfaces, washing my hands…
*The AU Review will continue with its planned SXSW 2020 coverage. We have been in contact with the respective representatives for available films in order to give them the coverage they intended. Proof that more than enough can be conveyed in a fraction of the time of a standard feature, Ashley Eakins‘ short-feature Single is…
As local businesses start to adapt to the current situation with Covid, chicken chain Chargrill Charlie’s has joined in by implemented a new “contactless” ordering system. Ensuring they can still serve their local communities despite the need for social distancing, Chargrill Charlie’s has introduced a “Eat Contactless with Charlie’s” addition to their smartphone app. This…
*The AU Review will continue with its planned SXSW 2020 coverage. We have been in contact with the respective representatives for available films in order to give them the coverage they intended. The description outlined for the comedy series Everyone Together sounds rather typical. Dysfunctional families from two very different cultural backgrounds subsequently bond and…
Jordan Merrick, the Brisbane-based bush balladeer is about to release his latest offering, “Millenial Blues”. Jordan released “Low Country” in June 2019, and followed it up with “I Don’t Belong” and “Dangerously Sincere” prior to his debut album Night Music being released late last year. He hasn’t kept still though, releasing this new track, which…
Methyl Ethel are about to release a new EP, Hurts to Laugh and “Majestic AF”, the first release off it, is our Track of the Day. The EP was recorded at the same time as the long-play Triage which was released in 2019. Front-man and the creative force behind Methyl Ethel, Jake Webb, was clearly…
*The AU Review will continue with its planned SXSW 2020 coverage. We have been in contact with the respective representatives for available films in order to give them the coverage they intended. A noble idea marred by melodramatics that often take away the importance of the film’s message, Shooting Heroin can’t help but feel like…
Covid-19, a novel coronavirus, has spread around the world and continues to cause unprecedented health, social and economic crises. Experts are pleading with people to take this seriously, while many separate on the two (equally stupid) extremes of naivety/complacency, and panic/fear-mongering. Social distancing is absolutely crucial to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but as a…
In response to the coronavirus and recent travel restrictions in Australia and New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines has today announced that it will temporarily suspend nonstop services between Honolulu and its Australian and New Zealand gateways. The suspension will come into effect later this month, temporarily halting flights extending to numerous services. The five-times-weekly between SYD…
Sydney-side indie-dance-pop quartet Pirra are back with a new release, “The Peak”. It has a fun feverish energy that is bound to put a smile on your face. It’s just what we need after a seemingly inexhaustible stream of bad news recently. “The Peak” is a great follow-up to their previous track, “Under the Skyline” Jess…
There was a good crowd in the Magic Mirror Spiegeltent for the final weekend performance of Rouge. Despite the increasing talk of COVID-19 in the press, audiences remained undaunted and expectant. The tent has a circular stage in the centre, with good views all round. The high fabric and glass covered walls gave the space…
As most people now know, Vivid Sydney will not be on for this year. The event, which in 2019 attracted 2.4 million visitors, has been cancelled in response to the growing thread of the novel coronavirus Covid-19. The NSW Government has made this decision following recommendations by the Federal Government and health authorities to limit…
