THE FOX

Well, of course not. In writer/director Dario Russo's dark comedy - also his exceptional feature directorial debut - nothing is as it seems. The entire town seems au fait with talking to animals - but thank goodness for that, because they're far more entertaining (by design) than any of the townsfolk. That's largely because they are the stereotypes by which we understand them - foxes are intelligent and mischievous creatures, the titular animal brought to life by Olivia Colman, who is clearly having ample fun bringing this character to life, even though we never get to see her. The film's quirky charm is only enhanced by the animal's design; the imperfections of the animatronic puppets fit this world far better than CGI ever would have. Add to that the late Sam Neill's ('Hunt for the Wilderpeople', 'Jurassic Park') scene-stealing performance as the meddling magpie, and you have reason enough alone to see this film.

In juxtaposition to the animals, humans are consistently the unpredictable forces within the story. They are unreliable, untrustworthy, unstable. They give us the film's forward motivation, but are also the reason as to why bad things keep happening to the characters - they are never satisfied with what they have, and refuse to do anything meaningful to change their lives. Jai Courtney plays Nick as an utterly hapless bozo; he's oblivious to the state of his relationship, despite the blatant state of disrepair it's in. This allows him to make foolish mistakes and believably risk everything for the tiniest chance that magic could change Kori. Emily Browning has one of the most challenging roles, swinging from dismissed partner to transitioned lover, which is particularly successful for its comedic effect. Damon Herriman and Claudia Doumit, as well as Miranda Otto ('Talk to Me', 'The Lord of the Rings' franchise) as publican Liz, Kim Gyngell ('The Little Death', TV's 'Lowdown') as the local priest and Zlatko Burić ('Triangle of Sadness', '2012') as Kori's kooky father all stand out superbly in supporting roles.

Russo's story is a cautionary tale, showing us you can't always get what you wish for, and there's no quick fix to life's problems, particularly when it comes to love. However, it explores these ideas in a way never done before; allowing us to enter this world where animals possess exceptional abilities makes for a remarkably refreshing and entertaining take, and using dark humour and sarcasm liberally throughout allows for an extremely enjoyable 90-minute watch. Setting the story in a small Australian town encapsulates the elements in a claustrophobic, seemingly inescapable bubble, sealing the fate of all who find themselves there.

It also feels like this location has made an impression on Russo and cinematographer Matthew Chuang's (Apple TV's 'Chief of War', 'Blue Bayou', 'Jimpa') look for the film. With much of the story centred around the local pub, its strong coloured lights extend into the dark country nights, with bold warm colours frequently illuminating our subjects (whether human or animal). During the day, the beauty of the Adelaide Hills is lovingly captured in warm tones - not a surprise, given Russo grew up in the area.

If you liked 'Obsession', there'll be something in 'The Fox' that will take your fancy. It covers many of the same dark themes, though it may not venture into such horror territory. With a stellar Australian and international cast, it will hopefully have sufficient global appeal for this gem to grab audiences' attentions. Batting well above its weight, 'The Fox' is a sneaky, clever little film you'll want to catch for yourself.