#3 - The Loved Ones (2009)
This is an Australian film set in high school on the day of a "End of School" dance (basically Prom). When Lola asks Brent to go to the dance with her, he declines because he is already going with his girlfriend Holly. Lola doesn't take this so well and has her father kidnap Brent so they can throw a dance of their own...
I absolutely loved this! It is extremely violent and graphic, but director Sean Byrne injects just enough dark humor to keep the film from feeling sadistic. Not that it's a comedy - tonally I'd compare it to something like the 2013 Evil Dead remake or maybe Don't Breathe, where the quick pace and constantly evolving stakes keep it thrilling and fun despite the horrifying subject matter. Robin McLeavy is stellar (and hilarious) as the completely unhinged Lola, she's believable as both a spoiled teenager and an insane sadist. She's the highlight of the film, but the whole cast does a great job.
It's also just a really well made film in general. Great use of color and lighting, great music, and some nice cinematography that's better than you might expect from such a gruesome film. I'm really glad I finally got around to checking this out. I had a total blast with it, and if you can stomach the violence I can't recommend it enough.
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