‘Your fate has been chosen’
Needle – aka Black Magic – is a 2010 Australian supernatural horror film directed by John V. Soto (Crush; The Reckoning) from a screenplay co-written with Anthony Egan.
The movie stars Michael Dorman, Jessica Marais, Travis Fimmel, Tahyna Tozzi, Trilby Glover and Ben Mendelsohn. John Jarratt (star of the Wolf Creek films and TV series) plays a coroner.
Ben Rutherford (Michael Dorman), a college student, inherits an 18th-century box, called Le Vaudou Mort from his father.
Ben shows the box to his friends but the very same night it is stolen. Soon after that, his closest friends start dying in mysterious ways. Le Vaudou Mort is actually a voodoo machine designed as a tool for revenge.
When the target’s photograph is put into the box, a wax doll is created, giving the user power to kill or physically harm the represented person. A killer has started to use the device against Ben’s friends.
Ben and his brother Marcus (Travis Fimmel), who has not been forgiven by Ben since their father died in a car accident after a harsh discussion with him, figure out the power of the device and search for the killer…
Reviews:
“So it’s not perfect, and even a longer cut probably wouldn’t be able to help the fact that it sticks to the whodunit slasher formula a bit too rigidly, but it’s enjoyable and solidly made…” Brian W. Collins, Horror Movie a Day
“Needle is a reasonably slick looking low budget horror that manages to hold the interest and tease the brain a little as you bounce from suspect to suspect. Its far from Sherlock Holmes, or even Scream, but its a fun diversion with a strong soundtrack, some nice kills and a cool concept.” Kyle Scott, The Horror Hotel
“Think maybe more in terms of a film that didn’t bring enough to the table to make the After Dark round of releases, and you’ll probably be closer to where this lies on the priority list to view. Needles may have been used, but they sure looked dull to me.” Horror News
“It’s not a perfect film but it’s a fun little slasher flick that I can see gaining a large audience on video. Hopefully it makes enough to warrant a sequel with a bigger budget as the further possibilities of a voodoo slasher fill my sick little mind with glee.” Maniac E., Slashing Through
Cast and characters:
- Michael Dorman as Ben Rutherford
- Travis Fimmel as Marcus Rutherford
- Tahyna Tozzi as Mary
- Jessica Marais as Kandi
- Trilby Glover as Isabel
- Chanel Marriott as Lucy
- Khan Chittenden as Jed
- Luke Carroll as Nelson
- Nathaniel Buzolic as Ryan
- Jane Badler as Professor Banyon
- John Jarratt as Paul the Coroner
- James Hagan as Samuel Rutherford
- Ben Mendelsohn as Detective Meares
- Malcolm Kennard as Detective Reddick
- Murray Bartlett as Tony Martin
- Quinton George as Mr Joshua
- Caroline McKenzie as Eliza Shaw
- Sam Longley as Basketball Coach
- Igor Sas as Doctor Halmanay
