This is one of those films purporting to be based on a true story, stating so before the film starts. This is usually a tip off that only a small percentage of what the viewer is about to see is actually true. Maybe it's a filter? As in if you're worried about the story being straightforward and literal you should adjust that in order to enjoy the ride? I'd say that's good advice because it's a dark comedy about an unwitting pawn being used who, in the end, emerges as the smartest man in the room. A good simple story that works on the screen more than it stumbles no matter what the truth/fictional quotient is.

The central character, Ray, is a young man who is cast as an oafish backward type most definitely past the natural age of being so dependent and subservient to his mother. This is Ray. Ray's life has stalled in part due to him living at home under his mother's thumb. He truly loves his mum though he feels dominated. Ray works as a TV repairman in the last local TV fix-it shop owned by his step-father. His step-father, has, mostly, alienated himself to Ray also being on his last legs with Ray's mother due to his compulsive gambling and drinking. This is a setup for the local crime boss holding Ray's father's debt. He manipulates Ray, through an old football club friend with the step-father's blessing. Ray reluctantly, decides to be a one-time drug mule as he can then help his mother financially while asserting his independence simultaneously.

So, a pretty standard tale of a "sad sack" 'neer-do-well, who perhaps (remember after seeing it I said "perhaps") slow on the up-take, gets used as a pawn for a drug smuggling outfit. For something standard the movie ends much more creative if not original. This Aussie production is definitely not Hollywood in scope, but scores a kind of independent cred as it feels slightly rough not wholly polished much for the good. What could be a boring story which, at times, plays slowly, in the end delivers good entertainment and closure.

Ray Jenkins (Angus Sampson) repairs TVs and is a bit of a dullard. In 1983 while the Royal Perth Yacht Club was giving a yachting lesson to their American counterparts, Ray wins a trip to Thailand. Ray's stepfather (Geoff Morrell) has some gambling debts and Ray reluctantly agrees to act as a mule to pay said debts. Ray swallows 20 condoms filled with heroin and gets nailed at the border. He is locked in a motel room until he releases his bowels. With an attorney (Georgina Haig) attempting to spring him, Ray is in a race against biology.

This is an interesting low budget film. Most of the "action" takes place in a motel room. There is stuff going on around him, such as the drug dealers reaction and that of his parents. The film is a crime drama. The "comedy" aspect is not due to any kind of humor or irony, but simply because of the crudeness of the subject matter.

Okay film for someone who watches a lot of crime dramas.

Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity.

Boy is this an unusual film, inspired by true life events.

Melbourne 1983, we meet Ray Jenkins, a quiet chap very much still tied to his mother's apron. The film starts off with him detained by customs, set to undergo a physical examination, they're looking for crack (haha.) It skips back two weeks, shows how he was bullied into becoming a drugs mule. Very impressionable and malleable, Ray is sent out to Thailand with his team mates, pretty much for one sole reason. Refusing a medical Ray is detained in a hotel under house arrest, under constant Police watch, while they wait for him to pass the drugs naturally. He's ultimately held for 12 days, and all those around him have different interests in him being able to pass the evidence.

This is such an unusual film, it definitely gets better as it goes on, it features some truly horrific scenes, the early, soft tone of the movie puts you off your guard, some of the scenes that follow are truly unexpected and unpleasant.

Plenty of unexpected twists throughout. It's so satisfying on so many levels.

There are elements of humour, to me they seem a little unnecessary, a little out of place, they didn't really need to be there, but the rest of the film is so watchable, credit to Angus Sampson, previously seen in Insidious he gave a brilliant, watchable performance.

Ultimately very satisfying. 8/10