The Cost (2022) - Thriller Film Review

I was in two minds over whether to review the Matthew Holmes (The Artifice) directed and co-written The Cost. It falls into a sub-genre that I have termed 'realistic horror', a horror film due to the situation the characters have gotten themselves into, without anything traditionally horror like happening, such as paranormal stuff and cannibal killers. Boy, am I glad I did watch this Australian thriller though, perfectly acted, with great pacing, but this sure isn't remotely a happy movie!

Seeking revenge for the rape and murder of a loved one twelve years previously, David (Jordan Fraser-Trumble) and Aaron (Damon Hunter) decide to kill the man responsible (him having been released from prison far earlier than expected). So, one night, they turn up at the home of Troy (Kevin Dee), tie him up, and take him to remote woodland where they tell him they are going to torture and kill him. However, the enormity of what they are about to do starts to weigh on the men, especially David, with the split in opinion threatening to tear the two apart.

I figured this would be mostly concerned with the torturing of the rapist, so I was in for some grim viewing. At least early on it is established beyond doubt that the man they have kidnapped did indeed rape and kill the woman; David's wife, and Aaron's sister. I had expected this would be undetermined, with it not clear to the viewer, but the horror takes on a different aspect once Troy admits things. This works so well due to the actors chosen, with even the side roles being perfectly cast. It isn't possible to like Troy, but he wasn't a cookie cutter villain, instead his actions and reactions felt natural. At no point did I feel sorry for the character, but the way him and the two protagonists acted felt so believable. David and Aaron are normal people, and so with their actions comes huge amount of guilt. Even with the division between the two men, it never felt like that was inserted to make things feel artificial. The Cost was a very heavy film, with events making me feel worse and worse about the predicament the characters found themselves in. With David's reluctance to murder the man, the two get trapped in an unwinnable situation where they can't release him for fear of getting arrested, but David stating he can't live with himself should they do the deed. The two characters fall into almost 'good cop/bad cop', with David realising that his dead wife wouldn't have wanted him to do this, but Aaron becoming increasingly more resolute with the evil he has to do.

Pacing in these types of thrillers in very important. Put too many contrivances into the plot and it becomes farcical, but this does a near perfect balance. Early on there is a tense drive to the woodland, with several moments where it seems their kidnapping will be discovered. A second act introduction of a nosy neighbour, Brian (Clayton Watson - The Matrix Reloaded) created an initially underwhelming escalation, which really paid dividends in the thrilling final act of the movie. He was a great character. At several points Troy escapes from his captors, leading to some fun and well shot chase sequences. Effects throughout are impressive, there wasn't too much need for special effects, but when they are used they looked great. I also really loved the way the flashback to the woman's murder was shown, David listening to a voicemail his wife had left him on that fateful day, before the scene cuts to his wife having made the voicemail and the events that happened afterwards (thankfully fading away back to the present when the rape is about to occur).

The Cost worked for me due to choice of actors. Both Fraser-Trumble and Hunter were fantastic, with them at the end of the movie looking like they had aged about ten years, compared to their appearance at the start. While the film was fantastic, it wasn't remotely feel good, subject matter should have been apparent, but this was a feel bad movie. With a near two hour run time this never once got dull, I found myself completely drawn into the movie, never sure exactly how it would all pan out. An excellently paced nightmare that just may make you want to scrub the desolate misery out of your soul after watching.

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