The Boys

1998

Action / Crime / Drama

4
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 81% · 8 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 81% · 100 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.9/10 10 1868 1.9K

sydney, australia australia prisoner brother psychopath parole board

Plot summary

Brett Sprague is a violent and psychopathic man, who is released on parole after serving a sentence for assault. As he returns to his family house and we watch him and his brothers, Stevie and Glenn, for the next 24 hours, it becomes clear this day will not end well.

Director

Rowan Woods Photo
Rowan Woods

Top cast

Toni Collette Photo
Toni Collette as Michelle
Anthony Hayes Photo
Anthony Hayes as Stevie Sprague
Lynette Curran Photo
Lynette Curran as Sandra Sprague
John Polson Photo
John Polson as Glenn Sprague
720p.BluRay
780.5 MB
1280*688
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
1 hr 25 min
Seeds 3

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by shannonsuxx 6 / 10

Overhyped and Underwhelming - A Nostalgic Glimpse but Lacking Substance

"The Boys" (1998) is often hailed as a dark and harrowing Australian crime thriller, but honestly, it falls short of its reputation. While many reviews portray it as a deeply unsettling experience, it never fully delivers on that promise. If you're expecting something with the raw intensity and genuine dread of Snowtown (2011), you'll likely be left disappointed.At its core, the film follows David Wenham's character, Brett Sprague, fresh out of prison, trying to reassert control over his family and surroundings. Wenham spends the film brooding and posturing, but his attempts at portraying menace often come off as performative rather than truly intimidating. The character lacks the weight and authenticity needed to create a palpable sense of danger.The supporting characters don't fare much better. While the film tries to create a claustrophobic atmosphere of simmering violence and dysfunction within a 90s housing commission setting, the performances and writing leave the characters feeling flat. Toni Collette, in one of her earlier roles, also struggles to bring depth to her character. Her acting here feels forced and unrefined, and while she's improved in later roles, this isn't one of her stronger performances.That said, The Boys isn't without merit. The cinematography stands out, capturing a gritty, late-night atmosphere soaked in 90s nostalgia. The washed-out color palette and claustrophobic camera angles do a great job evoking the feeling of aimlessness and tension in the lives of these characters. For those who grew up in similar environments, the film's visual representation of lower-class housing commission flats might strike a chord.Ultimately, The Boys feels like it's building towards something significant, but that moment never arrives. It's good for a single viewing to appreciate the era-specific setting and stylistic choices, but the narrative doesn't carry enough weight to leave a lasting impact.If you're after a truly haunting and unforgettable Australian crime drama, you're far better off watching Snowtown (2011) or Jindabyne (2006). Both films achieve the raw emotional intensity and narrative power that The Boys only hints at.Final Rating: 6/10. A decent one-time watch, but don't expect to be shaken to your core.
Reviewed by safenoe 6 / 10

Once Were Boys

Four years after the groundbreaking New Zealand movie Once Were Warriors was released to worldwide acclaim, we had a movie from Australia (which isn't far from Australia according to my world map) called The Boys. From what I learned, it was based on a true story of a gruesome event in Sydney, which is the capital city of New South Wales, the largest state in Australia. Anyway, the pacing draws a lot of suspense and the slow cooker starts boiling from the very beginning.David Wenham plays Brett Sprague and Toni Collette plays Michelle. Collette's role was a far cry from Muriel's Wedding for sure.
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