Coffin Rock (2009)

70% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
30% of users liked it
(2,438 ratings)

A drunken one-night-stand has potentially deadly consequences in this thriller from writer and director Rupert Glasson. Rob (Robert Taylor) and Jess (Lisa Chappell) are a married couple who run a general store in a small fishing village on the Australian coast. While Rob and Jess love one another… More A drunken one-night-stand has potentially deadly consequences in this thriller from writer and director Rupert Glasson. Rob (Robert Taylor) and Jess (Lisa Chappell) are a married couple who run a general store in a small fishing village on the Australian coast. While Rob and Jess love one another deeply, they want to have children and their inability to conceive after three years of trying has caused tension to slowly build between them. One day, Evan (San Parsonson), a handsome young drifter, arrives in town looking for work. Jess gives him some odd jobs at the store, and the two strike up a friendship. One night, Jess sees Evan at a local tavern, and after a few drinks too many, they end up sleeping together. Wracked with guilt, Jess makes clear that she considers her infidelity to be a mistake and won't allow it to happen again. But Evan goes from being sweetly infatuated with Jess to becoming dangerously obsessed, and she's not sure how to get rid of him without letting her husband know what happened. However, Rob may find out whether Jess likes it or not when she discovers a few weeks after having sex with Evan that she's pregnant. Coffin Rock received its United States premiere at the 2009 Chicago International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Rupert Glasson
Genres: Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Sep 4, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Dec 28, 2009
Studio: Bankside Films

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
The only thing scarier than a crazy lover carrying your child is carrying the child of your crazy lover.
Simon Foster, sbs.com.au
Spinning Adrian Lyne's Fatal Attraction on the gender axis and milking maximum suspense from its isolated Australian setting, Rupert Glasson's Coffin Rock is a well-crafted thriller.
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
A genre picture that reveals some strong qualities before going just a bit off the rails during the home stretch.
Anders Wotzke, Moviedex
Just off the beaten track from Wolf Creek and Cape Fear is Rupert Glasson's promising feature debut Coffin Rock; a must-see destination for deftly crafted thrills and chills.
Cosmo Landesman, Sunday Times (UK)
he quiet, understated setup of the first part of the film is an honest and thoughtful exploration of male ego and infertility. Then Glasson turns up the horror heat and his film becomes another bunny-boiler look at obsession.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
Murky, predictable, but well enough played.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
While produced by the Wolf Creek team, the comparisons end there since it's more a humdrum hybrid of Cape Fear and Fatal Attraction, let down by few surprises and even less tension.
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
The set-up is deceptively low-key, but the second and third acts deliver textbook suspense and horror.
Nigel Floyd, Time Out
Rupert Glasson's persuasive psychological thriller offers an interesting variation on the sociopathic 'stalker' plot.
Catherine Bray, Film4
Coffin Rock stands or falls entirely by your reaction to these people - it's not horror, it's a melodramatic thriller, and seen from this perspective, it works nicely.
Kevin Maher, Times [UK]
So bad it's funny. And yet, so bad it's just bad.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Generic and workmanlike.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
Robert Glasson's film is well-shot and directed, and more than decently acted. As a genre movie, it suffices.
Rob Daniel, Sky Movies
Hamstrung by its commitment to ticking off these stalker clichés, but recommended for its earlier, subtler scenes, great location photography, and Chappell's film-carrying charisma.
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
Coffin Rock is not without potential but never catches fire. We don't care about any of the characters, Parsonson's hammy histrionics often make his character laughable rather than terrifying and the violence grows increasingly vile.
Robbie Collin, News of the World
This is writer-director Rupert Glasson's first full-length film and he's made a cracking job of it.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
Hold us on the edge of our seats in a tightly made genre film that boasts outstanding performances and dynamic direction
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
It's a tense, edge-of-seat ride
Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central
The Australian outback looks beautiful on film, but you'll never feel particularly invested or shocked at what goes on during the runtime

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Robert Taylor, Lisa Chappell, Sam Parsonson, Terry Camilleri, Geoff Morrell, Joseph Del Re, Jodie Dry, Guy O'Donnell, Peter Green Director: Rupert Glasson Summary: A moment of weakness breeds unexpected terror for happily married Jessie Willis (Lisa Chappell) and… More
Cast: Robert Taylor, Lisa Chappell, Sam Parsonson, Terry Camilleri, Geoff Morrell, Joseph Del Re, Jodie Dry, Guy O'Donnell, Peter Green Director: Rupert Glasson Summary: A moment of weakness breeds unexpected terror for happily married Jessie Willis (Lisa Chappell) and her longtime husband, Rob (Robert Taylor), when she sleeps with a young stranger named Evan (Sam Parsonson) and finds herself pregnant with his child. The pregnancy is problematic enough, considering Jessie and Rob have been trying for years to conceive. But then Evan reveals himself to be an unstable stalker. My Thoughts: "The movie has received mixed reviews. I happen to be one who enjoyed it. The movie gave me chills. Sam Parsonson was really creepy and totally believable in his role. The guy has some major psychological problems and obviously some daddy issues as you will see in the film. I have seen many stalker/psycho killer films, but this one was definitely one of the better ones that have been made. For a low budget, independent, Australian film it was a pleasant surprise. Give the film a chance. WARNING: For animal lovers who don't like watching films with animal violence, there is a disturbing scene having to do with a baby kangaroo. It's a disturbing film."
Luke B

Not tense or thrilling, Coffin Rock mixes some well rounded drama with ridiculous and laughable "horror". The Oirish madman has some delightful hilarious monologues as he slips into comic madness. The idea of the couple trying to conceive is interesting, and it could have… More
Not tense or thrilling, Coffin Rock mixes some well rounded drama with ridiculous and laughable "horror". The Oirish madman has some delightful hilarious monologues as he slips into comic madness. The idea of the couple trying to conceive is interesting, and it could have made a great thriller. If only it hadn't revealed the loony's intentions so soon. It should have built upon a fairly absent character, rather than showing us a vicious Kangaroo beating to begin with. Anything after that just seemed tame by comparisons. Not exactly worth your time.
Film C

boring so no wonder its slipped under the radar! But this is a tense psychological thriller at best its just a really poor thriller its so boring! The storyline is unorignal and its all been done before, the acting is ok and although the irsh guy is a psychopath it doesnt make this… More
boring so no wonder its slipped under the radar! But this is a tense psychological thriller at best its just a really poor thriller its so boring! The storyline is unorignal and its all been done before, the acting is ok and although the irsh guy is a psychopath it doesnt make this movie any more interesting! This guy picked the victims in a fertility clinic and follows them to this remote willage and starts making friends with this woman who he eventually has sex with but when he discovers shes pregnant assumes it his and goes to many lengths to destroy her life by stalking her and everything! Not very good and not a very good thriller boring as hell!
Barry L

Really good little antipodean thriller. No real budget, no real blood or gore but just a really good revenge/lunatic/attempted murder/stalker sketch. Th loony Irishman plays his part to a tee....especially the long distance conversations with his father on a broken phone.....