Suburban Mayhem (2006)

20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(15,134 ratings)

A narcissistic psychopath and neglectful single mother concocts a deadly scheme to sell the family house, and the only thing standing in the way is her still-breathing father in a cynical and serious-minded suburban soap-opera from director Paul Goldman and first-time screenwriter Alice Bell. Kat… More A narcissistic psychopath and neglectful single mother concocts a deadly scheme to sell the family house, and the only thing standing in the way is her still-breathing father in a cynical and serious-minded suburban soap-opera from director Paul Goldman and first-time screenwriter Alice Bell. Kat (Emily Barclay) is a nineteen-year-old single mother whose life revolves around manicures, cell phone conversations, petty crime, and cheap sex. She lives in a typical suburban home in a typical small town, and she has long since grown bored with her vanilla-flavored surroundings. Kat's brother Danny (Laurence Breuls) is currently serving a life sentence for murder, and the dangerously unpredictable hellion is now forced to move in with her father John (Robert Morgan) or face a life of destitution. Despite the fact that she is utterly dependent on her dad, her hatred for him reaches a breaking point when he informs her that he will sever her financial support and turn her child over to social services unless she finds a job. Subsequently unloading her toddler on her latest boyfriend Rusty (Michael Dorman) before embarking on a sex-fueled bender with Danny's decidedly slow-witted friend Kenny (Anthony Hayes), the enraged Kat soon cooks up a scheme to manipulate one of the men in her life to murder her father so she can sell his home, collect the cash, and carry on in her wild ways. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Paul Goldman
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: May 24, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Oct 2, 2007
Studio: Fortissimo Films

Critic Reviews

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
If you're going to spend 89 minutes with a wild animal, something about that character should engage or intrigue you. Nothing here does.
Jay Weissberg, Variety
What starts as a predictably enjoyable ride through the hothouse world of suburbia unexpectedly loses steam half way through Suburban Mayhem.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...an unpleasant, utterly pointless crime movie...
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Wild and out of control, she's rebellion in a mini-skirt. Hell in high heeled boots. Emily Barclay's Katrina is a wonderful invention.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bethany M

Quite a funny and unusual film that I enjoyed. A must see!
David S

For all my displeasure at the Australian film industry for making pathetic film after pathetic film, I will acknowledge when we get off our arses and make something to be proud of (I'd liken it to putting a child's picture on the fridge but that seems patronizing somehow).… More
For all my displeasure at the Australian film industry for making pathetic film after pathetic film, I will acknowledge when we get off our arses and make something to be proud of (I'd liken it to putting a child's picture on the fridge but that seems patronizing somehow). That's not to say this is the only Australian film I'm a fan of (The King and of course, The Castle help in that area) but it won me over quicker than either of those. The film details the life of Katrina Skinner (Emily Barclay, who is able to play such a dark, repulsive woman despite little experience in film like she's turning a light switch on and off) and is also filmed in part like a "documentary" (I say it in air quotes since I don't want people thinking this is based on true events) about her, involving events towards the end of the film which I won't go into since it might spoil the movie. Katrina's an uncontrollable, self-absorbed party girl with criminal tendencies... and a mother. Yep, that's an oil/water mixture right there. The mother part is important since over the film, many people ask her about her child and why she doesn't see her more often. In short, she's a bogan. For overseas readers, bogan is Australia's counterpart to the USA's "trailer trash" and the UK's "chavs". Despite my contempt for the character, I highly praise Emily Barclay for her performance. Still quite new to films, she has to carry a majority of this film and play someone so easy to hate and like I said, she pulls it off with ease. I wonder what surprises she'll pull out on us in the future, perhaps something to make this look like child's play. Another high point of note for me is the music. Rock songs with female vocalists, most I'm familiar with and all welcome. Added bonus, most of them are Australian (Suzi Quatro being the most notable exception I care to make but hey, if I can hear 48 Crash, I'm not one to complain). During a scene in a shopping centre, the song Paco Doesn't Love Me by The Spazzys can be heard and later on in the film, we can hear Little Birdy's song This Is A Love Song. Australia may not be all that great in the film industry but when it comes to music, we've got a few aces up our sleeve. I hope it's not too long before another Australian film overwhelms me like Suburban Mayhem. I still need to get the thoughts of The Book Of Revelation exorcised from my mind.
Dean M

Oh man, Aussie actress Emily Barclay makes a fantastic performance as a rebellion single mother in this sexy black comedy-crime thriller film and she looks bloody hot in her mini-shirt... hell in high heels.

Cast

            Emily Barclay as katrina Skinner

            Steve Bastoni as Detective Andretti

            Lawrence Breuls as Danny

            Michael Dorman as Rusty

            Anthony Hayes as Kenny

            Genevieve Lemon as Auntie Dianne

            Robert Morgan as John Skinner

            Susan Prior as Christine Andretti

            Mia Wasikowska as Lilya

            Lawrence Aitchison as Wlfare Man

            Rod Ansell as Angry Neighbour

            Christine Armstrong as Defence Lawyer

            Phillip Ayoub as Sergeant Harris

            Callan Boys as Random Guy

            Nigel Castellum as Junior Policeman

            Rebecca Clay as Television Reporter

            Jye Coren as Heather's Son

            Brendan Cowell as Voice of Interviewer

            Alison Cox as Angela

            Dominic Dates as Prison Officer

            Nick Evans as Jordan Andretti

            Emma Fallon as Toddler Bailee

            Alexandra Fletcher as Salon Receptionist

            Sarah Gordon as Young Katrina

            Peter Hansen as Len Skinner

            Madeleine Jaine as Janelle

            Greg Johnson as Detective Graham

            Oliver Kleyn as Young Danny

            Tayla Lassman as Jola

            John Mason as Funeral Priest

            Phil Patridge as Hoon 2

            Stephen Peacocke as Store Attendant

            Jack Robertson as Tyson Andretti

            Stuart Spence as Interviewer

            Emily Stewart as Welfare Woman

            Leon Stripp as Hoon 1

            Letitia Sutherland as Heather

            Ivan Topic as Lilya's Father

            James Moore as Eddy

            Jason Stojanovski as Lachlan

            Josh Horvat as Roland

            John Carr as Wayno

            Judd Overton as Cast Members

            Greg Tynan as Cast Members

            France Millo as Cast Members

            Peter Brown as Cast Members

            Max Kensell as Cast Members

            Anthony Calvi as Cast Members

            Ryan Matzelle as Cast Members

            Nick Simkins as Cast Members

            Steve Ray as Cast Members

            Alexei Nicholls as Cast Members

            Edward Bell as Cast Members

            Matt Naivasha as Cast Members

            Daniel Skinner as Cast Members

            Byron Woolfrey as Cast Members

            Troy Butler as Cast Members

            Chris Warfield as Cast Members

            Andrew Guirguis as Cast Members

            Sebastian Strakowicz as Cast Members

            Steven Rees as Cast Members

            Iesha Apthorpe as Baby Bailee

            Chloe Bashford as Baby Bailee

            Emily Bashford as Baby Bailee

            Louisa Cathcart as Baby Bailee

            Katelyn Cormack as Baby Bailee

            Ella Gow as Baby Bailee

            Erin Horvath as Baby Bailee

            Erika Lonie as Baby Bailee

            Alexandra McKeown as Baby Bailee

            Sam Kable as Voice of Baby Bailee

            William Kable as Voice of Baby Bailee
See full cast