It’s 2026, and I’m about to review a new release title for DVD. The format that keeps on trucking, and a fitting choice, the indie Australian comedy-drama, Angst, which was released in December through Defiant Screen Entertainment for the film’s 25th anniversary.
In a similar vein to Reality Bites, but even grungier, we follow a group of perpetually broke young adults who often spout plenty of wisdom but prefer to wallow in their own self-induced misery. Namely, our struggle hero, Dean (Sam Lewis), who works in a dingy Sydney video store while aspiring to become a horror writer. He dreams of bringing George A. Romero’s brand of the undead to the city’s most notorious suburb of King’s Cross. All while searching for love.
O’Connor’s dialogue-heavy script tends to get a little tiresome at times as our characters generally just complain, but when Sam and his flatmate, Jade (Jessican Napier), digress into a dissection of classic horror movies, the energy changes. I was reminded of my youth as a developing film buff, roaming the IMDB message boards, which is nostalgic and slightly cringe. Angst feels like it should be set in Melbourne, as the vibe and downbeat personality types are more in tune with the Victorian State capital. Sydney, back in the late 90s and early 2000s, had more of a rampant crime culture, which is why the hectic nature of Two Hands worked so well.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Kings Cross: Now and Then feature
- Interview with cast and crew (Making Of)
- Filmmaker Commentary
- Music Video: “Late 20th Century Boy” by SNOG
NEW extras sweeten the deal for this DVD edition, which serves as a small new millennium time capsule. The ‘Making Of’ runs for a surprising 34 minutes, which is quite in-depth and well worth the time, along with “Kings Cross: Now and Then”- which is not just a series of before and after shot, but rather a walking tour with actor Justin Smith and write Anthony O’Connor, who plays the lovable “Toaster Junker” in the film.
VIDEO AND AUDIO
This standard-definition presentation holds firm in a 4K world and suits the low-res aesthetic of this slice-of-life classic. The 16:9 image is very milky, but some colours still manage to pop like Jessica Napier’s green hair. The disc is region 4 locked, and the 2.0 stereo soundtrack provides solid volume.
I did enjoy Angst, but I was left somewhat underwhelmed, which wasn’t the film’s fault. On a positive note, it is paced well, with a tight 86-minute runtime. Upon reflection, I think I’ve just fallen out of step with the culture or demographic it’s aimed at.
Angst is also available to stream on a variety of digital platforms, such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google and YouTube. Visit Defiant Screen Entertainment for more details.
ANGST
(2000, director: Daniel Nettheim)
★★★½
direct dvd screen captures
You can follow cinematic randomness on Facebook and Instagram where you’ll find all my cinematic exploits. Thank you for visiting!
