Next of Kin*

 So I hadn't heard of this 1982 Aussie film from director Tony Williams. It was actually Joe Bob Briggs' Last Drive-In was responsible for really introducing it to me. I have seen the Ozploitation documentary, but, for whatever reason, this film, featured in it, slipped past me somehow. Next of Kin came on late, though, and despite finding the film fascinating, I was tired -- particularly after seeing that crazy finish to Bride of Re-Animator -- and Next of Kin really takes its time. I have read my share of "this film is so boring and slow" comments on the film. I personally felt these House of the Devil vibes. Jacki Kerin's Linda, the protagonist of the film, "inherits" a nursing home, Montclaire, from her dead mother. The mother's diary is left behind for Linda to curiously peruse throughout the film. And then Linda looks through the financials and books, eventually noticing that her aunt was written as dead while money tied to this aunt has been spent. Connie (Gerda Nicolson), who has been at the home for some period of time, and the local doctor, Dr. Barton (Alex Scott), seem to know more than they are telling Linda, until that supposedly dead aunt (Bernadette Gibson), and her son, Kelvin (Robert Ratti), disguised as an "elderly patient and her son", wreak havoc. The first 70 minutes are Linda trying to determine who is responsible for the deaths listed in her mother's diary, comparing them to what is once again happening as she takes over. The more Linda investigates, danger seems to be closing in. The film throws suspicion on Connie and Barton as they appear to be hiding something, trying to ward her away from digging too deep. But when the aunt and her son soon just go, "Fuck it" and start killing, Linda will have to fight and survive.

There is a subplot involving Wolf Creek's John Jarratt, such a svelte, handsome, young buck, and the returning Linda in a romance, resulting in tragedy. Jarratt and Linda go for a swim in a nearby watering hole, visit Linda's mother's grave, goof off a bit, flirt, etc. Eventually Jarratt's Barney startles Linda in her bedroom after climbing in through her window, commencing in some hot, sweaty sex. When Linda feels threatened by Connie and Dr. Barton, she flees to Barney, with him returning with her to Montclaire, neither anticipating Auntie Ruth and Kelvin, with sledgehammer in hand and plenty of evil intentions. Barney just didn't know what lied in wait.