Synopsis: Set in a future dystopian state controlled by the Zero Tolerance Squad, two men's familial troubles lead them to a group of homeless youths who become their refuge from the world. Following several drug-fueled acts of violence the youths become fugitives from the ZTS and find shelter in an industrial squat. Addled by substance abuse, their anti-state leanings evolve into anarchistic savagery and graphic paraphilias, culminating in a final confrontation between them and the ZTS. No surprises who wins.
I reviewed this for film class. In a nutshell, ZTS will fall woefully short of even the most modest of expectations. Amateurish cinematography, ill-written script, graphic gay sex scenes irrelevant to the storyline. Based on the aimless rantings of the two protagonists (Nick and Mark) it seems that ZTS aspires for controversy, intellectual sophistication and subversiveness, but only ever attains cringe-worthy glibness at best.
The DVD blurb and IMDb say it caused a riot on the opening night. Not quite: it was simply a false fire alarm, likely caused by the self-aggrandizing director himself, no doubt. The makers of Zero Tolerance Squad should be arrested for releasing this travesty. The crime? Most certainly NOT for being dangerous thinkers, but for harboring the grandiose delusion that they very well are.
In summary, I chose to watch ZTS because I had the impression it was a thought-provoking diatribe against the police state. But now that I've watched it, I realize its true place in Australian cinematic history is precisely where I found it: wedged between two sofa cushions in my brother in law's garage.
I reviewed this for film class. In a nutshell, ZTS will fall woefully short of even the most modest of expectations. Amateurish cinematography, ill-written script, graphic gay sex scenes irrelevant to the storyline. Based on the aimless rantings of the two protagonists (Nick and Mark) it seems that ZTS aspires for controversy, intellectual sophistication and subversiveness, but only ever attains cringe-worthy glibness at best.
The DVD blurb and IMDb say it caused a riot on the opening night. Not quite: it was simply a false fire alarm, likely caused by the self-aggrandizing director himself, no doubt. The makers of Zero Tolerance Squad should be arrested for releasing this travesty. The crime? Most certainly NOT for being dangerous thinkers, but for harboring the grandiose delusion that they very well are.
In summary, I chose to watch ZTS because I had the impression it was a thought-provoking diatribe against the police state. But now that I've watched it, I realize its true place in Australian cinematic history is precisely where I found it: wedged between two sofa cushions in my brother in law's garage.
