THE FLOOD is a revisionist feminist Australian revenge western. It draws on things that actually happened to the Aboriginal people in the Australian Outback. Jaru along with other Aboriginal men go off to fight the Japanese in World War 2 with the promise of citizenship, but the promises are broken as soon as the men leave and the rich Australian land owners kick the women and children off their land to become indentured slaves to them. The acting, directing, and cinematography is great, but writer/ director Victoria Wharfe McIntyre screws up the film in the editing stage where a couple of songs feel out of place and the flashbacks seem odd. I wish there was more character development at the beginning of THE FLOOD before Jaru's wife Jarah and daughter are put through Hell. THE FLOOD is a mixed bag and it isn't a classic Australian western like THE PROPOSITION and SWEETWATER. NIGHTINGALE is a better revenge tale than THE FLOOD which tries to be too many things and the director doesn't remember the advice where sometimes you have to kill your darlings to make your best work. Victoria Wharfe McIntyre loves what she made too much and it caused her to lose her objectivity on what the final product should be.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Even though there are no extras listed on the packaging, the DVD does have a few extras including an audio commentary with director Victoria Wharfe McIntyre and her producer, a good making-of documentary that goes behind-the-scenes of THE FLOOD, and some previews for other movies.

FINAL ANALYSIS: THE FLOOD is a flawed Neo-Western that could have been better if the director knew what to keep and not to keep. Sometimes you have to kill some of your darlings to make the best movie.

This review is (c)12-24-2021 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted with permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com