The trailer for the already-acclaimed indie feature – an unflinchingly funny drama that follows three millennial couples whose relationships are thrown into disarray when they descend on a luxury Southern Highlands farmstay for a birthday weekend they’ll never forget – was launched today.
The film is written and directed by James Robert Woods, whose incredible success spans tens of millions of views across the Mortal Kombat-themed YouTube series Fire & Ice and zeitgeist-capturing YouTube channel Stuntbear with its string of viral hits including acerbic parody of The Shire. In the commercial world, Woods has seen success in Australia and internationally with a long line of campaigns for major brands including his mega-viral collaboration with Netflix on the Stranger Things x Bondi Rescue mockumentary that won an Ad News Award (AU) and a Webby Award (US).
More recently, his drama credits include the multi-award-winning short film Svengali (St Kilda, Revelation Perth), Aussie festival darling Mrs. S., A Comedian and A Problematic Gesture Toward Auteur Theory. Woods produced The Birthday Trip alongside his BADLANDS co-founder Stephanie Jane Day, with Woods also serving as Cinematographer. The film’s ensemble cast includes Luke Jacobz (X-Factor, Home and Away), Nicola Frew (I Am Woman, The Daughter), David Quirk (Rosehaven, Please Like Me), Sapphire Blossom (Mr Inbetween, Opal Dream) and Annelise Hall (Grease, Mamma Mia).
With an acute awareness of the challenges of drawing audiences to the cinema for Australian films, the BADLANDS distribution team – which includes Kelly Wong (former General Manager, Sony Pictures Hong Kong) and multi-disciplinary artist Angus McGrath – have embarked on a preview tour around the country.
This has already included sold-out screenings at the Thornbury Picture House and the Art Gallery of NSW’s Sydney Cinémathèque, and in the coming weeks will include Five Star Cinemas in New Farm (Brisbane), the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace (Sydney) and the Eclipse Cinema (Melbourne). The team is sharing audience and critic feedback with cinemas as they go, ahead of the July 30 release.
Press comments for The Birthday Trip
“A heady mixture of biting comedy and social commentary. Bloody brilliant.” The Curb
“Bold, mature. One of the best Australian films of the year” Cinema Australia
“Rare, intimate, intense… Pulses with energy and insight” / 8.7/10 FilmInk
“A pinpoint satire of Australia in the mode of Ruben Östlund / Succession / The White Lotus” Movie Squad on RTR FM
Audience comments via Letterboxd:
★ ★ ★ ★ “Wickedly funny and painfully real” (parker constantine)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “A stunning debut” (Sam Herriman)
★ ★ ★ ★ “If you see one Australian film this year make it this one” (zgargoz)
★ ★ ★ ★ “funny, sharp, incredible performances. in convo with eugene kotlyarenko, joachim trier - very clever satire, feels really contemporary.” (jrdjms)
★ ★ ★ ★ “Sharp as a charcuterie knife, brazen as a bulldozer” (laurent)
★ ★ ★ ★ ½ “It really feels like something new” (ellie wilson)
★ ★ ★ ★ “A cutting satire of white Australian bourgeoisie” (VHS Tracking)