Frog Dreaming (1986)

Cody is a rebellious youth living in a small Australian community. After he and friends visit the isolated lake station known as Devil's Knob, they have an encounter with what seems to be a monster, and find a body. Cody is determined to find out just what this creature is, and goes on a journey through indigenous folklore, before returning to capture or kill the beast...

Frog Dreaming is your typical kids adventure film from the 80s, but with a difference! It has elements of boyhood adventure, plus some light horror, coming to us courtesy of Australia for a change, than your typical American production. We even get some Aussie wisdom, like "Alcohol really buggers the ticker.", and "Is that as flash as a rat with a gold tooth?". You're welcome!

 

This is a good film overall, well-made and entertaining for the most part. The story holds interest, and progresses decently. I did feel it's a bit too slow paced for kids. It takes an hour for leads to just ask about things. They've only had one spooky scene, and haven't even encountered the monster yet (well, directly anyway). The movie ends up having a more cerebral tone than you'd expect. This threw me through a loop, but I didn't mind once I adjusted my expectations.

While Frog Dreaming is an Aussie production through and through, there is one glaring exception-The main lead, who's an American kid plopped here to pander to the Yanks. In this case though I didn't mind, since it actually fits in with the plot. The film, its setting, and characters are all unapolagetically Aussie, while Cody, as a non-Aboriginal and an American to boot is like a double outsider.

Frog Dreaming has a big focus on Aboriginal lore and customs, and it's handled in an impressive way. It highlights the importance of respect when asking about these things  and the importance of sacred or forbidden places. We also hear many Aboriginal terms here (even if it might get Kurdaitcha and Cleverman mixed up, although that might just be a tribal difference).

Cody seeks to learn about the mythical creature Donkegin and this region, so he asks around with the local Aborigines. He's told to find spiritual man Charlie Pride, who is waiting for him. Cody passes a strange test, then asks if Donkegin is real. And Pride answers "Why don't you go and look". Is that it? After he's come all this way, and done your spiritual test, that's all you have to say? Get stuffed!

This drives Cody to return to Devil's Knob, against the advice of his friends, and try and prove Donkegin's existence. It's pretty selfish of Cody to ignore his guardian Gaz's wishes, and his actions cause everyone to think he's dead. This does lead to some great scenes though, and provides some necessary 3rd act tension/drama.

This all leads to a twist, which I found annoying, but foreshadowed well. Little things like the windmill, and the lack of pond on the map, even Cody's inventing streak, all come together in a really good way. Although I had to feel sorry for poor Kurdaitcha man Charlie Pride, whose entire belief system has probably been proven wrong! Although the ending dream seems to suggest he is well aware of the white man's derelict trash forming itself into ancient monsters.

The film has a spiritual ending, which may be just a dream, but feels important anyway. Not sure it really proves anything though!

Cody is a bit of a rebel, but he still feels authentic. He's a good kid, not a goodie two shoes or an iconoclast. It's also interesting how is best friends are all girls. He's sweet too, buying fish for her! His antics can get a little risky at times, and he does spend a bizarre amount of time completely unsupervised. He also has a lot of adult friends, including a kindly inventor. He goes off on his own during his investigation, and the film almost becomes a one man play.

Sisters Wendy and Jane are a fun pair, and play a good role in the story. The older girl acts as a voice of reason, while the younger is more playful, like in a witchety grub scene that's both cute and gross.

Unfortunately the girls disappear for a while after the halfway point. While Wendy eventually returns, the younger sis is absent from the last act, only returning in final minutes. It's a shame to see a strong trio broken up like that for no real reason, and the movie woulda fared better with them together more.

Through these girls we get honest frank moments discussing sex. It's done in a believable way for their ages without going overboard, or sanitised like they're obedient robots who don't even think about it till they're 18. This leads to some pretty jawdropping lines too.

The other townspeople and parents  although some are annoyingly unreasonable, like the girls' father. He goes on about how Cody should be kept under control, and away from his kids, and how he's such a bad influence he's getting the cops talking to them. But he didn't do anything wrong-The police were called by them, not because of, ya dickhead. Gaz on the other hand is a perfect father figure, acting like a mate when he needs to, and giving advice, but also knowing when to be firm.

The cast here is strong. Henry Thomas is a fine young lead, and even does an ET crying face. Apparently it was his parents who helped him choose roles, as quality control. If so, good on the three of them for picking an Aussie production! Rachel Friend and Tamsin West are a spunky and fun pair. Tony Barry does a good job as Gaz with a wide range of emotion. Dempsey Knight cuts an enigmatic figure as Charlie Pride, doing very well. And Doctor Who's own Katy Manning has a small role, and is amusingly overdramatic in places. I was curious if she'd attempt an Aussie accent, but she sounded more cultivated.

The direction in Frog Dreaming is by prolific local Brian Trenchard-Smith, and it's good! There are many well-organised shots, as well as great lighting lighting. The location work is stellar too, with the Australian landscape providing some absolutely gorgeous imagery. My favourites were the sunset that resembles the Aboriginal flag, and the hazy blue mountains beyond the woods.

The sound in Frog Dreaming is courtesy of composer Brian May (not that one). The film successfully captures Australian silence, to serene and sometimes eerie effect. But sometimes it feels like May fell asleep at the wheel. We get some ok music in places too.

Frog Dreaming may not be for every kid, but it's a pretty interesting feature, for adults too, and showcases Aussie and Aboriginal culture in an interesting and digestible way!...