In Too Deep

(1989)

In Too Deep, from the makers of Zone 39, is a sweaty Melbourne-based neo-noir about Wendy (Santha Press, another little known lead), a clothes shop owner by day and jazz singer by night who is in a tawdry relationship with Mack (musician Hugo Race), a layabout who sings in a rock band. Things are about to become strained between the two for a number of reasons. First, Wendy's sister Jojo (Rebekah Elmaloglou, dangerously young) decides that she wants to stay with her big sis in her warehouse-style apartment (that only ever exists in TV and film) and she wants to be just like her. Second, there are two cops that are following Mack convinced that he has a tape of a politician doing very bad things. And finally, it turns out Mack is a bank robber who has pulled a number of heists (geez, pulling bank robberies in Victoria in the 80s, I'm surprised none of the robbers were shot by the cops) and Wendy has found out and wants to feel the danger. Oh, and Mack is a psychopath and Wendy and Jojo are testing his patience.

Of all the places in Australia, I think only anywhere in Tasmania would be less likely to set a steamy thriller than Melbourne. Sure, Melbourne gets hot in summer (not this past summer), but it's nowhere near as hot as everywhere else in Australia. Interesting film that looks suitably hot and sultry and has that lazy feel of noir, but there ain't much of anything going on (alright there's a fair bit of sex and nudity). Worth a look, mainly for the mood of the film as the main plot is barely worth mentioning.

And man, Rebekah Elmaloglou is exactly how I remember her, which is strange cos she's only 15 years old in this film. Was she really that young in Home and Away? (Turns out she was) You know, she has some quite sexy stuff in the film, but what type of person would I be if I posted it? Probably the same as if I didn't... 

The VHS original source was remarkably dark, so a fair bit of work was needed to make some scenes watchable. It is what it is, but the videos should be watchable at the very least.

Santha Press film clips. Remember it's VHS. The collages are below: