Brothers Nest Is a Brutal Aussie Thriller That Deserved 2018’s Spotlight
Brothers’ Nest is directed by Clayton Jacobson. The story is about two brothers who think their step-dad is better off dead than alive.
In a life-imitating art type of scenario, the leading men play brothers while actually being brothers. Clayton and Shane Jacobson have such great chemistry onscreen that it’s easy to see why they chose to star in Brothers Nest together. Clayton Jacobson is the director of the movie and does a fine job of it, too. This is not Jacobson’s first feature film as director, and it shows. The title is not the Jacobson brothers’ first movie together either. The pair previously starred in a cult hit favorite called Kenny (2006), a comedy about porta-loos.
Yes, it’s a comedy movie about a man who cleans the toilets. Kenny is a classic here in Australia, and for good reason, too. The Brothers Nest movie is also a comedy, but it’s the type that relies on comedic relief when everything else thematically is quite dark.
If you weren’t aware, Mother of Movies is Australian. While working for MovieHooker and covering the Fantasia Film Festival in 2018, not only did I get to watch this amazing Australian indie thriller movie, I also secured a one-on-one interview with the very awesome Clayton Jacobson. Brothers Nest is fantastic, dark, and completely worth your time.
What’s Brothers Nest About?
- The story follows Terry and Jeff. They plan a murder. A well-planned murder is easy. A badly executed killing spree is a lot of bother.
- Genres: Black Comedy | Crime Thriller | AUSTRALIAN MOVIE
Brothers’ Nest Trailer
Where Was The Movie Filmed?
Brothers Nest 2018 was filmed in Victoria, Australia, in two areas called Bungal and Ballan. Both towns are within 50 minutes of each other. Bungal is a forest area, and Ballan is where the town is.
- Directed by: Clayton Jacobson. Written by: Jaime Browne.
- The title was originally screened at the Fantasia Film Festival.
- Budget: $1.9 million.
- Brother’s Nest cast includes these talented people: Shane Jacobson (That’s Not My Dog 2018), Clayton Jacobson (Upgrade 2018), Kim Gyngell (The Little Death 2014), Lynette Curran (These Final Hours 2013), and Sarah Snook (Predestination 2014).
The Jacobson Brothers
Terry and Jeff are not only brothers, they’re the best competitors. The boys in Brothers Nest have a complicated family dynamic, but they also have a stepfather who is very much in the way. Played by Kym Gyngell as Rodger as their step-dad, the two decide the world would be a better place if Roger were 6 feet under. On a particularly cold morning in Victoria, Jeff and Terry arrive to carry out their master plan of murdering Roger.
More than just a hidden gem, Brothers’ Nest carries performances by many Australian acting staples. The thriller film with horror elements is a slow burn. The thought process and details that Terry and Jeff undertake are humorous in a macabre way. They set up the tension and create the atmosphere for the chaos that befalls the situation in the latter half. The details are hard to stomach. The brothers are not nice people. They are horrible. But that’s what makes them so darn interesting and hard to look away from.
Less of a car accident and more likely similar to a narcissist you might have dated that one time. You want to leave, but sometimes it’s easier to stay. The tense and unique movie is well worth the slow burn as it forces the sibling rivalry down your throat. You want them to fail. It’s all part of the journey.
Brothers’ Nest Cast
Kim Gyngell brilliantly portrays the character of Roger, the stepfather who enters the brothers’ family after their father’s tragic demise. Despite being known as a renowned comedian in Australia, Gyngell showcases his exceptional versatility by flawlessly embodying this unsavory role. The entire cast is meticulously chosen to align with the sinister essence of the narrative, creating a captivating web of intrigue and suspense.
Intermittent violins, usually reserved for sketch scenes in erroneous scary movies, help the situational dread along.
The resulting payoff at the end of Brothers’ Nest is worth the journey. The story is unique, and the Australian accent is alive and well in this Australian film.
“All I wanted was a quiet place to come and eat some of Aunty Shirls ginger fluff cake.”
Quote from Brothers’ Nest
Low budget, high-quality, tense, and thrilling Australian cinema.
I give Brothers’ Nest
4.5 antique radios in the bathtub out of 5.
Where to Watch Brothers’ Nest
In Australia, Brothers Nest is streaming free with a subscription (see below).
