The Furnace

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The Furnace

2020

1h 56m

Adventure

Drama

Western

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

To escape a harsh existence and return home, a young cameleer partners with a mysterious bushman on the run with Crown-marked gold bars.

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David Stratton

The Australian

If the film has a flaw it's that it doesn't quite reach the satisfying climax it promises; it's beautiful, even powerful, but rather bleak.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 16, 2020

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

MacKay is not lacking in talent, but for a first-time director he may have taken on a little too much. While the scattered quality of the storytelling may be partly deliberate, a bigger problem is the lack of consistent tone.

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 10, 2020

Full Review

Luke Buckmaster

Guardian

The first-time feature filmmaker captures an intriguing stillness derived heavily from the land, which is vast and unforgiving, of course; it wouldn't be an Australian western if it wasn't.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 8, 2020

Full Review

Jane Freebury

The Canberra Times (Australia)

A remarkable first feature film...

Rated: 4/5

Aug 23, 2022

Full Review

Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

This is still a bold, interesting movie that has the potential to encourage filmmakers and audiences to think differently about a genre that is often guilty of neglecting the past.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 20, 2021

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Kevin Harley

Radio Times

And although some of MacKay's points land bluntly, his often brash narrative ultimately proves equally as hypnotic and ruthless as the film's sun-parched setting.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 24, 2021

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STEPHEN P

This show was done very well and took us to places unexpected - a rare feat for movies in recent times. Very compelling even for the characters who were a mix of good and not. Of good judgement and not so good. Highly reccomended.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/01/25

Full Review

Tim G

Grim but well done. Loses half a star for the predictable/pat/unrealistic ending.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/25

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Gillian S

How did this movie get such good reviews? Any movie with only men in it is not a good sign. Except for the two Chinese women who were in the movie for two seconds or so. It was interesting to find out about Persians, Indians and Afghans working in Australia in the nineteenth century, I found this movie boring and slow. Too many men shooting at each other. Nothing to alleviate the violence. The best part was the Aborigines, treated equally.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/25

Full Review

Achille L

I found this film compelling and a true testament, in the end, to man's true nature; persevering despite all the opportunities to go astray. ….definitely not a Hollywood package.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/24/23

Full Review

Rich M

It's a if Roderick MacKay took the black and white classic The Treasure of Sierra Madre and put it through a Colonial Australian prism to produce a rainbow of parrallel stories about the corruptive power of greed. The backdrop is the stark beauty of the Australian Outback and the pure existence of its Aboriginal inhabitants. Add colonialism, racism, religion, desperate ambition to the many characters struggling to survive in a foreign land and a gripping parable unfolds about how "just a rock", gold, can destroy so many lives, and possibly enlighten one. Beautifully done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/23

Full Review

Brent L

I have never seen such an original movie, very different, very compelling and every second drives you on. Stellar performances from the actors, amazing story line and superb editing and direction. Best movie so for of 2023. David Wenham's performance was super impressive. Best ever movie ending. But Ahmed Malek stole the show for his acting. A rising star, for sure.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/06/23

Full Review

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Synopsis

To escape a harsh existence and return home, a young cameleer partners with a mysterious bushman on the run with Crown-marked gold bars.

Director: Roderick Mackay
Producer: Tenille Kennedy, Timothy White
Screenwriter: Roderick Mackay, Roderick MacKay
Production Co: Southern Light Films
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Western
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 14, 2021
Runtime: 1h 56m

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