Skinford was shot in Australia and never screened elsewhere, also in 2017. A sequel, Skinford: Chapter Two, came out in 2018. So, when Skinford: Death Sentence appeared on my radar, I presumed it was the third installment in the franchise.
Then I remembered the plot and the crew billing were the same as the film, with a few changes among the supporting cast members. A quick check of the copyright date confirmed this is not a new film. My best guess is that Black Mandala recognized its value as a cult classic and brought it on. And they must have some faith in it as IMDB has an entry for Skinford 2: The Curse, which seems to be a strong follow-up to Skinford: Chapter Two.
As Skinford: Death Sentence begins, petty criminal Jim “Skinny” Skinford (Joshua Brennan, Bloody Hell, Skinford) sits in a hole. He knows well enough to stop digging, but he is being forced to do so. But as he takes the bullet, he notices that a hand is reaching up from the dirt and touches him. This act renders him immortal.
The statement most likely refers to the fact that Zophia (Charlotte Best, Home and Away, An American in Texas) has also been buried alive, which suggests that he is not the sole individual to have been removed there for the sake of disposal. She even goes on to say that he should not have exhumed her, as if that is not weird enough. Before long he will agree with her and it will not take much for him to do so.
Director Nik Kacevski (Engineered, Mongrel) and co-writer Tess Meyer (The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill, Lil Wild) came up with a story that, for better or worse, is unlike any other you have seen out there. As if the beginning was not already strange enough, it now involves mob boss Falkov (Goran D. Kleut, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse, Alien: Covenant) receiving trucks filled with women, including Jim’s ex Jaya (Kelly Paterniti, Inhuman Resources, Home and Away), who are sex slaves and terribly, along with bombs inside them, mad scientists and, believe it or not, more.
Regardless of the tight budget, the film never seems to run out of steam, constantly throwing punches, pummeling people, embarking on vehicular pursuits, and even decapitating bodies. This is a good thing because, during those segments, it nears the level of other more outrageous Australian features like Sons of Steel and Body Melt. But when the film tries to be serious, for example, when Zophia explains her curse of immortality, it comes off as a shallow attempt with underlying pretentiousness.
Skinford: Death Sentence clearly does not stick to the constrained budget narrative. It actually looks a lot better than what is expected out of the budget. Cinematographers Kieran Fowler (Carnifex, Terminus) and Carl Robertson (Road Kill, Infini) seem to utilize the streets of Sydney along with a sinister nursing home and a ship’s interior which also help a lot. The film’s effects are a blend of practical effects and CGI, and are mostly acceptably good to excellent.
Some may find it infuriating when the script fails to respond to questions regarding Zophia’s immortality, the story of the evil little girls, and how Guy, who is Jimmy’s father played by Ric Herbert in No Escape, King Kong, fits in. That seems to be more of a deliberate choice rather than an oversight. The viewer remains as bewildered as Jimmy throughout the film and the search for more answers is the bridge to the second film. Still, I wouldn’t have minded them providing a tad bit more information at a few places.
All in all, this is a nice crime/horror hybrid that, in my opinion, should not be overthought seemingly meaningless details. Just grab a Fosters or three and enjoy the film I know I will be looking forward to in Chapter Two.
Skinford: Death Sentence has been rolled out in a number of countries like Germany, with subsequent releases intended. You can check out the Black Mandala website and their Facebook page for updates. And while you sit with bated breath waiting for your country to cast the sentence.
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