God-12 This was a most excellent Ozzie film that I watched this evening. A delightful comedy. It wasn't that kind to Ozzies, but it was very funny. It was also quite strange in its way, but it was kind enough to give strong hints as to its plot development methods in one of the sub-plots.I hadn't understood what people saw in line-dancing, but I think that I now have an inkling. It was also interesting to see how the yankish idiom appeals to the incoherent everywhere - the film exploited this point to excellent effect if a trifle cruelly, if you have any empathy with the incoherent.It is so good to see the occasional well-made and clever film that turns up. I suppose that their explanation of how the plot was devised might be seen by some as a post-modernist infestation, but I felt that it was a) in good fun and, at worst, b) a good satire of post-modernist triviality taking itself so seriously as to think it is clever.I'm not quite clear why it was showing at the downstairs cinema. There was a little French in it, with sub-titles, but surely not enough to class it as an 'art' film. Have Ster-Kinekor simply decided that Yankish films go upstairs and intelligent ones downstairs? It seems rather sad for the masses who go only to upstairs films to be missing this friendly and good-humoured comedy.It is, I suppose, a little bit of a black comedy, in places, plenty of dismembered limbs, decapitated corpses and crushed dogs. All these are, however, in the best possible taste.It seems strangely short of stock Oz stereotypes. Very little beer is drunk, the macho fellow doesn't do particularly well and the poofdahs generally have a nice time of it. What was the reference to the Frenchman on the beach with the big knife? I thought of Albert Camus' 'The Outsider' (or 'The Stranger') which starts that way. A comment here suggests that it was a particularly Australian reference.

ptb-8 Written by and starring short Tropfest film winner, bald local Sydney comedian Gary Eck, this is a supposed comedy showcase for Mr Himself, for himself and about himself. With the same derivative form of 'satirical' comedy (ie: lifted from other original ideas) just like the notoriously inept 90s comic horror SILENCE OF THE HAMS, or Exorcist farce REPOSSESSED, or Top Gun crap HOT SHOTS. This illconcieved film has a bumpkin hometown Village People serial killer whodunnit theme sliding sideways into some navel gazing about the main character, local cop as played by Mr Eck. Sadly there is not much in the form of originality and like the source of satire, probably 29 years out of date. Released in some local multiplexes for a week or so by Mirimax Australia I am quite sure someone almost lost their job because of this distribution pickup boo-boo. More was spent on the posters and ads than was spent on tickets if you get my drift. I am sure Gary Eck is a funny man at the stand-up club but I am not sure that recycling previously humorous characters or situations and claiming them as new and funnier in his films is the right thing to do. Like his Tropfest win hilariously recognized in all parts of the Oz film distribution network as having been sourced from a better idea, the 1978 musical travesty CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC is a funnier Village People storyline...if that is any indication for the murderous hilarity of this flop. I am sure he is well regarded as a comedian and it would be a happy experience for all concerned if he was attracted to original material only. I guess that is called creativity.

callapm66 Can't Stop the Murders probably is Australia's worse movie. It's a comedy that has all these stand up comics who cant get a gig but are all put in a film for no particular reason. The script is full of cliches and fails to capture the real comedy of The Castle.

cpooge When I first saw the trailer I though to myself 'hey...nice idea'. However i was sadly disappointed with the overall product. Gary Eck, one of the writers and main character, wrote a winning 'Tropfest' entry in 2002 ('Tragic Love'), and in comparison to this short, 'You Can't Stop The Murders' just becomes a parody of itself. 'Tragic Love' was amusing and enjoyable because although the overall idea was absurd, it was played out in complete seriousness. If the same could be said for Y.C.S.T.M then I'm sure it would have made it a much more enjoyable film. However, with that all said and done. I'm sorry to use Gary as an example, and I'll continue the review.The film overall is quite well make for Australian standards, especially on what I would assume was a small budget. The acting is an interesting mix characters and performers bound together through this interesting variation of the murder genre.The 99 minute running time perfect for the story to progress. And the cinematography was an altogether different and refreshing view at yet another bland Australian landscape.