A vicious and brutal reinvention of a familiar premise that teases a lot more from the minds behind the project, even if it never quite sticks the landing.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 22, 2023

Some of the actions feel a bit repetitive, but through surprising and shocking turns, and dedicated performances The Loved Ones is a darkly comic and twisted horror gem.

| Oct 28, 2022

Compelling Misery-esque tale with a lead fantastic performance from Robin McLeavy. The violence hits especially hard, but at just 79 minutes it's a bit too thin.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 30, 2020

Iits viciousness does not seem market tested. It is sincere in its merciless plumbing of the outer edges of human cruelty.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 30, 2020

Employing a classic Aussie lack of propriety in the clinches, Byrne allows us to root for a split-ends, bad-hair guy to survive...

| Jun 12, 2020

It's an impressive debut feature from writer/director Byrne who spills blood, boils brains and cannibalises naked teens with wicked energy.

| Jan 23, 2018

With a narrative that surprises at every turn, committed performances from all involved, and a sense of humour as dark as the horror on display, The Loved Ones is a true horror gem.

| Jan 8, 2018

The direction is superb, with strong use of colour, some truly nasty twists and turns, inventive gore scenes ("Fetch the hammer, daddy...") and impressive use of music, all of which adds up to a pretty intense 84 minutes or so.

| Jan 8, 2018

Headed by [Jessica] McNamee as the spurned prom-bomb, [Sean] Byrne's debut feature defines "sick and wrong" in all the right ways.

| Jan 8, 2018

Speaking of reusing old premises, The Loved Ones shows the right way to do it. In this outrageously creepy and entertaining.

| Jan 8, 2018

A juicy piece of Ozploitation, [Sean] Byrne's very stylish film pays its respects to Carrie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the late John Hughes while finding in its primary location...a speical version of Hell on Earth.

| Jan 8, 2018

[Sean] Byrne has an incredible talent for rhythm and pacing.

| Jan 8, 2018

If you like horror that pulls no punches, this one's worth the effort to track it down and check it out.

| Jan 8, 2018

Carried by strong performances (by everyone) and stunning cinematography by Simon Chapman, The Loved Ones is a beautiful, fresh and engaging horror film that's a must see.

| Jan 8, 2018

All the performances are good.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 14, 2014

The pacing is choppy but Byrne serves a thick, satisfying stew of savagery and surprise sympathy, generously flavoured by lashings of black humour.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 14, 2014

The torture-porn genre gets a Day-Glo makeover in this hilariously deranged Ocker shocker.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 8, 2013

Sean Byrne has established himself as one hell of a guy to watch with his first feature film, delivering something bright, brand new and deeply felt.

| Apr 3, 2013

The Loved Ones has a lot to offer in wit, style and entertainment and I can highly recommend it.

| Jan 8, 2013

The Loved Ones is a breath of fresh air for the so-called "torture porn" sub-genre of horror movies.

| Original Score: B | Jan 8, 2013