Second Sight Films, out 25 March

Linda has inherited a retirement home from her late mother, but old mansion Montclare has a number of dark secrets and it’s not long before things start going bump in the night

The UK Blu-ray debut of this 1982 Australian horror movie affords us the opportunity to finally see director and co-writer Tony Williams’ best-known movie, as well as an early appearance of Wolf Creek’s psychopathic killer Mick Taylor, actor John Jarrett.

The movie begins at the end, showing us that final girl Linda (Jackie Kerin) has survived the ordeal, and it’s quite a journey she goes through over the 89 minutes. Accompanied by a never-subtle synth soundtrack of drum loops and squeals by one-time Tangerine Dreamer Klaus Schulze, we’re constantly reminded that we’re in the 80s, though at times the look and feel of the drama is rooted in 1970s British pastoral horror.

The location for the Montclare nursing home is key, and the grand old haunted mansion feels bizarrely out of place in the Outback, adding to the not-quite-right vibe that unsettles viewers. There’s a 10-minute feature on this location as it is today, and the location work around its grounds really pays off in the pursuit scenes.

It’s best not to focus too much on the plot; someone is killing the pensioners, and we’re tricked into thinking that it’s the on-site doctor and his partner. But we’re not falling for that red herring when there’s two or three other likely suspects, and when all’s revealed you have to accept it couldn’t really be anyone else. The final act descends into standard stalk and slash antics but there’s some bravura camerawork and a constant building up of tension – a scene involving a triangular wall of sugar cubes is nail-biting!

This collector’s disc features both an audio commentary from Williams and producer Tim White as well as a separate one for cast. There’s also extended interviews from Not Quite Hollywood, two shorts from 1971, deleted scenes and a trailer.

Verdict: Veering clumsily between the Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Old Dark House, Next of Kin is not essential viewing, but it has a certain class which elevates it above most slasher flicks of the early 80s. 7/10

Nick Joy