Review: Audrey – A Darkly Hilarious Family Fiasco with a Wicked Edge
Self-appointed Mother of the Year Ronnie Lipsick sees an opportunity when her daughter falls into a coma and assumes her daughter’s identity.
Release date: 7 November 2024 (Australia)
Director: Natalie Bailey
Audrey is a film that leaves you reeling between bursts of laughter and moments that may leave you in pure shock. It’s a dark comedy with razor-sharp humor that teeters on the brink, making you either laugh uncontrollably or sit stunned, wondering, “Did that just happen?” Filmed in Queensland with a talented cast and crew, Audrey showcases the daring creativity of Australian cinema.
Lou Sanz’s screenplay is delightfully over-the-top, drawing inspiration from iconic films like Muriel’s Wedding and Jennifer’s Body. Known for her work on shows like Offspring, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and The PM’s Daughter, Sanz has a flair for edgy, biting humor that challenges both the actors and the audience. It’s easy to see why actors would be drawn to a script like this; it’s bold, risky, and full of unexpected twists.
Jackie van Beek shines as Ronnie Lipsick, a forgotten soap star and self-proclaimed “Mother of the Year,” trapped in suburban monotony and unrealized dreams. She steals the screen with her portrayal of a mother whose aspirations have long simmered beneath the surface. Opposite her is Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, one of Australia’s standout actors, who brings humor and depth to the role of her husband, Cormack. Their first scene alone sets the tone with laughs that only grow throughout the film.
Audrey’s sisters, played by Josephine Blazier (True History of the Kelly Gang) and Hannah Diviney—a renowned writer and advocate in Sydney—round out this eccentric family. When an accident leaves Audrey in a coma, Ronnie seizes the chance to step into her daughter’s shoes, pursuing the stardom she believes she was destined for. Meanwhile, Cormack and her sister Nora, unexpectedly, thrive in Audrey’s absence.
The film leads viewers on a wicked journey with this bizarre family, each member oddly flourishing while Audrey is out of the picture—until, inevitably, she wakes up, throwing their newfound lives into chaos.
Directed by Natalie Bailey, the film unfolds as a dark, sex-fueled comedy with undercurrents of classical tragedy, evoking the idea that, in some twisted way, happiness for these characters can only be achieved through sacrifice.
Audrey is coming soon to a cinema near you. I give it 3.5 stars—
