Having come back from a trip and not having gone to the cinema for the last month it was so thrilling to sit in the theater, where you could instantly feel the incredible energy inside the cinema from everyone who came out to watch. Now in its second week at New Farm Cinemas—who have thankfully extended the run due to popular demand as audiences are still showing up and absolutely loving it. As a cinema lover this makes me happy and to see how this proves that this local, character-driven story is creating a massive buzz and ticking every single box of what you want to see in a film.I caught up with one of the stars, Dan Ewing, right after the screening to chat about the film’s incredible grassroots success, why Queensland is leading the charge in Australian cinema, and what it’s like to play the character audiences love to hate as that is how I felt with Dan role that he played out brilliantly. With knowing one another and have worked together years ago Dan has sure made such positive changes on himself over his years and just had a birthday and at 41 looking amazing.
With following up on my excitement of the film and attendance, Dan jumped in immediately, noting how refreshing it is to see cinema in its second week still selling nearly out for a film made on a humble $13,000 budget.
He compared it to his experience making Love and Monsters on the Gold Coast, which had a budget of around $33 million, with another $30 million poured into promotion. For Dan, seeing micro-budget films like this popping up—alongside projects like Backrooms and Obsession—is a sign that audiences are shifting away from the rigid studio model. People are craving authenticity and compelling characters.
While big studio films are fantastic for the business, sell lunchboxes, and provide great paychecks, Dan pointed out a conversation we don’t hear enough: much of that massive studio money ultimately heads overseas.
Imagine instead, he suggested, if we threw that kind of support behind local filmmakers like Louise Alston and Stephen Vagg, who made this film out of their own pockets. Now, they are reaping the rewards because the film started in just two cinemas, expanded, and sparked a genuine bidding war. They achieved that simply by creating characters people care about, backed by beautiful cinematography, direction, and a fantastic score.
Dan gives such praise to Queensland as to having has some of the best filmmakers, crews in the world. The state has become a leader because the rebates and support structures are fantastic. But while we welcome the hundreds of millions of dollars from major international productions, we can’t forget the indie filmmakers who might just need $50,000, $100,000, or a couple of million to get off the ground. If we support them, the money stays right here, creating a beautiful cycle of new projects.
With Screen Queensland studios, top-tier crews, and cinema complexes like New Farm backing local stories, Brisbane and the Gold Coast are where the magic is happening. These are exactly the kinds of films I love to go see in the cinema, and as we agreed, we just need to keep making more of them.
Of course, I had to ask him what he thought of his own character, Hacho. My verdict? I absolutely loved to hate him, but what a role to play!
Without giving away spoilers, Dan views Hutcho as the “villain” of the piece, though he prefers the term “misunderstood.” To him, Hutcho is a great expression of the male ego. Now 41 and having done a lot of personal work, Dan talks insightfully about the balance between ego, ambition, and intention. Where ego tries to prove the world wrong and ambition uses force, intention operates from a higher sense of purpose. With the male ego, he says, it’s always worth asking: what are they afraid of, and what are they trying to protect?
When Hutcho becomes emotional toward the end of the film, it adds a layer that prevents him from being a cartoon bad guy. It makes the audience wonder what happened to this man to make him say and do such things.
The lady sitting next to me in the theater certainly had some strong reactions every time Dan came on screen. He admitted that Hutcho says some pretty gnarly stuff. At the start, it’s funny because he is trying to offend absolutely everyone—including a line about gender fluidity that manages to insult the entire room. But later, the lines are delivered with real venom, drawing audible gasps from the crowd.
That audience interaction is exactly what made the experience so special. It has been a very long time since I’ve been in a cinema where people were actively clapping, laughing, and groaning throughout the entire film.
Dan described the film as an emotional rollercoaster rather than a cheap dopamine hit. Unlike formulaic, Hallmark-style films built strictly around two leads, this project doesn’t pull its punches. It’s funny, a little unhinged at times, but anchored by genuine truth and emotional stakes.
To call it a rom-com would be a disservice; it’s a genuine dramedy. He noted that Australians have a unique ability to throw humor at something before emotion, a trait that doesn’t get showcased enough because too many local films lean into doom and gloom. This film captures who we are: funny, heartfelt, messy, and honest.
I absolutely loved it and told him it easily deserved a four-star rating.
Ever the charmer, Dan grinned and asked if we could push it to four-and-a-half since he’s in it—and maybe wrap things up with a hug.
Four-and-a-half stars it is. And that was our cue to cut the interview, exchange a congratulations, and wrap up a wonderful afternoon celebrating Queensland film.
Caroline Russo Interview
