Film Review: Romper Stomper

Review of: Romper Stomper (1992)

Film:

Geoffrey Wright

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Reviewed by: David M. Brown

Rating:

4

On June 18, 2013Last modified:June 18, 2013

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Summary:

Romper Stomper is a gritty drama, revealing a darker side to Australia.

More DetailsAbout Romper Stomper (1992)Controversial drama about a group of Melbourne skinheads, lead by the Hitler-worshipping Hando (Russell Crowe), and their violent attacks on the city’s immigrant population. When the group is joined by newcomer Gabe (Jacqueline McKenzie), her epilepsy threatens to disturb the skinheads’ ideas of purity and leads to disputes which promise the eruption of yet more violence. At the same time, the gang’s future is threatened when the Melbourne Vietnamese community, the target of so many of their hate crimes, begins to fight back.

Starring: Russell Crowe, Daniel Pollock, Jacqueline McKenzie

Directed by: Geoffrey Wright

Runtime: 94 minutes

Studio: Fox Home Entertainment

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Review: Romper Stomper

Eight years before defying the Roman Empire, Russell Crowe starred in this gritty film about a group of Nazi skinheads causing mayhem in and around the streets of Melbourne. Hando (Crowe) is the undisputed leader and guides his gang through days of violence against Vietnamese immigrants, ending the attacks only to enjoy beer, drugs, partying and sex. When the gang acquires a new member – Gabrielle (Jacqueline McKenzie) – she is welcomed into the fold and becomes Hando’s girlfriend. However, the gang become wary of her when she has an epileptic fit, while the Vietnamese families they have terrorised begin to take up arms and fight back against their oppressors.

Hando is a ruthless gang leader, his tattoos and ideology built around Nazism and worship of Hitler. His best friend and second in command Davey (Daniel Pollock) is far quieter than his superior but what is immediately clear is that he falls for Gabrielle though he refrains from trying to take her from Hando. The gang are merciless in their attacks against the Vietnamese trying to making an honest living and when the skinheads’ favorite pub is taken over by a Vietnamese family all hell breaks loose. Hando leads a vicious assault against two Vietnamese men there but word soon reaches their friends and suddenly war breaks out on the streets with Hando’s gang vastly outnumbered. By the end both the battle between the skinheads and the Vietnamese must reach a resolution, as must the awkward love triangle between Hando, Gabrielle and Davey.

Romper Stomper is a low budget but very well made film. Preceding American History X (1998) by six years, I would say this is the inferior of the two films but at the same time they are very different in the race relations they are addressing and in their storylines. Crowe is the highlight, bringing a cold and bloody Hando to life, his beliefs superseding all other considerations. The rest of the cast are all good, especially McKenzie and Pollock. This won’t be an easy film for a lot of people to watch but it’s another injection of realism of more recent years.

Romper Stomper is a gritty drama, revealing a darker side to Australia. Though not as good as American History X, this is still a drama worth experiencing though it is often brutal and would not suit the faint hearted. Crowe’s Hando makes Maximus Decimus Meridius look like a pussy cat.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

About the Author:

I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.

David M. Brown – who has written 718 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.

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