Overview

• Nicolas Cage stars as an American-raised surfer returning to his childhood Australian beach to reclaim family property, facing hostility from a local surf gang.
• Critics praise Cage's performance for injecting life into the film, though the narrative and stylistic choices have been described as uneven and pretentious.
• The film employs hallucinatory visuals, non-linear editing, and symbolic metaphors to explore themes of isolation, toxic masculinity, and identity loss.
• Director Lorcan Finnegan draws on his signature surreal style to depict a descent into psychological torment, though some reviewers feel the approach is heavy-handed.
• Audience reactions remain polarized, with many appreciating Cage's gonzo energy but others critiquing the film's excessive reliance on allegory and visual disorientation.