Out of the Blue

Based on a true story, this drama depicts the shocking events of a mass murder in an unlikely place—New Zealand. In November 1990, David Gray (Matthew Sunderland) suddenly took a semi-automatic rifle and began shooting his neighbors and their children, subsequently holding the town under siege as authorities hunted him down in the neighborhood. This carefully composed film is photographed in painterly detail, gorgeously edited and acted with utter realism. Out of the Blue is unique in that it is a quiet tragedy, without the noise and bluster you might expect. In fact, the inventive use of sound—dropping it out, changing its texture during scenes—adds to the overall impact. There’s a large menu of supplements that includes testimonials by eyewitnesses and survivors who lived through the actual ordeal.

Shelf Talk: Since the cast and crew are all Kiwi, there’s no “name” to push. The massacre, shocking as it was, isn’t well known on these shores. That said, indie, arthouse, crime, thriller and based-on-true-story aficionados will appreciate being informed about this well-crafted film.