Mikes Film Talk

Writer/Director Jon Bell gives us the 2024 Aboriginal horror story The Moogai. Atmospheric and downright scary in parts, the film takes us back to our deepest fears as a parent. The country that brought us Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Babadook is good at taking us to those places.

The Moogai Story

An Aboriginal couple have their second child. The mother dies during childbirth but is brought back. She soon starts having visions and dreams about something coming to steal her children. That something is a demon from her ancestral heritage.

The Moogai Cast

Shari Sebbens is Sarah.

Meyne Wyatt is Fergus.

Tessa Rose is Ruth.

Bella Heathcote is Becky.

Clarence Ryan is Roy Boy.

Jahdeana Mary is Chloe.

Toby Leonard Moore is Dr Barnes.

Alexandra Jensen is Miss Miller.

Let’s Talk The Moogai

Bell does a brilliant job here despite the fact that we do not like Sarah very much. She treats her birth mother horribly, wants to argue with everyone and, later, threatens a schoolteacher. Sarah is overly aggressive and denies her own birthright. She turns her back on her Aboriginal roots.

While we do not every really warm to Sarah, we do understand, to a degree, her dilemma. Ruth, her birth mum, lived in an Aboriginal Mission as a girl, in the 1970’s. The government was taking Aborigine indigents and placing them with white families. At the same time, other children were being taken by the Moogai.

Another demon that steals children.

This film is a step away from certain Australian tropes and stereotypes. There is not one didgeridoo or “native” music to be heard. The Moogai has not one racist white on board. The two government agents in the film’s prologue are just doing their job. They are not pleasant but there is no overt racism going on from them. The racism is practised by the government.

It Works

The “ghost girl” warnings and the brief appearances of the child stealing monster, are all too indicative of The Babadook. This is no fictional creature, however. It is also not a melt down from grief, this scary creature is all too real.

In the film, Sarah never really comes to grips with the “magic” or ceremony of her past. Not at first. Ruth, however, never gives up. Sarah has immersed herself in the world of law. It is interesting to note that her best mate and colleague Becky turns on her.

Becky, all lithe class and pearly white teeth, denies that she was sharing wine with her mate. The school incident proves that fam is the most important ally one can have. Fergus steps up and saves the day.

Fergus plays hero another time and it does not end well for him. He is not around for the big fight at the end.

Kudos to all the actors here. They really sell this one. A special shout out to Tessa Rose, “Hey bub,” for really exuding a truth so deep it hurt. *She has worked with Bell before.*

The Verdict

The Moogai earns a solid 4 stars. It loses one full star due to the slightly dodgy CGI monster. Overall it works, but there are moments when I sincerely wished for a practical demon. The film scares but not overly so, there is no need to turn all the lights on after watching it. The Moogai is streaming on Prime right now. Go and check it out, but prepare to have chills.

The Trailer