swinging safari filming locations

Swinging Safari

By Hanna B | June 21, 2019

Swinging Safari is an Australian comedy by acclaimed filmmaker Stephan Elliott ( The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ) with a star-studded cast of actors also from Down Under. It is set in the summer of 1975 in Nobbys Beach, a suburban coastal little town where white families fought boredom the best way they could; meaning spending their free time at the beach, surfing, barbecuing, gossiping and drinking. All while the kids were running around mostly unsupervised.

Swinging Safari is filled with colorful characters and a dead whale, but the protagonist and narrator are 14-year-old Jeff Marsh (Atticus Robb). He is the “different” kid, an outsider, a thinker. He’s quieter and not as wild as the other teenagers around him. On his birthday he receives a camera, and he decides to capture everything that happened in Nobbys Beach at that time ‘in the hope that one day [he] could edit the madness together and answer the question what was going on through [their] poor misguided heads.’ And, this is pretty much the premise of Swinging Safari . In the course of a summer, Jeff will discover himself and learn more about the changing world around him where everyone was concerned for, one reason or another, about the giant blue whale that washed up on their beach.

Jeff also makes home movies with a group of children living in his cul-de-sac, and he introduces us to the three families who ‘live, surf and cross the lines together.’

First, we meet the Hall and their chaotic lives. Keith (Guy Pearce), a salesman earning pennies, and Kaye (Kylie Minogue), an alcoholic housewife, who lives in a rundown house with their six kids who are practically untamed and are actors or stuntmen in Jeff’s movies.

“… Jeff will discover himself and learn more about the changing world where everyone was concerned for…the giant blue whale that washed up on their beach.”

Then we meet the Joneses who have ‘the biggest car, house, and hair.’ Jo (Radha Mitchell) and Rick (Julian McMahon), are a very flamboyant couple living in a flashy mansion full of “exotic things” with their daughter Melissa (Darcey Wilson). Melissa, or Melly, is described as ‘invisible’ as she also is different from the pack, being shy, clever, kind or good-hearted. She wants to see the world and does not want to grow up becoming like her parents or typical Nobbys’ residents. She is Jeff secret crush, and they share many things, in particular, scars on their arms due to a freak accident – one time their modern fabric pajamas caught fire – and so they have been nicknamed the ‘flammable children.’

Lastly, we meet the Marshes or Jeff own family. His parents are Bob (Jeremy Sims), a sales representant overstuffing their home with all kinds of products, and Gale (Asher Keddie), whose life consists of, basically, only playing tennis, shopping and chatting.

Apart from the depressing news of the dead whale making its way around the country, Nobbys Beach is almost secluded from the rest of the world and all the children in the film are pretty much delivered to themselves – aside from the little guidance their school manages to give them – and so, Jeff educates himself through movies. This part of the film, or the “kid with a camera trope,” had some Me and Earl and the Dying Girl vibe – or any movie of the sort really! – as Jeff 100 % fits the “genius precocious cinephile ” stereotype, we are accustomed to seeing on screen. Thus, there are numerous montages of his DIY shorts and their making-of where we see the youngsters improvising stunts and dangerous practical effects. This part of the film will please many viewers and is quite relatable as we are shown kids being kids and having the time of their lives. Swinging Safari is very much an ensemble piece where the whole cast is competent, but the kids are all really fabulous in their individual roles.

After a first act spent introducing everybody and setting the tone, the film takes an unexpected (not so kid friendly!) turn, and from there, everything changes for our protagonist and Melly, who is also genuinely affected and saddened by the mistreatment of the whale. They already felt trapped but, now more than ever, are determined to escape their close-minded sunny bubble. It is the kind of movie where everybody has an opinion on everything and, of course, they are all in discordance: delightful and predictable. So, things fall apart, but it makes the characters realize that changes are happening or need to happen, and, then, the film ends with a bang (literally!)

Swinging Safari might be best appreciated as a slice of life or an “exotic trip to 70’s Australia” for outsiders and, although everything is extremely caricatured for the fun of it, it really captures the moment, a lifestyle and a people that did or did not exist. It feels like a project consisting of many true moments stitched together to make an unbelievable story with a lost environmental message and parents doing the best they can to force their children into adulthood the wrong ways. Therein lies, perhaps, the biggest mistake of the film, as some would argue that they should have stuck with either telling the kids story or the parents one as it was confusing and made no sense rating-wise. Originally titled ‘Flammable Children,’ referring to the leading duo, they regrettably opted to retitle the film Swinging Safari , as it is the name of a song the parents listened to at one pivotal moment. It again put the adults (and their irresponsible behaviors) at the center which might be misleading considering this is very much “the story of Atticus Marsh the summer when a great blue whale washed up on the shore.”

“… the best way to seeing this film is as a partly autobiographical ode to the children of the 70s destined to any adult/mature viewer craving a bit of nostalgia…”

Furthermore, although the final product is pleasing, there were many cringing moments, and it is a movie that would easily disappoint – if not offend – some viewers with the portrayals of heavily stereotyped Australians and various cliches pilling on (on top of the “exoticism” or other tone-deaf aspects of the film). Others will point out the few blatant anachronism mistakes or the lack of a tight narrative or storyline.

However, Swinging Safari displays some exceptionally great production design with wonderful props and decors. The costume, hair, and makeup were, likewise, delightful and, overall, the film is visually pleasing. [Oh, and it also has a good soundtrack full of nostalgic and good vibrations!]

The descriptions and narration are highly entertaining, and better than average, even though it might be a bit intense, particularly in the beginning, for those not found of voiceover.

It is a bit hard to tell what kind of film Swinging Safari wants to be. Again, it could have easily been a great PG or “family friendly” coming-of-age movie, but few scenes make this impossible. So, it is safe to assume that the best way to seeing this film is as a partly autobiographical ode to the children of the 70s destined to any adult/mature viewer craving a bit of nostalgia (even if it is a fake one!) or just looking to spend a good time watching a campy comedy that would be fun, well-done and engaging despite the usual problems that accompanied such films (very little regards for facts, logic or political correctness).

Although Swinging Safari was released in Australia in 2018 to very mixed reviews, time will tell if it manages to become an Aussie cinema classic for international audiences as it has many things in its favor but failed to dig deeper, where it could have, without losing its fun. But, in the end, what Swinging Safari lacks in the story is made up in originality and a satisfying art direction.

Swinging Safari (2018) Directed and written by Stephan Elliott . Starring Guy Pearce, Kylie Minogue, Radha Mitchell, Julian McMahon, Asher Keddie, Atticus Robb, Darcey Wilson, Jack Thompson, and Jeremy Sims.

BOCCACCIO ’70 (DVD)

In 1962, four of Italy’s top filmmakers joined forces to produce “Boccaccio ’70,” an anthology of four short films—ranging from 40-50...

SPRINGTIME FOR MUSSOLINI?

Mel Brooks told a funny story to the press this week upon the release of the disappointing updated version of "The Producers" on DVD. Apparently when he...

I’M NOT SCARED

When adults behave monstrously, it’s tough for kids to distinguish between right and wrong. Yet young Michele (Giuseppe Cristiano), a ten-year-old boy in...

Join our Film Threat Newsletter

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

About Rotten Tomatoes®
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening This Week
Top Box Office
Coming Soon to Theaters
Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

Fandango at Home
Prime Video
Most Popular Streaming Movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

77% Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Link to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
95% Rebel Ridge Link to Rebel Ridge
100% His Three Daughters Link to His Three Daughters

New TV Tonight

100% Slow Horses: Season 4
97% English Teacher: Season 1
93% Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist: Season 1
100% Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos: Season 1
54% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
-- Tell Me Lies: Season 2
-- Outlast: Season 2
-- The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Season 1
-- Selling Sunset: Season 8
-- Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Season 14

Flammable Children

Where to watch.

Watch Flammable Children with a subscription on Prime Video, rent on Fandango at Home, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Apple TV.

What to Know

Swinging Safari gathers an entertaining ensemble to offer audiences a messy yet ultimately endearing comedy rich with period detail.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Stephan Elliott

Kylie Minogue

Radha Mitchell

Julian McMahon

Asher Keddie

More Like This

Related movie news.

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

Start a new list…
Add all films to a list…
Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Swinging safari.

Directed by Stephan Elliott

Staying alive was harder than you think.

1975: A 200-ton blue whale gets washed up on a local beach and the kids think it’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened in Australia. Behind closed doors, the Mums and Dads of a quiet suburban street are going to celebrate in their own special way, by joining the sexual revolution and throwing a wife-swapping key party. And like the rotting whale, it’s all about to go spectacularly wrong.

Guy Pearce Kylie Minogue Radha Mitchell Julian McMahon Asher Keddie Jack Thompson Jacob Elordi Jeremy Sims Atticus Robb Darcey Wilson Richard Roxburgh Chelsea Glaw

Director Director

Stephan Elliott

Producers Producers

Jamie Hilton Al Clark

Writer Writer

Casting casting.

Ann Robinson

Editors Editors

Sue Blainey Annette Davey Laurie Hughes

Cinematography Cinematography

Brad Shield

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Robert Whitehouse Lisa Lambert Christopher Figg

Production Design Production Design

Colin Gibson

Art Direction Art Direction

Jodie Whetter

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Justine Dunn

Composer Composer

Costume design costume design.

Lizzy Gardiner

Makeup Makeup

Georgia Lockhart-Adams Desiree Vogelsang Natalie Stanfield Rick Findlater Cora Montalban Tia Stephanou Fiona Willard

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Rick Findlater Desiree Vogelsang Natalie Stanfield Tia Stephanou Cora Montalban Georgia Lockhart-Adams

Wildheart Films See Pictures

Releases by Date

18 jan 2018, 16 jul 2018, 09 sep 2021, 21 apr 2018, 13 may 2019, 23 aug 2019, releases by country.

Physical 12
Digital 18+
Physical 15

97 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by B E R T ★★★★ 1

Swinging Safari is a good hearted, laugh out loud, enjoyably bad cringefest. It plays up every aussie cliche to the maximum, if you’re not Australian the humour will most likely go straight over your head but most Aussies will get a kick out of it, and if you can’t well you must be a serious grump.

Review by Ruth Scouller ★★★½ 5

This is utterly valedictory, the first visual PhD into Australian cinema. We have nothing more to prove, it is now complete in this richly detailed, ten-spoofs-a-millisecond end of the line party. The most wicked possible way to take that curdled populist australiana money and savagely flip’n’skewer it with ozploitative excess. Laughs aplenty, recognition until it hurts; nostal-horror-comedy like only ‘75 could provide. Sometimes too much is just right . We may lay our boomers to rest now and start over. Here’s to the next half century and a very evolved Straya.

Review by Kerry ★★★½ 1

“Give us a jiffy.” “Two ticks. nearly there.” “I'll give you two ticks if you don't stop plucking my wife!” “Can I have that?” “It's got sand on it.” “They are called sandwiches.” “I ruined it?” “You ruined it with middle-aged tits.” “I have seen better crepes at Pancakes on the Rocks!”

This film was hilarious! I'm always glad to see my main boy, Guy Pearce, do comedy because he has a knack for it. He wasn't the only one. My girls Radha Mitchell and Kylie Minogue were good here. My new girl, Asher Keddie, is a bit new for me in films, and my boy, Jeremy Sims, whom I want to see more of in different films. However, the…

Review by Isabella Haack ★★

Channel 10 airing a movie where guy Pearce and Kylie Minogue have an orgy right after the bachelorette is the pinnacle of Australian television

Review by Graham Williamson ★★★½

Part of 30 Countries 2021 . Today: Australia!

Are the 1970s still known as "the decade taste forgot" in Australia? I remember that being the consensus in Britain during the 1990s, but by the next decade the genuine innovators of 1970s film, music and television had overwritten the kitsch and crap in the public memory. Today the '70s also has to shoulder a third reputation, as the origin point of conspiracies, cover-ups and abuse scandals that still deform British public life to this day, which makes Stephan Elliot's comedy feel even more liberating in its merciless assault on the decade's values. The tacky interior decor, loud fashions and fondue sets are lovingly recreated, but the retrospective voiceover - Richard Roxburgh voicing…

Review by Lee Morgan ★½

What a peculiar film. This really isn't very good at all.

Review by lola ½

jacob elordi pslsplsdpslsplsdpasjhbfgvasfiguohipjriq

Review by 13_MoMo_13 ★★★

"I always wanted to make movies...all I needed was a plot."

- Narrator; also the screenwriter for Swinging Safari who is still looking for that plot.

Swinging Safari is a bright and fun 70's set movie with a terrific Aussie cast playing at home [where they should be] in their element. The story is a patchwork of ideas that is never bought together into a cohesive story and a reliance on a narrator who also happens to be the least interesting plot thread is annoying given the films title and trailer promised us SWINGING and yet its only a minor plot detail. While they capture much of 70's Australia (which bleeds hard into 80's Australia tbh) in fun, easter egg…

Review by Seth ★★★

A very mixed bag. It’s funny but also cruel. “Swinging Safari” doesn’t really know what it wants to be. I must say it was entertaining although maybe a tad bit too long.

Radha Mitchell, Guy Pearce, Julian McMahon are the stars of this movie, by FAR!

Some jokes will just fly by unnoticed for non-Australians (magpie joke and some of the slang p.e.) but that shouldn’t spoil the fun.

‘She looks just like Barbra Streisand in “A Star is Born” 😆

Review by William Moore ★★★★½ 1

A pure Australian film fuelled with young-blood performances and a heart-breaking story. On the outside, it's a raunchy comedy but if you look closer it's a beautiful capture of youth in Australia. Full of 70's style and directed brilliantly, I've never felt such empathy and compassion for characters in a film. This is an achievement in Aussie cinema. Please watch international readers.

Review by Gabriel Bath

Review by Brad Henderson ★½

Generally a semi-autobiographical film from Director Stephan Elliott’s childhood growing up in the Northern Beaches in Sydney in the 1970’s. It seems he has squeezed in as much memories or his cool interests into a 90 minute film. It would only make sense to Aussie’s. A little bit too much

It’s a tragic 70’s Fancy Dress Party with obnoxious smart arse Australians attending.

I can see this being a Cult movie in the future for some. Is it deliberately cringeworthy.

This film reminds me of how many dickheads there are on Australia Day being pissheads.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FILM

Scene with Kylie Minogue telling everybody to shut up is the best of the movie.

Jeremy Sims looking like Doc Sportello from Inherent Vice Retro 70’s stuff , furniture , movie posters etc.

Respect to those who enjoyed this film for its fun and silliness ((Bert)

Select your preferred backdrop

Select your preferred poster.

an image, when javascript is unavailable

Film Review: ‘Swinging Safari’

'Priscilla' director Stephan Elliott lets it all hang out in a cheerfully over-the-top slice of Aussie suburban life in the mid-1970s.

By Richard Kuipers

Richard Kuipers

‘Invisible Nation’ Review: Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen Fights For Her Country’s Survival in Vanessa Hope’s Compelling Documentary 8 months ago
‘Godzilla Minus One’ Review: The Kaiju Superstar Delivers Everything You Could Want From a Monster Movie 10 months ago
‘Furies’ Review: A Furious Tale of Female Revenge Set in a Hell-on-Earth Vision of Ho Chi Minh City 1 year ago

A cheerfully vulgar, consistently amusing and sometimes hilarious parody of life in a suburban Aussie cul-de-sac in the mid-1970s, “ Swinging Safari ” might just as easily have been titled “The Ice Storm Goes Berserk Down Under.” This partly autobiographical tale by writer-director Stephan Elliott (“The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”) misfires occasionally but rattles along so quickly audiences never have to wait too long before the next laugh-out-loud moment. With a terrific cast that includes Guy Pearce and Kylie Minogue giving it everything they’ve got, and lovely performances by Atticus Robb and Darcey Wilson as sensitive teenagers observing their parents’ irresponsible behavior, “Safari” should please plenty of viewers and appeal particularly to those in the Baby Boomer and Gen-X demographics when released locally on Jan. 18. International niche exposure is not out of the question.

Dissatisfied With Its Rate of Erosion, DVD Biz Fast-Forwards 2024 Decline

M. Night Shyamalan's 'Trap' Gets Digital, Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates

As he did so winningly in “Priscilla” and 1997’s unfairly overlooked outback comedy “Welcome to Woop Woop,” Elliott celebrates Australian identity with genuine love while simultaneously roasting it over the coals of no-holds-barred satire and parody. Embedded within its caricatures and gaudy visuals is an accurate picture of the moods and mores of ’70s middle-class Australia, where a combination of high living standards, plenty of leisure time and a sense of liberation brought on by a socially progressive government inspired many suburbanites to indulge in behavior that seems positively bacchanalian by today’s standards. There’s deliberately no deep-and-meaningful sociology here but the framework is firm.

Popular on Variety

The film gets off to a zippy start with an adult narrator (Richard Roxburgh) recalling his teenage years in the coastal suburb of Wallaroo, as 14-year-old budding filmmaker Jeff Marsh (Robb), who enlists local kids to perform hilariously dangerous stunts in front of his ever-present Super-8 camera.

Jeff’s father Bob (Jeremy Sims, sporting world-class mutton chops) sells gadgets for the K-Tel company, while his mother Gale (adored local favorite Asher Keddie) “shops, plays tennis and chats a lot.” Across the road live Keith Hall (Pearce), a Funk & Wagnell’s encyclopedia salesman, and Kaye (Minogue), an alcoholic shut-in. The neighborhood’s alpha couple is Rick Jones ( Julian McMahon ), a peddler of trendy legal drugs and vitamins, and wife Jo (Radha Mitchell), a travel agent who affects the posh British accent that was so prevalent among socially ambitious Australians in bygone days.

After presenting rib-tickling snapshots of Aussie beach culture at the time (chain smoking, non-stop drinking, appalling sunburns, unsupervised children running amok), “Safari” gets to the swinging part of the title with gusto. A disastrous wife-swapping party triggers a war of words and comically violent payback. The coup de grace is a screamingly funny act of public urination that evokes memories of “Desperate Living”-era John Waters.

Balancing the antics of an agreeably grotesque gallery of adults is the sweet friendship of Jeff and Melissa (Wilson), the deep-thinking daughter of Rick and Jo. Both carry scars from being burned by flammable clothing (a reference to the film’s original title “Flammable Children”) and first connect when a 200-ton blue whale beaches itself on the local shore. Drawing a connection between the immovable beast’s tragic fate and their own desire to not get stuck in Wallaroo forever, the youngsters hatch a delightfully spontaneous plan to run away. This nicely written and very well performed story thread suffers only from its relative brevity in the overall scheme of things.

Reuniting with producer Al Clark and many other key “Priscilla” collaborators, Elliott elevates his rowdy and raucous tale with the help of Lizzy Gardiner’s magnificently garish period costumes, Colin Gibson’s supremely kitschy production design and a zingy score by Guy Gross. Art director Jodie Whetter and set decorator Justine Dunn must have had a ball trawling through thrift shops for items like Perkins Paste, a long-disappeared brand of non-toxic Australian adhesive that was famous for being eaten by schoolchildren. In one of countless small moments that older Australian viewers will particularly cherish, a school kid duly downs a dollop of the stuff before Brad Shield’s spot-on widescreen camera captures another delightfully over-the-top, color-saturated moment.

Reviewed at Hoyts Entertainment Quarter Cinemas, Sydney, Dec. 12, 2017. Running time: 97 MIN.

Production: (Australia) A Becker Film Group release of a Screen Australia, Piccadilly Pictures presentation of a Wildheart Films, See Pictures production, in association with Son Capital, Screen Queensland, Screen NSW, Cutting Edge. (International sales: WestEnd Films, London.) Producers: Al Clark, Jamie Hilton. Executive producers: Robert Whitehouse, Christopher Figg, Lisa Lambert. Co-producer: Ester Harding.
Crew: Director, writer: Stephan Elliott. Camera (color, widescreen): Brad Shield. Editors: Sue Blainey, Laurie Hughes, Annette Davey. Music: Guy Gross.
With: Guy Pearce, Kylie Minogue, Radha Mitchell, Julian McMahon, Asher Keddie, Jeremy Sims, Atticus Robb, Darcey Wilson Jack Thompson, Chelsea Glaw, Jesse Denyer, Jacob Elordi, Stephan Elliott, Al Clark.

More from Variety

hells kitchen espn 2024 us open partnership

Alicia Keys’ ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Partners With ESPN in First-Time Music Collaboration With U.S Open (EXCLUSIVE)

A white flag with a play button standing in ruble

The Postwar Streaming Market: A Special Report

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns against Radu Albot of Moldova during their Men's Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City

ESPN, USTA Extend Relationship With New 12-Year Agreement for U.S. Open Tennis

How to Watch the 2024 U.S. Open Live Online

How to Watch the 2024 U.S. Open Quarterfinals Live Online

More from our brands, colorado vs. nebraska livestream: here’s how to watch the college football game online.

An NFL Legend’s Custom Vacation Retreat in Montana Is Heading to Auction This Month

Pegula’s Run Ends as Sabalenka Wins First U.S. Open

The Best Loofahs and Body Scrubbers, According to Dermatologists

Thursday Night Football: How to Watch the Bills/Dolphins Game Live Online

Movie - Swinging Safari - 2018

Swinging Safari (2018) Flammable Children

Release Date: 28 June 2018 (United Arab Emirates) (more)
Genre: Comedy (more)

In 1975 Australia, a 200-ton whale is washed up on a local beach, changing the lives of people living near by and at the same time behind closed doors, parents were trying to catch up with the sexual ...Read more revolution that took over Australia.

Stephan Elliott (Director)
Stephan Elliott (Writer)
Julian McMahon
Kylie Minogue
Radha Mitchell
Jack Thompson
Asher Keddie

Jeremy Sims

Richard Roxburgh

Jacob Elordi
Monette Lee
Madison Marneros
Kotan Jacob

In 1975 Australia, a 200-ton whale is washed up on a local beach, changing the lives of people living near by and at the same time behind closed doors, parents were trying to catch ...Read more up with the sexual revolution that took over Australia.

Release Date:
United Arab Emirates [ 28 June 2018 ]
Is this a coloured title?:
Filming Locations

Buy tickets
2023 Summary
Riyadh Season 2023
Now Playing
Coming Soon
Egypt Box Office
Infographic
Video Gallery
Ramadan, Eid & Seasons
Ramadan 2024
TV series 2024
Fitr Eid Movies 2024
Riyadh Season 2024
Adha Eid Movies 2024
Egypt Cinemas
UAE Cinemas
Kuwait Cinemas
Lebanon Cinemas
Bahrain Cinemas
Qatar Cinemas
Saudi Cinemas
Oman Cinemas
Jordan Cinemas
Iraq Cinemas
About elCinema.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Privacy Policy

Reset Your Password

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘swinging safari’: film review.

Stephan Elliott reteams with his 'Priscilla' star Guy Pearce for 'Swinging Safari,' a raucous, semi-autobiographical ode to growing up unsupervised in the 1970s.

By Harry Windsor

Harry Windsor

Share on Facebook
Share to Flipboard
Send an Email
Show additional share options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Share on Tumblr
Share on Whats App
Print the Article
Post a Comment

You know you’re watching a film that revels in its own bad taste when it casually pans past a magazine cover touting Karen Carpenter’s new wonder diet. Crass, colorful and hanging together by the barest of threads, Swinging Safari is the new comedy from Stephan Elliott, reuniting here with Guy Pearce, who starred in the director’s 1994 smash, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert . Set in 1975 and loosely inspired by Elliott’s childhood, it also reunites Pearce and Kylie Minogue ( Holy Motors ), whose careers began together on the iconic local soap Neighbours .

Like that show, Swinging Safari is set mostly on one street. The film follows three families, as seen from the point of view of 14-year-old Jeff Marsh (Atticus Robb), a boy with a Super-8 camera, lots of enthusiasm but no plot. One comes along, or so a voiceover supplied by the adult Jeff (Richard Roxburgh) tells us, when a giant whale washes up at Nobbys Beach, the sunny seaside town he calls home. Just how the whale powers the plot never becomes clear. Its chief reason for being seems to be a demolition in the film’s blubber- and blood-drenched finale overseen by the Mayor (Jack Thompson), who’s worried about the impact of the carcass on the tourist trade, in one of the film’s numerous nods to 1975’s Jaws .

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

‘the last showgirl’ review: pamela anderson mines pathos as an abruptly unanchored las vegas performer in gia coppola’s wispy mood piece, andrea bocelli on new doc ‘because i believe’ and a possible taylor swift duet: “why not i’m ready”, kauchani bratt on acting debut with netflix’s ‘rez ball’ and uncle benjamin bratt’s advice, elisabeth moss and max minghella want to entertain you with ‘shell,’ a “true popcorn movie” , tilda swinton on translating pedro almodóvar into english for venice winner ‘the room next door’, anthony azizi joins iran-set romance thriller ‘cast aside the clouds’ (exclusive).

Swinging Safari

Now available on demand, play trailer, full cast & crew.

1970s Australia: A 200-ton blue whale washes up on a local beach and it's the biggest thing that's ever happened in the lives of the local kids. Behind closed doors, the parents of this quiet suburban cul-de-sac celebrate in their own special way... It’s a time of boxed wine, bad hair, bad styles, bad choices, but good times. And like the rotting whale, it's all about to go spectacularly wrong.

Stephan Elliott

Guy Pearce, Kylie Minogue, Radha Mitchell, Julian McMahon, Asher Keddie, Jeremy Sims, Jack Thompson, Atticus Robb, Darcey Wilson, Jacob Elordi

Where to Watch

Film website.

Poster Coming Soon

Screen daily: kylie minogue, guy pearce comedy 'swinging safari' gets north america deal (exclusive), sign up for updates, enter your email to subscribe to our mailing list.

Swinging Safari (2018)

Full cast & crew.

Directed by

Writing credits , cast (in credits order) , produced by , music by , cinematography by , editing by , casting by , production design by , art direction by , set decoration by , costume design by , makeup department , production management , second unit director or assistant director , art department , sound department , special effects by , visual effects by , stunts , camera and electrical department , casting department , costume and wardrobe department , editorial department , location management , music department , transportation department , additional crew , thanks .

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

Contribute to This Page

Full Cast and Crew
Release Dates
Official Sites
Company Credits
Filming & Production
Technical Specs
Plot Summary
Plot Keywords
Parents Guide

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits
Alternate Versions
Connections
Soundtracks

Photo & Video

Photo Gallery
Trailers and Videos
User Reviews
User Ratings
External Reviews
Metacritic Reviews

Swinging Safari (2018)

97min - English

30 Days Free

Then $8.99 / month

Watch similar movies on Apple TV+ for free

7 Days Free

Then $9.99 / month

retail price

Free with ads

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Let us notify you once it becomes available on more services.

We checked for updates on 246 streaming services on September 7, 2024 at 1:31:55 PM. Something wrong? Let us know!

Swinging Safari streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "Swinging Safari" streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads or for free with ads on Tubi TV, Crackle, Freevee. It is also possible to rent "Swinging Safari" on Amazon Video, Apple TV online and to download it on Amazon Video, Apple TV.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Where does Swinging Safari rank today? The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Swinging Safari is 22491 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 19181 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave but less popular than Sabrina.

Streaming charts last updated: 1:19:12 PM, 09/07/2024

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Comedy movies

Similar Movies you can watch for free

More popular Movies directed by Stephan Elliott

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Other popular Movies starring Guy Pearce

Join or Sign In

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .

TV Listings

Cast & Crew

Swinging Safari

69 Metascore
1 hr 37 mins
Drama, Comedy

A 14-year-old boy comes of age in an Australian beach community during 1975, when a beached whale carcass threatens the town's tourist trade.

Loading. Please wait...

My cable/satellite provider:

There are no TV airings over the next 14 days. Add it to your Watchlist to receive updates and availability notifications.

1:56 SWINGING SAFARI

Cast & Crew See All

Kylie Minogue

Jesse denyer, gerome hall, latest news see all, trailers & videos see all.

SWINGING SAFARI

Popular movies see all movies.

3:10 to Yuma

City of Dreams

Head Over Heels

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Swinging Safari (Q28797344)

Flammable Children

Identifiers

Wikipedia (4 entries).

cywiki Swinging Safari
enwiki Swinging Safari (film)
fawiki سافاری در حال چرخش (فیلم)
frwiki Sweet Seventies

Wikibooks (0 entries)

Wikinews (0 entries), wikiquote (0 entries), wikisource (0 entries), wikiversity (0 entries), wikivoyage (0 entries), wiktionary (0 entries), multilingual sites (0 entries).

Ovládací panel

Zapomenuté heslo
Přidat film
Přidat tvůrce

Swinging safari

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Scénografie:

Svérázná satira z prostředí typické australské plážové čtvrti, se odehrává na vrcholu léta v 70. letech minulého století.Komedie zachycuje nevinnost éry lehkovážného rodičovství, neustálých spálenin od slunce a nevázaného chování dospělých. Austrálie roku 1975. Předměstí podél pláže Nobbys je místem, které se točí kolem surfových prken, dětských olejíčků, krabicových vín a nového zázraku zvaného Kentucky Fried Chicken. Čtrnáctiletý Jeff ze snaží zorientovat ve světě měnícím se rychleji než jeho hormony, a vypořádat se se svou platonickou láskou k nesmělé a citlivé dívce ze sousedství jménem Melly. Když se plážové městečko náhle stane středem pozornosti poté, co je na břeh vyplaveno tělo dvousettunové velryby, Jeff a Melly jsou přesvědčeni, že je to ta největší věc, jaká je kdy v životě potkala. Jejich výstřední rodiče mezitím dohánějí sexuální revoluci, která také doplula až na australské pláže. A po vzoru rozkládající se velryby se má všechno záhy příšerně pokazit. (Cinemax)

Recenze (7)

Liventura odpad.

Co to jako mělo být, de.ilní australský blahobyt na úkor slušného příběhu, o hloupých rodičích a ještě hloupějších dětech, z nichž dvě aspoň vykukují nad průměr australské průměrnosti...?! Hnus. ( 20.12.2018 )

Marze

Tato nostalgická hlučná komedie má sice na diváky okamžitý účinek, ale až moc se snaží být zábavným, ale nemá z čeho vařit kromě domácích zvířátek a katastrofou s plážovým slunečníkem. ( 06.01.2019 )

Druury

Ty vole! Chapu nizke hodnoceni, ale zaroven nechapu :D tezka prdel a specifickej styl humoru, ktery nemusi sednout kazdemu. Mne naprosto sedl a dost jsem se natlemil. Postavy a prostredi genialni. ( 18.12.2018 )

ARI50

Trapna komedie, katastrofa smíchana do jednoho a vytvořil se guláš plný hoven, hrozná nuda. ( 27.01.2019 )

Johnny.ARN odpad!

Zdesenie. Prvé slovo čo ma napadlo po dopozeraní. Komu ten film prospel? Na čo narážal? Čo chcel dosiahnuť? Až príliš veľa otázok a žiadna odpoveď. Chaotické, ukričané, nezmyselné, škaredé. Austrálani buď nech netočia filmy alebo nech sa nedostávajú do našej distribúcie. Nie takéto. Rozhodne nie takéto. ODPAD! ( 17.12.2018 )

Galerie (15)

Zajímavosti (1)

Natáčelo se v Gold Coast, ve spolkovém státu Queensland v Austrálii. ( griph )

The Comprehensive Guide to Moscow Nightlife

Posted on April 14, 2018 July 26, 2018
by Kings of Russia
8 minute read

Moscow’s nightlife scene is thriving, and arguably one of the best the world has to offer – top-notch Russian women, coupled with a never-ending list of venues, Moscow has a little bit of something for everyone’s taste. Moscow nightlife is not for the faint of heart – and if you’re coming, you better be ready to go Friday and Saturday night into the early morning.

This comprehensive guide to Moscow nightlife will run you through the nuts and bolts of all you need to know about Moscow’s nightclubs and give you a solid blueprint to operate with during your time in Moscow.

What you need to know before hitting Moscow nightclubs

Prices in moscow nightlife.

Before you head out and start gaming all the sexy Moscow girls , we have to talk money first. Bring plenty because in Moscow you can never bring a big enough bankroll. Remember, you’re the man so making a fuzz of not paying a drink here or there will not go down well.

Luckily most Moscow clubs don’t do cover fees. Some electro clubs will charge 15-20$, depending on their lineup. There’s the odd club with a minimum spend of 20-30$, which you’ll drop on drinks easily. By and large, you can scope out the venues for free, which is a big plus.

Bottle service is a great deal in Moscow. At top-tier clubs, it starts at 1,000$. That’ll go a long way with premium vodka at 250$, especially if you have three or four guys chipping in. Not to mention that it’s a massive status boost for getting girls, especially at high-end clubs.

Without bottle service, you should estimate a budget of 100-150$ per night. That is if you drink a lot and hit the top clubs with the hottest girls. Scale down for less alcohol and more basic places.

Dress code & Face control

Door policy in Moscow is called “face control” and it’s always the guy behind the two gorillas that gives the green light if you’re in or out.

In Moscow nightlife there’s only one rule when it comes to dress codes:

You can never be underdressed.

People dress A LOT sharper than, say, in the US and that goes for both sexes. For high-end clubs, you definitely want to roll with a sharp blazer and a pocket square, not to mention dress shoes in tip-top condition. Those are the minimum requirements to level the playing field vis a vis with other sharply dressed guys that have a lot more money than you do. Unless you plan to hit explicit electro or underground clubs, which have their own dress code, you are always on the money with that style.

Getting in a Moscow club isn’t as hard as it seems: dress sharp, speak English at the door and look like you’re in the mood to spend all that money that you supposedly have (even if you don’t). That will open almost any door in Moscow’s nightlife for you.

Types of Moscow Nightclubs

In Moscow there are four types of clubs with the accompanying female clientele:

High-end clubs:

These are often crossovers between restaurants and clubs with lots of tables and very little space to dance. Heavy accent on bottle service most of the time but you can work the room from the bar as well. The hottest and most expensive girls in Moscow go there. Bring deep pockets and lots of self-confidence and you have a shot at swooping them.

Regular Mid-level clubs:

They probably resemble more what you’re used to in a nightclub: big dancefloors, stages and more space to roam around. Bottle service will make you stand out more but you can also do well without. You can find all types of girls but most will be in the 6-8 range. Your targets should always be the girls drinking and ideally in pairs. It’s impossible not to swoop if your game is at least half-decent.

Basic clubs/dive bars:

Usually spots with very cheap booze and lax face control. If you’re dressed too sharp and speak no Russian, you might attract the wrong type of attention so be vigilant. If you know the local scene you can swoop 6s and 7s almost at will. Usually students and girls from the suburbs.

Electro/underground clubs:

Home of the hipsters and creatives. Parties there don’t mean meeting girls and getting drunk but doing pills and spacing out to the music. Lots of attractive hipster girls if that is your niche. That is its own scene with a different dress code as well.

What time to go out in Moscow

Moscow nightlife starts late. Don’t show up at bars and preparty spots before 11pm because you’ll feel fairly alone. Peak time is between 1am and 3am. That is also the time of Moscow nightlife’s biggest nuisance: concerts by artists you won’t know and who only distract your girls from drinking and being gamed. From 4am to 6am the regular clubs are emptying out but plenty of people, women included, still hit up one of the many afterparty clubs. Those last till well past 10am.

As far as days go: Fridays and Saturdays are peak days. Thursday is an OK day, all other days are fairly weak and you have to know the right venues.

The Ultimate Moscow Nightclub List

Short disclaimer: I didn’t add basic and electro clubs since you’re coming for the girls, not for the music. This list will give you more options than you’ll be able to handle on a weekend.

Preparty – start here at 11PM

Classic restaurant club with lots of tables and a smallish bar and dancefloor. Come here between 11pm and 12am when the concert is over and they start with the actual party. Even early in the night tons of sexy women here, who lean slightly older (25 and up).

The second floor of the Ugolek restaurant is an extra bar with dim lights and house music tunes. Very small and cozy with a slight hipster vibe but generally draws plenty of attractive women too. A bit slower vibe than Valenok.

Very cool, spread-out venue that has a modern library theme. Not always full with people but when it is, it’s brimming with top-tier women. Slow vibe here and better for grabbing contacts and moving on.

High-end: err on the side of being too early rather than too late because of face control.

Secret Room

Probably the top venue at the moment in Moscow . Very small but wildly popular club, which is crammed with tables but always packed. They do parties on Thursdays and Sundays as well. This club has a hip-hop/high-end theme, meaning most girls are gold diggers, IG models, and tattooed hip hop chicks. Very unfavorable logistics because there is almost no room no move inside the club but the party vibe makes it worth it. Strict face control.

Close to Secret Room and with a much more favorable and spacious three-part layout. This place attracts very hot women but also lots of ball busters and fakes that will leave you blue-balled. Come early because after 4am it starts getting empty fast. Electronic music.

A slightly kitsch restaurant club that plays Russian pop and is full of gold diggers, semi-pros, and men from the Caucasus republics. Thursday is the strongest night but that dynamic might be changing since Secret Room opened its doors. You can swoop here but it will be a struggle.

Mid-level: your sweet spot in terms of ease and attractiveness of girls for an average budget.

Started going downwards in 2018 due to lax face control and this might get even worse with the World Cup. In terms of layout one of the best Moscow nightclubs because it’s very big and bottle service gives you a good edge here. Still attracts lots of cute girls with loose morals but plenty of provincial girls (and guys) as well. Swooping is fairly easy here.

I haven’t been at this place in over a year, ever since it started becoming ground zero for drunken teenagers. Similar clientele to Icon but less chic, younger and drunker. Decent mainstream music that attracts plenty of tourists. Girls are easy here as well.

Sort of a Coyote Ugly (the real one in Moscow sucks) with party music and lots of drunken people licking each others’ faces. Very entertaining with the right amount of alcohol and very easy to pull in there. Don’t think about staying sober in here, you’ll hate it.

Artel Bessonitsa/Shakti Terrace

Electronic music club that is sort of a high-end place with an underground clientele and located between the teenager clubs Icon and Gipsy. Very good music but a bit all over the place with their vibe and their branding. You can swoop almost any type of girl here from high-heeled beauty to coked-up hipsters, provided they’re not too sober.

Afterparty: if by 5AM you haven’t pulled, it’s time to move here.

Best afterparty spot in terms of trying to get girls. Pretty much no one is sober in there and savage gorilla game goes a long way. Lots of very hot and slutty-looking girls but it can be hard to tell apart who is looking for dick and who is just on drugs but not interested. If by 9-10am you haven’t pulled, it is probably better to surrender.

The hipster alternative for afterparties, where even more drugs are in play. Plenty of attractive girls there but you have to know how to work this type of club. A nicer atmosphere and better music but if you’re desperate to pull, you’ll probably go to Miks.

Weekday jokers: if you’re on the hunt for some sexy Russian girls during the week, here are two tips to make your life easier.

Chesterfield

Ladies night on Wednesdays means this place gets pretty packed with smashed teenagers and 6s and 7s. Don’t pull out the three-piece suit in here because it’s a “simpler” crowd. Definitely your best shot on Wednesdays.

If you haven’t pulled at Chesterfield, you can throw a Hail Mary and hit up Garage’s Black Music Wednesdays. Fills up really late but there are some cute Black Music groupies in here. Very small club. Thursday through Saturday they do afterparties and you have an excellent shot and swooping girls that are probably high.

Shishas Sferum

This is pretty much your only shot on Mondays and Tuesdays because they offer free or almost free drinks for women. A fairly low-class club where you should watch your drinks. As always the case in Moscow, there will be cute girls here on any day of the week but it’s nowhere near as good as on the weekend.

In a nutshell, that is all you need to know about where to meet Moscow girls in nightlife. There are tons of options, and it all depends on what best fits your style, based on the type of girls that you’re looking for.

The Top 3 Cities in Ukraine for First Timers

Posted on July 7, 2018 August 4, 2019

The Best Expat Blogs for Moscow

Posted on May 31, 2020 June 1, 2020

Finding a Russian Bride: How and Where to Meet Her

Posted on August 9, 2019 August 9, 2019

Meeting Women in Moscow: Dating Perspectives on the World’s Most Beautiful Women

Posted on August 5, 2019 August 9, 2019

Meeting Russian Women: Top 5 Locations

Posted on August 3, 2019 June 1, 2020

Moscow vs St. Petersburg – Which One to Visit?

Posted on July 31, 2019 August 3, 2019

Hot Russian Girls – Where to Find & Date Them

Posted on March 30, 2019 March 30, 2019

A Guide to Teaching English in Russia

Posted on August 11, 2018 October 9, 2019

How to Attract Russian Girls

Posted on July 15, 2018 August 4, 2019

Swinging Safari

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

BOCCACCIO ’70 (DVD)

SPRINGTIME FOR MUSSOLINI?

I’M NOT SCARED

Join our Film Threat Newsletter

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Email not verified

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Flammable Children

What to Know

Critics Reviews

More Like This

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Add to your films…

Add to lists

Where to watch

Staying alive was harder than you think.

Director Director

Producers Producers

Writer Writer

Editors Editors

Cinematography Cinematography

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Production Design Production Design

Art Direction Art Direction

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Composer Composer

Makeup Makeup

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Releases by Date

Popular reviews

Select your preferred backdrop

Film Review: ‘Swinging Safari’

Richard Kuipers

Related Stories

Dissatisfied With Its Rate of Erosion, DVD Biz Fast-Forwards 2024 Decline

M. Night Shyamalan's 'Trap' Gets Digital, Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates

Popular on Variety

Reviewed at Hoyts Entertainment Quarter Cinemas, Sydney, Dec. 12, 2017. Running time: 97 MIN.

More from Variety

Alicia Keys’ ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Partners With ESPN in First-Time Music Collaboration With U.S Open (EXCLUSIVE)

The Postwar Streaming Market: A Special Report

ESPN, USTA Extend Relationship With New 12-Year Agreement for U.S. Open Tennis

How to Watch the 2024 U.S. Open Quarterfinals Live Online

An NFL Legend’s Custom Vacation Retreat in Montana Is Heading to Auction This Month

Pegula’s Run Ends as Sabalenka Wins First U.S. Open

The Best Loofahs and Body Scrubbers, According to Dermatologists

Thursday Night Football: How to Watch the Bills/Dolphins Game Live Online

Swinging Safari (2018) Flammable Children

Reset Your Password

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

site categories

Harry Windsor

Related Stories

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Swinging Safari

Where to Watch

Poster Coming Soon

Swinging Safari (2018)

Directed by

Contribute to This Page

Did You Know?

Photo & Video

Related Items

Recently Viewed

Swinging Safari (2018)

Swinging Safari streaming: where to watch online?

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Comedy movies

Similar Movies you can watch for free

More popular Movies directed by Stephan Elliott

Other popular Movies starring Guy Pearce

TV Listings

Swinging Safari

My cable/satellite provider:

Cast & Crew See All

Kylie Minogue