For his feature directorial debut, The Dunes, Martin Copping dives into a personal territory that he probably hadn’t explored before. The Australian actor and producer known for his voice work in video game series like Rainbow Six and Call of Duty, decides to open his soul and make a film that’s far more intimate than what its premise may lead you to believe.
Knowing this beforehand is not exactly necessary, but it provides an interesting insight into a film experience that deserves all the attention it’s gotten since its release in 2021. Some dishes are better if served cold, and while I arrived late to The Dunes, it’s better late than never to explore Copping’s depiction of a man digging into the past. The categorization as a thriller will force you to think this is about a man going through a climactic ending, but The Dunes is about much more. It’s about one man’s decision to explore a past that he knows will force him down a rabbit hole where he will possibly stay because of the burden it represents.
But first, the obvious. Nicholas Rice is a Los Angeles journalist who goes back to his hometown in Australia, where he will have a reunion with the usual demons from the past. However, he also ends up connecting with a stranger who appears to know a lot about him and who won’t stop until completing his goal. What is it? We’ll keep that to ourselves because The Dunes does resolve with a final twist that’s emotionally violent but relevant to Nicholas’ journey. You’ll have questions nonetheless, but like in Nicholas’ story, some answers are simply better left in the dark.
Copping writes, directs, and stars in a very intimate film that has some shades of being semi-autobiographical. The actor isn’t a stranger to tragedy, and this emotional load is felt throughout the film. It’s exactly what makes his character extremely compelling, even when the moral codes don’t follow the line that’ll make Nicholas likable.
Fortunately, Copping also has an exceptional ensemble cast that makes the film more effective and ultimately scary. Tim Phillips, who we’ve heard in video game series like Devil May Cry, is a great antagonist who provides enough balance to keep that part of the story interesting. It’s also a pleasure to see Copping’s father, Robin, participate in the film playing Nicholas’ father. Robin is a cinematography legend in Australian cinema.
The film isn’t a generic thriller, but it complies with the tropes it needs to keep the viewers hooked to see what happens next. The third act is multilayered and will provide closure even if you don’t agree with Copping’s version of “justice.” Personally, I think the film has a well-balanced ending that answers the right questions with cryptic answers that’ll leave you guessing.
But again, The Dunes, is also more contemplative than what its premise calls for. Copping’s decision to make two films into one is clever, as it proves his ability to do drama and also works as a backdrop for a personal journey that will make you reflect on those parts of your past that remains unexplored.
Copping isn’t known for roles as grounded as the one he goes for in The Dunes. You’ll find him doing voice work in video games and wielding shotguns in genre films. However, if what he does in his feature directorial debut is a sample of what he can do with more “sober” films, then I’m eager to see what’s coming next in that field.
Film critic. Lover of all things horror. Member of the OFCS. RT Approved Critic.
