Reviewed by Craig Major || TAKE Magazine October 2007

This ultra-low budget psychological thriller by South Seas Film School graduate Amit Tripuraneni tackles familiar themes and motifs that work exceptionally well within a New Zealand context. Five starts off with a group of friends tramping into the bush and camping out in a basic hut. Chris is a melancholy and moody gay man; Zara is an ambitious girl about to leave for the US; Rajit (played by Tripuraneni) and Belinda are recently engaged; and Henry is the everyman of the group. Tension between the friends is heightened by recent memories of the (apparent) suicide of their friend Emily (Henry's girlfriend). As the quintet hangs out together, a growing sense of isolation beginsto take over. The story slowly unfolds, with a series of sinister events resulting in the friends' descent into paranoia, deception and violence.

A genre pic that thematically references The Shining, Cabin Fever, and My Little Eye (about how isolation can turn you mad), Five's strength lies in its setting. Shot on digital film in spectacular native bush outside of Auckland, life mirrored art to some degree with Tripuraneni and his crew having to tramp to the location and set up camp. The lush beauty of the forest ironically adds to the film's sense of claustrophobia as we watch the group's psychological stability begin to crack and crumble.

Not only does the film look superb, but also the performances are incredibly strong (with much of the actors' lines improvised). Music and sound design is also top-notch. A shining example of what can be done on a shoestring (Five was apparently made for a measly $12,000), the film looks polished and avoids falling into cliche. There are also moments of genuine shock as the 'stalker' is finally revealed. Five is a solid film that thankfully pulls away from being over-the-top. Watch it and be impressed.