Plot
An experiment in genetic engineering turns harmless sheep into blood-thirsty killers that terrorize a sprawling New Zealand farm.

Release Year: 2006

Rating: 5.9/10 (18,996 voted)

Critic's Score: 62/100

Director: Jonathan King

Stars: Oliver Driver, Nathan Meister, Tammy Davis

Storyline
Growing up on the family sheep farm was idyllic for smart, sensitive Harry Olfield, except for some knavish mischief from cocky brother Angus, until their dad has a fatal accident. Fifteen years later, Harry has finished sheep-phobia therapy and his ICT schooling and returns. Angus buys him out, all ready to present the genetically engineered Oldfield sheep he bred with a ruthless team. When environmentalist Grant steals a discarded embryo, which has sharp teeth, he gets bitten by it, and thus the first the be infected with predatory hunger and a mechanism that turns any mammal into a werewolf version. Running for the farm men, Grant's mate, student Experience, gets teamed up with Harry and his boorish but gentle pastoral youth friend Tucker. They must survive both the bloodthirsty sheep and their creators, who didn't realize this yet but dispose of an antidote.

Cast:
Nathan Meister - Henry Oldfield
Peter Feeney - Angus Oldfield
Danielle Mason - Experience
Tammy Davis - Tucker
Oliver Driver - Grant
Tandi Wright - Doctor Rush
Glenis Levestam - Mrs. Mac
Nick Blake - Taxi Driver
Matthew Chamberlain - Oliver Oldfield (as Matt Chamberlain)
Nick Fenton - Young Henry
Eli Kent - Young Angus
Sam Clarke - Young Tucker
Richard Chapman - Muldoon
Louis Sutherland - Winston
Ian Harcourt - Brash

Taglines: There are 40 million sheep in New Zealand... and they're pissed off!

Official Website: NZonScreen listing |

Release Date: 29 March 2007

Filming Locations: Wairarapa, New Zealand

Opening Weekend: NZD 257,293 (New Zealand) (1 April 2007) (45 Screens)

Gross: $82,987 (USA) (12 August 2007)

Runtime: 87 min

Trivia:
The man who is pulled down by a sheep while trying to find the keys to his car is the director, Jonathan King.

Goofs:
Continuity: When they're in the house getting attacked by weresheep-Grant, the digital clock in the background goes from "3:12" to "3:11" in a later scene.

Quotes:
Henry: Are you OK?
Experience: I won't be OK ever again.

Damn fine film.

Rating: 7/10

After reading an extremely negative review of this, which COMPLETELY missed the point, I thought I'd write a far more 'accurate' review. In my opinion, this is one of the best of this type of horror movie i've seen. It's right up there with Peter Jackson's early work and Evil Dead. All the negative things the other reviewer was saying, the poor dialogue, and acting, the unrealistic effects, were deliberate, after all, the effects were done by highly skilled and trained effects people at WETA Workshops - who of course did Lord of The Rings. It is a horror comedy packed with clichés and subtle allusions, and full of New Zealand humour, which i concede probably doesn't translate well internationally. NZ is primarily a farming nation, we're a huge exporter of lamb, Farming is a huge part of our culture, and this blends that with our history of offbeat, slightly dark, and idiosyncratic cinema. It is a clever, quintessentially kiwi, homage to such previously mentioned horror comedies (or comedic horrors). That's what i like about it, it is a lot cleverer than it looks. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the film. If you like Peter Jackson's early stuff, you'll like this. Just don't expect it to be s***-your-pants scary.

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