Queen City Rocker

Queen City Rocker - aka: Tearaway - 1986

Mirage Films - 90 min.
DVD UPC #9418212012307

Cast: Mathew Hunter, Mark Pilisi, Ricky Bribiesca, Kim Willoughby, Rebecca Saunders, Peter Bland, Perise Viafale, George Henare, Greer Robson, Roy Billing, Liddy Holoway.
Screenplay: Bill Baer; Photography: Kevin Hayward; Editor: Michael Hacking; Musical Director: Dave McArtney; Producer: Larry Parr; Director: Bruce Morrison.

In the turbulence of Auckland, Ska (Hunter) is a streetwise 19 year old, whose father is a drunkard and whose older sister works at a high-class massage parlour. When he decide to "rescue" her, he is thrown out. With some friends, he take revenge by trashing the place, but the reply results in Ska's best friend being killed. The massage parlour boss is also a crooked concert promoter, so Ska, and his gang, "hijack" a concert which incites the audience to riot.

Censor Rating: M - Review Rating: C+

AVAILABILITY OF VHS OR DVD COPIES

As of Feb. 2010, Aro Video is offering vhs pal copies for $25nz. Expect used NTSC copies to cost about $10us or PAL for 10eu or 5#.
As of 01 December 2011 an R0 PAL DVD has become available in New Zealand for the ridiculously low price of $9.95nz + shipping. Online purchases may be made from Screenline of Auckland.

SOUNDTRACK ON AUDIO CD

There are no known soundtrack CDs of this title.

Link to soundtrack sample download

The first known NZ feature film to also have its own soundtrack release was the 1977 33rpm LP of Sleeping Dogs. Other titles that are on 33rpm LP and/or audio cassette, but have not yet (as of 2007) found their way to CD are: Solo (1978), Goodbye Pork Pie (1980), Battletruck (1981), Smash Palace (1981), Strata (1984), Bridge to Nowhere (1986), Queen City Rocker (1986) and The Leading Edge (1987).

Details on these rare LPs can be found at the Soundtrack LP page.

REVIEWS & TRAILER

Official Trailer

10+ minute video segment at nzonscreen

"Queen City Rocker reflects a side of life people read of in the papers but otherwise know little about. 'It goes against a whole set of national stereotypes', says director Bruce Morrison [...] 'The world will find the attitude of some of the characters wanting. They won't like it, I'm sure. They won't like people swearing and they won't like people being violent to each other and to property'"- (Waikato Times in, Queen City Rocker Press kit)

"Through the lens of Director of Photography Kevin Hayward, Auckland is a mean and angry city, pulsating with raw power. Stylish and original compositions offer us buildings with weird and deceptive angles. Lights, glimmering just out of frame, threaten and discomfit" - (Peter Calder, "Queen City Grit", New Zealand Herald, February 16, 1987)

IMDB User Comments

Information at IMDB

OFFLINE REVIEW SOURCES

North & South Review by Brian McDonnell - February 1987

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