IMDb 4.6 1999 HD

Backlands

Backlands

1999
Crime
90 min NR Australia
5 / 10
4.6 IMDB

A German high school graduate travels to Australia against her mother’s wishes to meet her uncle there. On the way, she joins two young Australians who have been…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Martin Buchhorn / Mark Boskell / Andrew R. Campbell / Toby Parkinson
Starring
Denise Zich / Susanne Lothar / Craig McLachlan / Sophie Heathcote / Nicholas Bell / Dieter Laser / Stuart Baker / Brett Tucker

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

intriguing suspenseful gritty uneven compelling perilous adventurous unsettling dramatic atmospheric engaging

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
May 12, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This German-Australian co-production, 'Backlands', presents a fascinating character study of a young woman venturing into the unknown. Denise Zich is excellent as the protagonist, navigating both personal desires and unforeseen dangers. The film's narrative arc, from a simple…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 12, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

While 'Backlands' begins with an intriguing premise of a young woman seeking her own path in Australia, the narrative soon becomes entangled in a convoluted drug investigation. Denise Zich offers a sympathetic portrayal, but the script doesn't always…

P
Penelope Davies
May 12, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Backlands' offers a compelling, if at times unsettling, journey into the Australian outback, seen through the eyes of a determined young German woman. Denise Zich delivers a nuanced performance, imbuing her character with both vulnerability and resilience. The…

A
Arthur Finch
May 12, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The initial promise of 'Backlands' lies in its exploration of a young German graduate's independent spirit, travelling to Australia against familial advice. Denise Zich conveys this sense of burgeoning autonomy effectively. However, the plot's swift descent into a…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 12, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Denise Zich anchors 'Backlands' with a performance that captures a youthful yearning for independence, even as her character stumbles into a perilous Australian underworld. The film juggles a coming-of-age narrative with a surprisingly taut thriller element, though the…

FAQs

'Backlands' seems to delve into themes of youthful rebellion and the pursuit of personal freedom, embodied by the protagonist's decision to travel to Australia against her mother's wishes. The film also touches upon the complexities of family relationships, particularly the maternal concern that drives Susanne Lothar's character into action. Furthermore, the entanglement with drug investigations suggests explorations of risk, consequence, and the unexpected paths life can take.