Contagion (1987)

Mark Clifton (John Doyle, who would go on to become Rampaging Roy Slaven of the Roy and H.G. team) is an estate agent in Australia who is on his way to close a new deal when he witnesses a young hitch-hiker (Donna Jan Newby) being assaulted by two backwoods hermits on a dark remote road at night.

His rescue attempt fails and he is captured and viciously raped in the woods by the crossbow-wielding ferals before he manages to escape and ends up at a luxurious secluded homestead.

Here, he’s warmly welcomed by a beautiful blonde girl called Helen (Pamela Hawkesford), her bitchy sister, Cleo (Nathy Gaffney), and a mysterious older man called Roderick Bael (Ray Barrett) – a successful financier and trader who rambles endlessly about money and power.

Falling under the trio’s spell (the offer of sex with beautiful women and lots of money often helps), Mark is told he can share in their success if he proves himself worthy by displaying courage, determination and ruthlessness (the “three fold path”) – and killing anyone who stands in his way, including his boss, his friend and his fiancée Cheryl (Nicola Bartlett).

Only when it is too late does our hero realise that these three are ghosts (or delusions) and that the beautiful home is a ruined and abandoned house.

The film – which certainly owes a debt to The Shining – was shot around Brisbane, Queensland, in just 35 days.

Although intended as a telemovie or straight to video film, it was shot on 35mm with the hope of picking up a theatrical release, but it failed to attract interest.

Mark Clifton
John Doyle
Cheryl
Nicola Bartlett
Roderick Bael
Ray Barrett
Cleo
Nathy Gaffney
Helen
Pamela Hawkesford
Trish
Jacqueline Brennan
Alec
Chris Betts
Frank
Michael Simpson
Henry
Reg Cameron
Psycho
Michael McCaffrey
Dero
Tracy Nugent
Weirdo Woman
Deirdree Wallace
Hitch Hiker
Donna Jan Newby
Doctor
Allen Harvey
Police Sergeant
Michael Stanford
Nursing Nun
Rosemary Traynor
Truckie
Maurice Hughes

Director
Karl Zwicky