Frog Dreaming
| Frog Dreaming | |
|---|---|
UK VHS cover
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| Directed by | Brian Trenchard-Smith |
| Produced by | Barbi Taylor |
| Written by | Everett De Roche |
| Starring |
Henry Thomas Tony Barry Rachel Friend Tamsin West Katy Manning |
| Music by | Brian May |
| Cinematography | John R. McLean |
| Edited by | Brian Kavanagh |
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Production
company |
Middle Reef Productions
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| Distributed by |
UAA Films (theatrical) Miramax Films (USA theatrical) |
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Release date
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Running time
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93 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$388,000 |
| Box office | A $171,000 |
Frog Dreaming is a 1986 Australian family adventure film starring Henry Thomas and directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith who described it as "a charming mystery adventure."
In the United States the film was named The Quest. In the United Kingdom it was named The Go-Kids.
An American boy, Cody (Thomas), whose parents have died, lives in Australia with his guardian, Gaza. Cody is very imaginative, inventive, and inquisitive. He builds things in his garage, including a railbike which he uses to get around. Cody comes across some strange events happening in Devil's Knob national park associated with an Aboriginal myth about "frog Dreamings" and bunyips. Cody tries to investigate. The occurrences revolve around a small lake where a monster the locals call "Donkegin" supposedly lives. Another myth explored by the children is the story of the Kurdaitcha Man who acts as a sort of Australian version of the Boogey Man as well as a supernatural judge who deals out punishment. The children are told that he punishes any wrongs done according to the laws of the ancient Aboriginees including harm to one another, murder of animals without need for food, and destroying the environment (his appearance being most notable according to myth when white men came). The Kurdaitcha Man supposedly wanders the countryside, specifically at night, and wears shoes made of Emu feathers in order to cover any tracks.
With incidents at the lake increasing, Cody fashions a makeshift diving suit and goes into the lake to search, but he never comes back up. Thinking that he has drowned, the townsfolk drain the lake to recover his body. But what they really find is shocking...
The townspeople find that Cody is trapped inside Donkegin, who raises its head and begins to let out an unusual cry. The cry is reminiscent of old, rusted metal. One of the officials recognizes the shape as lights penetrate the greenery that is covering Donkegin and giving it its monstrous appearance.
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Wikipedia