Hunting for Shadows

Hunting for Shadows
Directed by	Davo Hardy
Produced by	Davo Hardy
Written by	Davo Hardy
Starring	Sage Amethyst Matchett Sage Godrei Paul Mercurio
Music by	William Haškovec
Cinematography	Charlotte Borriraji
Edited by	Davo Hardy
Production company	Davo Hardy Productions Frederick International
Distributed by	OzFlix
Release date	October 2016
Running time	75 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English

Hunting for Shadows is a 2016 suspense/horror film directed by Davo Hardy. It stars Sage Amethyst Matchett, Sage Godrei and Paul Mercurio. Loosely based on various Indigenous Australian mythologies, notably on a variation on the Bunyip and Kurdaitcha Man, the film opens with a disclaimer, reminding the audience to treat the overall film as a work of fiction.

Dealing with an unusual subject matter, utilizing the storytelling device of Indigenous Australians, this film balances realism and creative liberty in the same fashion as The Blair Witch Project, as the Dreamtime has no authoritative or recorded references to check data or accuracy.

Focusing on the perils of being a small child in an unforgiving landscape, whilst being pursued by a demonic force, the film taps into instinctual fears and plays off the suspense, rather than the horror and gore of most contemporary independent films of its type.

The film also pays homage to Dot and the Kangaroo as well as brings characterisation and reference to the Quinkin variation of the Bunyip. It was Davo Hardy's second feature film.

Principal production took place between March 1 and May 17, 2016, before premiering in Sydney, Australia on October 3, 2016.

On September 24, 2016, it was given a prestigious pre-release screening as part of the Blue Heeler Film Festival. Australian streaming platform OzFlix acquired the rights to distribution in January 2017.

Nature and outdoor recreation enthusiasts Keith and Laura are on a week-long camping vacation with their 10-year-old daughter, Ellen. They spend their time sightseeing and touring nature reserves. Keith notices Ellen is bored, preferring to read illustrated books on mythological creatures. The tour guide explains a goanna species and how it can be blamed for damage to property around the campsites, before explaining that the Quinkins, a variation on the classic Bunyip creature, is a Dreamtime creature that plays pranks on humans but sometimes these tricks can be dangerous. Ellen follows her parents to a lookout, whining about when they'll be visiting an opal mine. Laura apologizes that they may not have time and Keith is quick to assure her that they have a whole week for such activity. Laura is looking forward to telling scary stories by the campfire, which Keith remarks to Ellen as being amusingly ghoulish. On the drive to the next site, Ellen sleepily asks if there are quinkins among the trees but Keith assures her that they are just trees. Dismissing her daughter's claims, Laura notices Ellen has fallen asleep. Driving over a pothole, Ellen is startled and disoriented. Her parents are still nonplused by her nervousness.