Alison Maclean's Crush is a powerful psychological thriller with shades of The Last Seduction. It's an impressive debut feature which echoes other darkly examples of New Zealand's Cinema of Unease such as Jane Campion's debut Sweetie and Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures.

A wreckless car journey leads to a near-fatal crash. Lane, who was driving, escapes but deserts Christina, who's trapped in the wreckage. Since they were heading to interview novelist, Colin, Lane makes the visit alone and not only tries to seduce him but also his teenage daughter, Angela, who is emotionally unstable. When she realises how infatuated her father has become, she starts manipulating events, including a visit to Christina in hospital. The two friends are now set for a full-on collision which promises to be more shattering that the crash itself.

With the bleakness of the landscape adding to the tension, Crush is a journey into the darker side of passion. Strap your seatbelts on now. It's going to be a bumpy ride.