The Decline  ★★★½

FRENCH/Canadian director Patrice Laliberté’s feature debut is a solid action thriller called The Decline.

Originally released in 2020 and earning critical success, it has finally made its circuitous way to Australian home screens.

Guillaume Laurin leads the cast as Antoine, a married father who is preparing his wife and daughter in survivalist skills at their suburban Montreal home.

Antoine is convinced that some kind of disaster is imminent and determined to be ready to live basically and fight for his life, family and property.

He follows an experienced survivalist Alain (Réal Bossé) who has an online presence and runs training programs at his remote rural property. Antoine signs on for a camp and is impressed with what he sees and hears from Alain.

Along with five others, including a former soldier, they are trained in a range of self-sufficiency and survival skills. It also becomes clear that in Alain’s view of the future world, all manner of self-defence will be required, including weapons training and even bomb-making.

During one exercise a tragic accident that creates argument and tension between those who want to report the incident to the authorities and Alain and another who want to cover things up because they fear being branded as terrorists and losing everything. The quickly raised tension leads to a series of deadly confrontations.

Laliberté also co-wrote the film, which seems entirely plausible in this day and age. It’s well acted and paced with action that surprises with its sudden intensity and outcomes.

The director had made a few shorts before a successful television series, GAME(R), gave him his shot at a feature. He has delivered on the opportunity.