Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Out of the Blue

Play trailer Poster for Out of the Blue 2007 1h 42m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
84% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A middle-aged loner becomes the perpetrator of New Zealand's largest mass murder when an argument between neighbors ends in a shooting. After killing his neighbor, David Gray (Matthew Sunderland) sets fire to the man's house with children inside, then shoots anyone else who wanders into range. Authorities are helpless to rescue the victims, and a long night begins as townspeople huddle in their homes as Gray rages on outside.

Where to Watch

Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A dramatization of real-life terror that's rendered all the more powerful through its sensitivity, Out of the Blue succeeds as a gripping drama as well as a moving commemoration.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
David Fear Time Out 10/18/2008
4/6
The usual dramatic affectations applied to such true-life material are largely absent; instead, Sarkies focuses on various quotidian elements that take on weight as the inevitable draws closer. Go to Full Review Cath Clarke Guardian 10/18/2008
3/5
A claustrophobic dramatic reconstruction of a 22-hour shooting spree in the sleepy coastal town of Aramoana, New Zealand, that left 13 people dead. Go to Full Review Tom Dawson BBC.com 03/14/2008
4/5
Scrupulously avoiding sensationalism, the film concentrates much less on the killer, than on the other locals engulfed in the tragedy. Go to Full Review Matthew Turner ViewLondon 10/18/2008
4/5
Brilliantly directed, thoroughly gripping thriller that is both deeply moving and genuinely terrifying -- this is one of the best films of the year. Go to Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com 06/24/2008
4.5/5
This is not a feel-good movie by any stretch, but it gets amazing marks on almost every front and really needs to be seen. Go to Full Review Daily Mirror (UK) 03/14/2008
5/5
Harrowing and heartbreaking, this is the film of the week by many a mile. Despite playing in just a handful of cinemas, I urge you to track it down. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Alain E @AlainE 01/07/2025 Very well done movie about the New Zealand mass shooting that prompted severe restrictions in gun ownership. Of course in the US of A we are following the opposite policy. The beginning, before the tragedy unfolds, is essentially boring, like real life. Once the lunatic starts shooting the tension is 100%. It’s not because there are bullets nonstop, but one doesn’t know what his next action will be. Acting is very good, especially from the old lady who in real life received an award from Queen Elizabeth. There is nice contrast with images of the very beautiful seashore close to the town of Aramoana. See more Laurie S @Karlwinters 11/30/2023 What I found frustrating was the idiot police had many chances to take out the vermin creature but failed. Why didn't they pull their triggers? Had they done so it would have saved more lives. The moral of the story is don't trust the New Zealand police to save you in a shoot out situation. See more 06/16/2021 Would not consider David Gray middle aged at 33. This movie was excellent. I loved the way the director told the story of the residents of Aramoana and how they coped with a massacre in their small community. It looks at how they community worked together to help each other. Unlike many other true disaster movies it does not have it's focus taken away from the true events by focusing only on the killer or like Titanic having a romance in it will detracts from the real story. This story is hard to watch because it makes you feel like you are witnessing the events for real. Highly recommended because it makes us think about these events and how we can care about those in our community See more jeff h @RT21206707 01/14/2020 Wow, it packed a punch. See more 09/03/2013 A shining example of New Zealand film, Out of the Blue recounts the mass murder of 13 people in Aramoana, near Dunedin, in 1990. The peaceful, isolated town is beautifully shot, making the ensuing deaths even more horrifying. But these are shot in an almost documentary way, without gratuitous violence - the real attention is on the people and the impact of a terrifyingly tense several hours, not knowing where murderer David Gray was. Amazing. See more 08/26/2013 So well acted and well directed. This was a great film. Urban was excellant. Its a tragic story well filmed See more Read all reviews
Out of the Blue

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Robert Sarkies

Director

Karl Urban

Nick Harvey

Matthew Sunderland

David Gray

Lois Lawn

Helen

Simon Ferry

Garry Holden

Tandi Wright

Julie-Anne Bryson

More Like This

View All
Six Figures 83% 55% Six Figures Watchlist Straightheads 43% 32% Straightheads Watchlist A History of Violence 88% 76% A History of Violence Watchlist TRAILER for A History of Violence The Constant Gardener 83% 82% The Constant Gardener Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue (2006) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A middle-aged loner becomes the perpetrator of New Zealand's largest mass murder when an argument between neighbors ends in a shooting. After killing his neighbor, David Gray (Matthew Sunderland) sets fire to the man's house with children inside, then shoots anyone else who wanders into range. Authorities are helpless to rescue the victims, and a long night begins as townspeople huddle in their homes as Gray rages on outside.
Director
Robert Sarkies
Producer
Timothy White, Steven O'Meagher
Screenwriter
Robert Sarkies, Graeme Tetley
Distributor
IFC First Take
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 19, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 28, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA)
$728
Runtime
1h 42m
Most Popular at Home Now