The Plumber

The Plumber is a 1979 Australian thriller film written and directed by the visionary Peter Weir. The movie is a gripping, psychological drama that explores the tension and drama that ensues when a rogue plumber invades the peaceful world of a young couple in an academic apartment complex. The movie radiates tension, suspense, and psychological intrigue, and is a must-see for those with an appetite for thrilling drama.

The film features the talent of Judy Morris, who plays Jill Cowper, an anthropologist married to her academic husband, Brian, played by Robert Coleby. Jill and Brian’s tranquil academic apartment life is upended by the sudden and uninvited appearance of the eccentric "plumber," Max, portrayed brilliantly by Ivar Kants. Max is something of an enigmatic oddball: an uninvited, mysterious figure who arrives under the guise of maintaining the building’s plumbing system but successfully manages to turn their lives into a veritable house of horrors.

The Plumber is paced beautifully, steadily ramping up the tension. Hot on the heels of his internationally acclaimed outing with "The Last Wave," Peter Weir uses the mundane setting of an academic apartment to interweave an exciting, thrilling narrative. The director's sustained knack for eliciting performances that bring forth the complexity of his carefully crafted characters is evident in his work here.

Judy Morris is, without doubt, a standout. She skillfully portrays the tormented Jill, a woman whose routine world suddenly becomes a psychological battleground owing to Max's unceasing intrusions. Morris compellingly delivers a range of emotions, from initial annoyance to burgeoning terror, as her character contends with the relentless torment brought about by the persistent interloper.

As the plumber, Ivar Kants, is absolute in his role, permeating the persona with an intense, unpredictable unpredictability, an edgy nature that is as amusing as it is unnerving. This vagabond, blue-collar worker seems to take an unsettling interest in the upscale academic world that he invades, and Kants brilliantly conveys his character’s sense of eccentricity and eerie fascination with the life Jill and Brian lead.

Robert Coleby also does a great job of portraying the traditionally minded husband Brian, whose skepticism about his wife’s concerns regarding Max confounds the problem. He is mainly absent due to his academic responsibilities, and so his lack of presence whilst this psychological 'warfare' is happening back at home, adds to the heightened sense of terror on Jill's behalf.

Peter Weir tackles the disparity and psychological tension between the worlds of blue-collar workers and intellectuals convincingly in The Plumber. From the start, the movie masterfully sets up the collision of these different worlds. As the tension escalates, Weir's skillful storytelling generates a pervasive sense of dread within the confines of the apartment, imbuing what is ostensibly a story about a plumbing job gone wrong with a sense of depth and suspense that is thrilling to watch unfold.

As is typical of Peter Weir’s films, The Plumber is also visually fascinating, with a unique aesthetic that underscores the story's psychological aspect. Weir manages to transform the ordinary – the innards of a household plumbing system, a bathroom in renovation, everyday household tools into an unusual, almost uncanny landscape that heightens the eeriness of Max's escapades.

The script is cutting-edge and takes on a psychological undertone that is unnerving and often fluctuates between outright terror and a pervading subtle sense of discomfort. While the film is primarily a suspenseful psychological thriller, there are moments of dark humor cunningly embedded within the story that give the film its original character.

In short, The Plumber is an expertly crafted, intense psychological thriller that makes the mundane terrifying. The exceptional performances, particularly by the leading woman, Judy Morris, combined with the excellent execution by Peter Weir, ensures that this film often leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat, and delivers a cinematic experience that tackles the divide between different social worlds with a sense of suspense, intrigue, and thrills. The Plumber certainly stands as one of the notable addition in the category of psychological thrillers and will most definitely cater to all movie enthusiasts who appreciate an exceptional plot and engaging character study.