A tale of grim teen hegemony, murder, secret societies and historical fervor: Like Minds is a sort of emo-kid utopia inhabiting a Da Vinci Code world. The film might also be the most un-Australian of Australian films showing at this year’s World Cinema Showcase. The esoteric plot of this physiological-thriller, a debut feature from writer-director Gregory J. Read, hinges on the investigation of 17-year-old Alex Forbes, who has been charged with the death of schoolmate Nigel. Detective McKenzine (Richard Roxburgh) appoints forensic physiologist Sally Rowe (Toni Collette) to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to find Alex guilty. Building on this intriguing prelude, the film flashes back to examine the troubled relationship between boarding school roommates Alex and Nigel, and their unhealthy obsession with dissecting animals, incest, the 13th-century Cathars, Knights Templar and gestalt philosophy. That these outlandish factors don’t come off as entirely-farcical is testament to Read’s taught screenplay, and the compelling performances of Eddie Redmayne (as Alex) and Tom Sturridge (Nigel). Meanwhile, Richard Roxburgh and Toni Collette – both Australian acting mainstays – are at ease, if somewhat unspectacular, in their roles as British cops. Shot primarily on gothic locations in Yorkshire, northeast England, the film’s atmosphere and stylised cinematography is suitably sinister. A terrific score from Carlo Giacco compounds the sense of menace, suggesting truly dark deeds on the horizon. Like Minds’ final sequence – a gathering of its many threads – does descend into clichéd thriller territory, however the film’s conclusion is agreeably haunting. A fascinating and refreshingly unique alternative to the current crop of Australian films.—Caleb Starrenburg