By Laura Frykberg
New Zealand's film industry is more renowned for its fantasy films than its Westerns, but one Kiwi director is trying to change that.
Good for Nothing, the world's first ‘pavlova’ western - instead of spaghetti - had its New Zealand premiere last night.
Good for Nothing has all the makings of a traditional Western, except for its plot.
An outlaw in the film has erectile dysfunction, which he discovers after trying to have his way with a woman he kidnaps.
At its premiere the man behind that character, Cohen Holloway, would not be drawn on that subject, but did reveal why he was ideal for the part.
“I got the role because I’m actually really terrible at lines, it's actually real hard, sort of on screen not doing much and the camera is there, and wherever you look has got to mean something.”
The film was shot in central Otago, where its director Mike Wallis spent his childhood holidays dreaming about being a cowboy.
“I always found the connections between the landscapes down there and the Westerns we see on screen, and that sort of inspired the idea of making a Western down there.”
The New York Times agrees, saying “New Zealand’s ravishing landscapes portray the American West well”.
A view shared at last night's premiere by some well known faces including Andy Serkis and Brett McKenzie
“I'm absolutely thrilled to be here, Mike Wallis is an old friend of mine from back in the Lord of the Rings days so to see him actually get to make this,” Serkis says.
And Brett McKenzie could relate to the film.
“It's awesome I mean my dad's a horse farmer and I am a big fan of horse movies.
“I grew up watching Westerns and eating toasties.”
And as for whether the 'pavlova' western becomes the new spaghetti, Wallis says it depends on how popular it is at the New Zealand box office when it opens in May.
3 News