Mad Rush review – an intricate phone scam isn’t quite enough to drive this very Melbourne movie

Maddelin McKenna’s feature debut, Mad Rush, is currently screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival, offering a 76-minute exploration of urban life that feels quintessentially local. Set largely within Melbourne’s centre, the film employs a scaled-back colour palette dominated by blues and greys, creating a visual atmosphere that McKenna describes as having a grainy, street-level authenticity. The narrative follows Gen Z protagonist Madisha, played by Senuri Chandrani, who finds herself targeted by an intricate phone scam involving callers claiming to work for the Australian tax office and insisting she withdraw all cash from her bank account.

While a premise of this nature might typically be adapted into a pulse-pounding thriller in Hollywood, McKenna’s direction prioritises a realistic, day-in-the-life narrative structure. The film’s pacing remains tight throughout its lithe runtime, yet it relies heavily on small, conversation-based moments that are convincingly staged but do little to propel the plot forward. The reviewer notes that the film’s aesthetic and atmospheric qualities are reminiscent of SBS’s Swift Street, sharing a similar sense of being a product of its specific environment.

Mad Rush carries the aura of an independent work, unburdened by conventional thriller tropes and possessing an appealingly unpolished, guerrilla energy. The title reflects the film’s focus on motion, both literal and figurative. Madisha is shown dashing through Melbourne’s streets while her personal circumstances remain in flux; she has recently lost her job and faces housing instability after her housemate announces plans to move out with a partner. This state of upheaval serves to destabilise the perspective, making the characters’ motivations harder to discern.

The director has stated that the film is based on a true story involving a similar circumstance experienced by a friend, a claim reinforced by a declaration at the film’s outset. However, the review suggests that Madisha’s general compliance with the scammers’ demands feels like a stretch, and the core plot may not be sufficiently engaging to sustain the entire viewing experience. The reviewer argues that the central story does not feel interesting enough to build a full narrative around, suggesting that the premise itself becomes a non-event for many viewers.

Despite these critiques, the film is well-judged aesthetically, utilising carefully placed slow-motion shots and camera movements that creep towards the actors to absorb their stories. Senuri Chandrani delivers a dynamic and compelling presence in the lead role, bringing a mix of relatability, edge, and uncertainty to the character. The review concludes that while the film is atmospheric and stylish, extra narrative polishing and a more expansive final act might have made the experience more dramatically satisfying.