THE LAST WAVE (1977)

David Burton (Richard Chamberlain), Australian tax lawyer with a happy suburban family and home, takes on a pro bono case to defend five Aboriginal people accused of getting drunk and murdering one of their tribe. The defendants won't say anyhing about the event, but one of them, Chris (David Gulpilil) reluctantly gives him some vague but menacing clues, apparently because he senses a long-ago connection. Chris and his shaman send Burton idisturbing visions and dreams, all against a background of record rain and hail storms, black rain, overflowing bathtubs--a watery hint of apocalypse to come. The plot doesn't always hold together or lead in a straight line. But the movie is all about eeriness, suspense and ever-darkening mood as Burton increasingly leaves behind his rational white world and plunges into Aboriginal mystery and power. Very effective, and well acted, especially by Gilpilil and Chamberlain.