Unlocked: Kael Walsh, Rolo Montes, And Al Cleland Jr In ‘Saturn’

It feels like a stretch to describe the first section of Quiksilver’s new film as “surfing.”

The thing that Kael Walsh and Rolo Montes are doing there simply bears limited similarities to what the rest of the surfing population seeks to do when they set out on Saturday mornings. Shot on the South Coast of Australia, Kael and Rolo attempt to drive their surfboards through waves that just look like the ocean is arguing with itself. They occasionally succeed. 

In other words, ‘Saturn’ hooks you from the start. 

From there, the boys link up with Al Cleland Jr and settle for more traditionally appealing (see: proper cooking) conditions in Indo and West Oz. They pack tubes. They land airs. Somebody gets sprayed with a fire extinguisher (in the credits). Our grade on the action? A+. 

Directed by Wade Carroll, ‘Saturn’ has a banging soundtrack and a nostalgic vibe. It feels partly like walking into a surf shop in December of 1999, buying a DVD, popping it into your player, and enjoying the fuck out of it before Y2K happens and robots destroy society. Notable, considering none of the surfers in it are older than 25. 

And it feels partly like the best surf trip you’ve ever taken — which isn’t far from the truth for these guys. As the story goes, the project started as a boardshort shoot in Sumatra and turned into an unplanned 4-month surf bender. 

With the comp scene covered via Kanoa and Griff, ‘Saturn’ shows that Quik ain’t gonna forget about all the core lords and free surf dingos worldwide.

And for that, today, we should all be thankful.