Stan's Romper Stomper swaps swastikas for southern crosses

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 13 December 2017

Stan's Romper Stomper revival swaps swastikas for southern crosses in an uncomfortable look at the ugliness of Australian racism. Set decades after the controversial 1992 feature that shot Russell Crowe into the limelight, the Romper Stomper miniseries places Muslim Australians firmly in the firing line of Neo Nazi ire.

This time around, the Neo Nazis aren't stereotypical skinheads touting swastika tattoos. They're everyday Australians. Patriots. Hardworking blokes that love their country. It's a far more insidious form of hatred. It wouldn't be Romper Stomper if this wasn't expressed through brutal acts of violence, but one of the standout scenes from the first two episodes takes place on a talk show rather than on the streets. Far-right host blowhard Jago - played perfectly by David Wenham - paints a picture of media's complicity in the culture wars, drumming up fear for ratings in a moment that feels far too real.

While there is a one-dimensional awfulness to Romper Stomper's band of racists, a good chunk of the story focuses on Kane (Toby Wallace), a teen who seemingly gets mixed up with the wrong crowd by being at the wrong place at the wrong time. He's a somewhat sympathetic character in the vein of the original's Davey, and helps provide some narrative complexity.

The miniseries structure allows Romper Stomper to be a lot more adventurous than the original, featuring a wider set of characters and story threads. These include Laila (Nicole Chamoun) - a Muslim university student foisted into an activist role -, her family, an Antifa, a group of girls in juvey, and the returns of Jacqueline McKenzie's Gabe and John Brumpton's McGoo. The series' breadth means it takes a bit of time to get going; I wasn't quite sold at the end of episode one, but was left wanting more after part two.

Romper Stomper will inevitably upset a lot of people; it's hard to find a comment thread where there isn't a ding dong decrying it as anti-white propaganda. This kind of behaviour alone shows why a Romper Stomper revival is timely. While I hope the series ultimately says something more meaningful than "racism is bad", maybe it's enough to simply cast a light on a part of Australian culture that many would prefer to ignore.

Where can I watch Romper Stomper?

The Romper Stomper miniseries is an original show produced by local streaming service Stan. As such, the only place you'll find it is on Stan. Much like Netflix, Stan doesn't gate content by subscription tier, so you're able to watch it regardless of the package you're on. If you need a refresh, Stan's subscription options are as follows:

$10 per month: Standard definition, stream on one device, offline viewing on one device
$12 per month: High definition, stream on three devices at once, offline viewing on three devices
$15 per month: 4K, stream on four devices at once, offline viewing on five devices

Romper Stomper is available to stream in 4K, so if you've got a 4K ready TV, a fast enough internet connection, and a compatible device, it might be worth springing for Stan's top tier.

If you're new to Stan, you're able to sign up for a month long free trial. If you haven't seen the original 1992 Romper Stomper, Stan also has it available for streaming.

When can I watch Romper Stomper?

All six episodes of Romper Stomper will premiere on Stan on January 1, 2018. They'll drop at midnight, so you can watch them as soon as you're finished with the fireworks.

Want more?

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio