"Wolf Creek"

Reviewed by Chris Cappola
Starring John Jarratt, Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi. Directed by Greg McLean. (2005, Mushroom Pictures/Darc Light)

The Australian film industry has been complaining for years about the lack of success at the box-office for home grown fare. But when films are churned out such as 'You and Your Stupid Mate' and 'Meat Pie: the Movie', it's hard to take the industry seriously. There hasn't been an iconic Australian film for a long, long time that sets the bar for the rest of the world and rises above to become a benchmark for the Australian film industry. 'Wolf Creek' could be the film to end that drought.

'Wolf Creek' is quite simply a very difficult film to watch and is not entirely a great movie but it's a powerful and persuasive one. It is based on two Australian crimes of the last decade involving the murder of unsuspecting tourists in remote Australian landscape. It's an engrossing story and makes for a terrifyingly raw horror film. It's because the story is close-to-home and familiar that the fear feels real. The set up: two British tourists Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi) and their Australian friend Ben (Nathan Phillips) are travelling in the remote Australian outback. When their car dies leaving them stuck in the middle of nowhere, they are befriended by a stranger Mick (John Jarratt) who offers to help out with their predicament. Soon after though, the terror begins as they realise that Mick isn't the kind stranger they thought and their lives are in danger. What follows on is quite disturbing, violent, terrorising and at times repulsive as these three people are fighting for their lives against a sadistic madman with noway out of their plight.

'Wolf Creek' is convincing in building up the tension and establishing the three young characters whose doom is imminent. By the time, they have reached Mick the audience feels sympathy for these people. It also paints the Australian outback scene in a realistic nature not trying to go overboard on creating Aussie mannerisms and relying on stereotypes and clichés of the Aussie culture. This is a major bonus because every Australian movie seems to be attempting to also be substituting as a brochure for the Australian tourism board. However, once they are in danger, the film does lose control a little and becomes at times very repugnant, at times unbelievable and a little too crazy for its own good. The director Greg McLean has orchestrated some powerfully brutal scenes that are at times very difficult to watch. It's very graphic and intense and most importantly gets a little too nasty. They are all strongly directed but sometimes too violent even for a film.

The director Greg McLean is a skilful director with a great visual eye. From a technical standpoint, the production is A-grade with eye-capturing cinematography, a great use of location, haunting score by François Tétaz and sharp, quick editing. At times, the camera feels like its being ripped off by 'The Blair Witch Project' but it soon dwindles and becomes unnoticeable. For an Australian film, this is one of the best filmed productions in a long, long time and hopefully suggests a shift in the quality of future productions. McLean would be wise to get Hollywood representation because he abundantly talented. Still, he does have his share of problems with 'Wolf Creek' though none are overly detrimental to the end product. The overly-violent nature of the film may be warranted but didn't have to be so cruel especially when its timed with real-life accounts of the idea are plastered all over the press at the moment. The screenplay too written by McLean is sharp and polished but also ventures into adopting too many clichés of horror movies. There are a few exceptional scenes that are powerfully done but in hindsight don't measure up. Hence, a great scene is inserted into the film but doesn't connect to the film. Is Mick playing Freddy Krueger? How can he always be at the right place at the right time?

The performances from the three young cast are very good and extremely convincing. Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath and Kestie Morassi are terrific displaying a level of sympathy that when they are placed in mortal danger, the audience feels for their characters. They also work well showing genuine rapport with one another and it all translates onto the screen. Still, though many will find it a terrifying role, John Jarratt is not up to scratch with the role of Mick. It is not menacing enough and is a caricature of Crocodile Dundee mixed with Freddy Krueger. In fact, it degrades the movie because there's no real insight to the character or his evil. Even in a few horrifyingly brutal scenes, he doesn't evoke fear.

'Wolf Creek' is raw, in-your-face and brutal and is one of the more violent movies in recent times. It is a polished, well-directed film with an eye for capturing its story in a stylish but frightening nature. It has its share of flaws and is very difficult to watch at times but it's powerful and heavily involving. Is this a benchmark for the Australian film industry? It could be since it certainly is one of the finest filmed movies in a long time. Is it going to turn the box-office slump around? Potentially, it can. 'Wolf Creek' is a powerful, stylish and thought-provoking film that proves that Australia can produce a high-calibre movie without relying on Aussie clichés. Its value as a film will depend on how well the audience's threshold is elevated and whether they can take the final product because 'Wolf Creek' is one of the hardest film experiences in recent years.
out of 10
- Chris Cappola's Reviews

Moviemarshal.com home