Genre: Thriller
Director: Greg Mclean
Starring: John Jarratt, Cassandra Magrath, Andy McPhee, Kestie Morassi
RunTime: 1 hr 35 mins
Released By: GV
Rating: NC16
Website: www.wolfcreekthemovie.com
Trailer: www.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/wolfcreek/

Opening Day: 2 March 2006

Synopsis :

A chilling, factually based, story of three road-trippers in remote Australia who are plunged into danger when they accept help from a friendly local.

Movie Review:

Stratus clouds hang weeping blankets of bubbly foams, radiating lightly from the Australian sun. The mountains and valleys of the great Outback stretched infinitely to what it seemed like the edge of the world. Their vivid colors chased the sickly breeze along the abandoned roads in twilights and starkness.

Here in the breath-taking desert of highways and grass fields, travelers are as insignificant and helpless as dirt in a sandbox. There is a reason why the Outback can be so desolated. If not for the adrenaline pumped gory action of its last twenty minutes, I’d almost thought that I’m watching some Australian tourism ad.

Director/writer/producer Greg Mclean started out his debut feature film ‘Wolf Creek’ just like all horror genres could. His prototype shared the analogous introduction of few teenagers with too much free time on their hands and too little care in their minds. Several shots of them wasting their youth like everyone should, bonded among themselves and embarked on a self-justified mission. When our young road trippers found themselves employing the assistance of a burly local, they soon find themselves trapped and hunted by their Samaritan.

Thus, ending the genre’s similarity.

What follows is the deadly game of cat and mouse when one of the road trippers Liz woke up and realized that they were up against a horrific abomination of terror. What I like about Wolf Creek is instead of having their characters running around, waiting to be butchered, Liz retaliated their antagonist with wits and decisiveness. Adding substance in the characters brings out the favor of story telling. The unheard Australians acted really well, especially John Jarratt whom played the sadistic tourist butcher.

While some scenes may be gory, Mclean reins its wickedness to a suitable brake. His cinematography with silhouettes, wailing metals and crying winds are brilliant in creating the suspense and fear. So much as I wanted Liz to survive and triumph, because for some moments there, I’m sure the audience and I felt as if we were in the shoes of Liz. The trepidation is infectious.

With its short (90mins) length and draggy buildup of pace, horror fans could be disappointed after watching this show. I would recommend to audience who are experimental and open to suggestions from fresh directors.

Movie Rating:

(‘Watching Wolf Creek could dismiss your fantasy for the Australia Outback, you have been warned!")

Review by Ang Wei Kiat