Hey folks, Harry here... I had a feeling when Bob Weinstein threw in the lent from his pocket to pick this film up in advance of Sundance. Miramax/Dimension hasn't been this aggressive in buying a film in advance of a festival in quite some time, and after reading about the true story the film was based upon, I had a notion that this was going to be something truly powerful. Well... here's our first review. There was a preview screening down in Australia that our intrepid scooper attended and from the sound of this... this could set off a small nuclear device at the festival screening amongst horror / true crime fans. Here ya go, it's fairly spoiler free, enjoy... and if you're seeing this at Sundance, I can't wait to hear how it plays.
Hi Harry,
I noticed that the internet went berserk last week with news about the purchase of Wolf Creek by Dimension. I was actually fortunate enough to go to a preview screening a couple of weeks ago and I can tell you that the hype this thing is generating is well and truly deserved.
It's hard to describe how important this film will be in terms of redefining the cultural image that Australian cinema has perpetrated over the last twenty years. The idea that the outback is populated with loveable, quirky characters like the ones in Crocodile Dundee, Muriel's Wedding and Priscilla, will now have to contend with the stomach-churning, run-for-your-life, NEVER-travel-alone terror of Wolf Creek. In the 70's Australia set off a little turbo-charged piece of anarchy called Mad Max that was unlike anything else we'd ever seen. I don't believe in comparisons, but if Max is the seminal Aussie action movie, then Wolf Creek is the best horror/thriller this country has ever produced.
The story, based on fact but not a re-creation, centres around three friends who are travelling across the outback. They are having the trip of their lives, partying and laughing as they blaze their way across the countryside. Their destination is Wolf Creek, the site of a meteor crater and several unexplained UFO sightings. When they get there, their car mysteriously breaks down. Stranded in the middle of nowhere, things are looking pretty grim until a stranger arrives to offer them help.
Anyone who has ever seen a horror movie doesn't need to be told where this is going, but the truly remarkable thing about Wolf Creek is how it gets there. This is high-brow adult horror at it's best and unlike other recent low-budget horror films like Open Water or even Blair Witch, it doesn't use any gimmicks. It is just masterful filmmaking. It's not a slasher film either. Time is taken to develop each character so that when the shit inevitably hits the fan, you have an emotional investment in them. You want to see them survive, not because you know they are the heroes of the film, but because you like them.
But be warned: the violence in this film is hardcore. I'm not talking about just the gore either. As the killer, John Jarrett is a walking, talking nightmare that completely owns the screen. The delight he takes in torturing his victims, his inhumanity, it all adds up to one of the most compelling bad guys in recent memory. I've never sat in an audience that has reacted like this one did when the carnage started. People were literally squirming in their seats and I even saw some walk out during the most intense scene. I really don't want to give away too much, suffice to say it is one of the most gruesome killings I have ever witnessed and yet it still manages to give a cheeky nod in the direction, of all things, Crocodile Dundee. Don't ask. It'll make sense when you see it.
The other three leads Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi and Nathan Phillips are the emotional anchors that keep this film grounded in reality, making it all the more heartbreaking. Stardom beckons for these three young actors. But the real revelation is writer, director and producer Greg McLean. His fingerprints are all over this film and he doesn't waste a shot. The Australian landscape has never looked so beautiful and yet so ominous. If the reaction by the people at Dimension is anything to go by we may just be witnessing the birth of the new great filmmaker.
Peace out,
Chuckole
