DVD Reviews

Wolf Creek

• Rating:
• Director: Greg Mclean
• Starring: Cassandra Magrath
• Details: Aus / 99 mins

Two British girls and one Aussie guy decide to go on a road trip from Broome, Western Australia across extreme wilderness via redneck central. Stopping off at Wolf Creek - an awesome but desolate spot - for a 3 hour trek, they lose track of time and on returning to the car discover not only have their watches stopped but the engine has died. Stranded for the night, they are miles from anywhere and anyone - bar one helpful stranger who tows them back to his place to fix their car for free. Nice bloke, eh?
The tension is ratcheted up rather nicely and while, initially, nothing much happens, the anticipation of the worst occurring in this unreachable place is unbearable. And when the worst comes it is truly terrifying. While characterisation isn't at the forefront, it doesn't matter as the 3 amicable backpackers are readily identifiable. Most of the suspense hangs on the sheer isolation of the situation, the calculated sadism of Mick the murderer and the 'what would I do?' factor of the film. Granted it peters off somewhat towards the end but this comes as a relief and doesn't detract from the nauseating realism of the rest of the film. Rob Zombie could learn a thing or two.


Rental Extras: Trailer.

Ei Extra: Director McLean is currently working on his second feature film, Rogue (due for release in 2007) in which an American journalist encounters a man-eating crocodile in the outback while working on an assignment. We're not sure what the Australian tourist board has to say about any of this…

Review by Elaine Reilly