Review of Rogue (2007) by Simon M — 13 Aug 2008

"Never smile at a crocodile" goes the chorus of the jaunty ditty that runs over the closing credits, a welcome counterpoint to the carnage that has preceded it. The huge croc in this creature flick strikes so fast you'd barely have time to register terror on your face, let alone an involuntarily hysterical smile-like rictus, before you're ground meat.

There are many loving shots of landscapes in Australia's Northern Territory, where the entire story plays out. The sweeping aerial shots establish the beauty, as well as the harshness and isolation, of the area. They would fit well into any tourism promotion campaign. All's going at a languid pace in the beginning, we're on Territory time, but the rugged romance of a cruise down a picturesque canyon river shatters with the sudden attack of a massive man-eating crocodile.

The hackneyed 'people in peril' formula works well here because very competent actors economically sketch out the personalities of the people on the boat before the mayhem begins. Also, the 'rules' of the genre aren't always followed; it's unnerving to learn that a character's virtue and/or good looks may not be enough to spare them from the croc's jaws. The rogue crocodile is a frightening creation and makes Jaws look like a fluffy puppy dog.

A no-brainer creature horror film made with care, talent and cinematic flourishes that has put me off swimming in, boating along or standing next to, any body of water known to be home to crocodiles.