Review of Wolf Creek 2 (2013) by Ammar Z — 29 Jun 2014

Surprisingly solid horror sequel here. The only time I saw the original film, which was when it came out in theaters almost 10 years ago, and I did not enjoy it one bit. I even wrote a negative review here for that film.

I felt it moved too slowly for its own good. But that was then, and this is now. I've been meaning to give the first film another watch because I'm far more tolerant of films with more deliberate pacing.

Building up the tension before paying it off. I get a feeling that I'd enjoy that movie more now than I did back then. Maybe I'm wrong and I'd still be bored shitless by the film, but I've got to give it another shot.

On to this film though, I think this doesn't suffer sequel slump because it's written, and directed, by Greg McLean, the guy who also wrote and directed the first film. It isn't a sequel for the sake of doing one.

It isn't one of those DTV horror sequels where they take a generic script, that has nothing to do with the film that preceded it, make some tweaks to justify putting a '2' at the end of the title.

So it's obvious that this wasn't a case of let's revive a name horror fans know with a sequel in order to make some quick cash. This was done for all the right reasons. First things first, and this is easily the most obvious difference from the first film, this is an incredibly gory film.

It's not goofy, it's not over-the-top. It's got some pretty fucked up moments, so don't watch if you're easily squeamish cause this film will definitely gross you out. I don't wanna say it's completely realistic gore, but it's as close as many horror films get.

With that said, the film does have a pretty pitch black sense of humor, mostly with Mick's one-liners. That helps liven things up and make what most would consider an ugly movie a little more 'entertaining', if it can be called that.

The acting is surprisingly strong for a horror film. There's a certain pleasure that John Jarratt, the actor who plays Mick Taylor, takes in causing extreme amounts of pain and misery to people he thinks are destroying his country that is amusing and really kind of disturbing at times.

Almost like he's channeling some repressed desires in his performance. Not saying he's anything like that, but he's completely convincing in the role. However, I do think that the way he delivers certain lines feels too forced for my own liking.

It's only a minor complaint all things considered, but it is there nonetheless. Like I mentioned, the film is certainly very ugly at times. But in order to showcase Mick's brutality and his thoughts on the foreigners coming into, as he says, his country, it had to be ugly.

It had to be brutal and unflinching. Good horror movie here, the violence is certainly gonna be off-putting for a lot of people, but I enjoyed it and it's the rare example of a horror sequel that actually works.