Review of Wolf Creek (2005) by Brandon W — 05 Aug 2014

"Wolf Creeks" starts out ordinarily enough, and the story follows along the same plot line of dozens of other similar horror movies. It's claim to fame, however, is in being something of an endurance test for the audience, seemingly asking them "How much can you take?".

First-time writer and director Greg Mclean is clearly a skilled filmmaker. and his debut feature packs a punch with its garish grindhouse style. The three leads are bland and interchangeable, as their only purpose is to be likable and victimized. They accomplish that adequately enough.

The real star, however, is Australian actor John Jarratt, previously unknown in this country, making a big impression as the psycho here. He's both charming and sadistic, even though his lack of motivation is distressing. The film is allegedly based on an actual case, and I would have been far more interested in a detailed case study rather thank another "Hills Have Eyes" knockoff.

The final forty-five minutes are grueling and nihilistic but not without a certain sense of style. Despite how little you know about these people, it's only natural to get caught up in their fight for survival, and the movie works on that basic level.

"Wolf Creek" is an impressive debut, not as much scary as it is a carnival freakshow that leaves you feeling sad and hopeless. Jarrat's performance is enigmatic and captivating, but the rest of it feels very familiar and routine. It's shocking for the sake of being shocking.