Review of Wolf Creek (2005) by Adam S — 01 Feb 2009

At first glance, Wolf Creek seems to fit into the contemporary horror genre so well, but beneath this apparent genre confirmation is nothing more than a film of torture and sexual exploitation. With its Texas Chainsaw Massacre style torture and exploitation, Wolf Creek does not encode anything beneath the surface but a deliberate attempt to sicken the audience.

What is different about films such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is they are culturally specific, in the sense they explore themes of sexuality, violence and youth culture for a meaningful purpose. Wolf Creek explores the same ideas but for no apparent reason, presenting its torture as meaningless and unnecessary.

At times throughout the film, the screaming and sexual undertones become unbearable almost beyond the point of horror into some unknown and unexplored sphere of cinema- somewhere no film should enter.

Director Greg McLean does not attempt to create any atmosphere or tension through his directing, but instead uses the camera to exploit these female victims are being tortured by psychopath Mick Taylor (John Jarratt).

Horror films like this usually use notions of torture and violence to develop the plot, to allow us to empathise with the victims. Wolf Creek on the other hand, uses torture as the main device and nothing more.

The audience are not even offered any attempt to sympathise with these victims as they are represented as helpless and wholly dependent on Ben Mitchell (Nathan Phillips). Wolf Creek had one purpose right from the beginning and that was to sicken and disturb the audience, go and see it if you dare.