Wolf Creek ** (2005, John Jarratt, Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi) – Classic Movie Review 3628

Two English gals, Liz Hunter (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy Earl (Kestie Morassi), backpacking across the country Down Under, pick up a fit bloke called Ben Mitchell (Nathan Phillips), an Australian friend from Sydney, and set off for the Aussie Outback.

The trio stop off at Wolf Creek National Park, which contains a giant crater formed by a 50,000-ton meteorite. After exploring the crater, they discover their watches are broken and their car will not start. After dark, they are offered help by a passing weirdo named Mick Taylor (John Jarratt), who offers to tow them to his camp to repair the car, but unfortunately turns out to be a near-feral serial killer, a sadistic psychopath.

It’s scary! No, it’s horrible! This gripping, well-made but appallingly gruesome and exploitative Aussie horror pic is written, co-produced and directed by Greg McLean, with no concern about the violence, particularly against women. The film shows no respect for its audience by falsely pretending to be ‘based on a true story’ or ‘based on true events’, though the plot does have some elements reminiscent of the real-life murders of tourists by Ivan Milat in the 1990s, and Bradley Murdoch in 2001.

The abduction of British tourist Peter Falconio and the assault of his girlfriend Joanne Lees in July 2001 by in the Northern Territory are cited as influences. Murdoch’s trial was still in progress at the time of the film’s release in Australia in November 2005.

Talking of no respect, the film was released by Dimension Films in the United States on Christmas Day in 2005.

Wolf Creek is set in a real location in northern Western Australia, with the aerial shots show the genuine Wolfe Creek crater, though the film was almost entirely shot in South Australia.

The original cut runs 104 minutes, five minutes longer than the 99-minute cut released in cinemas. Both were released on DVD in the US as the R-rated cut and the unrated cut.

Jarratt reprised his role as Mick Taylor in Wolf Creek 2, which had its world premiere on 30 August 2013 at the Venice Film Festival and was released in Australia on 20 February 2014. Jarratt returns in a six-part miniseries to premiere on the video on demand portal Stan on 12 May 2016.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3628
Check out more reviews on derekwinnert.com