Wolf Creek (2005)

Stranded backpackers in remote Australia fall prey to a murderous bushman who offers to fix their car, then takes them captive.

Director:

Greg Mclean

Writer:

Greg Mclean

Stars:

Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi

3 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Jarratt	...	Mick Taylor
Cassandra Magrath	...	Liz Hunter
Kestie Morassi	...	Kristy Earl
Nathan Phillips	...	Ben Mitchell
Gordon Poole	...	Old Man
Guy O'Donnell	...	Car Salesman
Phil Stevenson	...	Mechanic
Geoff Revell	...	Petrol Attendant
Andy McPhee	...	Bazza
Aaron Sterns	...	Bazza's Mate
Michael Moody	...	Bazza's Old Mate
Andrew Reimer	...	Flashback Dad
Vicki Reimer	...	Flashback Mum
Isabella Reimer	...	Flashback Girl
David Rock	...	Irish Backpacker

Storyline

Three backpackers travel into the Australian Outback, only to find themselves stranded at Wolf Creek crater. Once there they are encountered by a bushman, Mick Taylor, who offers them a ride back to his place. Little do the three know that their adventure into the Outback, would be a complete nightmare after the backpackers find a way to escape.

---

Plot Keywords:

hiking | bushman | backpacker | australian | stranded | 

---

Taglines:

30,000 are reported missing in Australia every year. Some are never seen again.

---

Genres:

Horror | Thriller

---

Certificate:

18A

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English Swedish

Release Date:

25 December 2005 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Terreur à Wolf Creek

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$42,667 (New Zealand) (10 March 2006)

Gross:

$78,573 (New Zealand) (17 March 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation, The, South Australian Film Corporation, The, 403 Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 104 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As it was originally filmed, the scene in which Ben (Nathan Phillips), Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi) are sitting around the campfire, and Ben is telling the story about the alien lights, was over seven minutes long, and shot entirely in one take.

---

Goofs

When trying to start the car after leaving Wolf Creek, the engine wouldn't turn. Later he says that this is the coil pack. A faulty coil pack wouldn't stop the engine turning over. However, as Mick knows that none of the three backpackers know anything about engines, he can say whatever he likes is wrong, and they'll believe him.

---

Quotes

Kristy Earl: [as she's tied up and gagged] Why are you doing this? Why?
[Mick ignores her]
Kristy Earl: Please! If you let me go, I won't tell anyone!
Mick Taylor: Shh, shh, shh!
Kristy Earl: I won't! I won't!
Mick Taylor: [Mick approaches her] Come on. Calm down! Listen to Uncle Michael...
[pause]
Mick Taylor: Come on...
[pause]
Mick Taylor: Now, as I keep tellin' ya, you know, I always use a rubber with you cunts! I don't know where you been.
[...]

---

Crazy Credits

The producers would like to thank ... the people of Hawker, Port Augusta, Flinders Ranges and South Australia, ... Frank, Marie and the entire Mclean family

---

Connections

Referenced in The Making of 'Wolf Creek' (2006)

---

Soundtracks

Your No Good to Me
(2005)
Written by Justin Astbury and Rob Biancetti
Produced and Performed by SystemBot
Vocal by Benton Astbury and Neusa Pires
Recorded © Timms Tunes/Digital Recordings
Under License from Digital Recordings 2004

User Reviews

Surprisingly Devastating

I was thrilled to see a movie like "Wolf Creek" come out in theatres: a straightforward horror film not relying on clever twists (except one, small one) or gimmicks. It was the kind of film "High Tension" started off as before that last act mindf*ck. And while I ended up appreciating what that movie did, I would have loved it more without the twist.

"Wolf Creek" picks up where films like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Last House on the Left" left off, without feeling the need to necessarily "pay homage" to them. I wonder if the fact that it's not American-made has anything to do with that. I also wonder if the non-American influence kept this from becoming predictable or familiar in any way. What you think is going to happen in this film never quite happens. One of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" taglines was, "Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?" I think this film asks the same question, but doesn't provide so simple an answer.

I think it's best to know little about "what happens" here before seeing it. Most people know the basics--three backpackers on a road trip, they stop at remote Wolf Creek, entering an odd Twilight Zone of stopped time and dead car engines. A friendly bushman stops by willing to help, let the nightmare begin.

I love that director/writer/producer Greg McLean never offers an explanation for the watches and the car engine. What happens in this film seems almost alien--three humans struggling to survive on what appears like a distant, barren planet, up against a hunter with no semblance of humanity in him. Yes, this movie is very similar to "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," but it is in no way a rip-off. While the early-morning showdown on the barren road may look similar to the climax of TCM, it is its own nightmarish entity. In fact, some of the scene reminded me of "Duel." The acting in this movie is brilliant. The three leads--Ben, Kristi, and Liz--are so wonderfully likable, and there is an odd feeling of improvisation in the acting. It's so natural, it seems impossible to script. When everything goes to hell, you want all three of them to survive, and you'll surely be devastated by the slightest injury any of them endures. Many have complained about the hour or so of build up, but I think it was brilliant on McLean's part to make sure we cared about these people, and then to put them through the wringer. It's sadistic, too, emotionally, but it's the sign of a great director.

John Jarratt, as Mick, is unforgettably cruel. Jarratt embodies this character from head to toe, and is fearless in his performance. Mick is an ugly, cruel man, and yet when we first meet him, he seems like the nicest guy in the world. One of the scariest aspects to this film is that you can see yourself falling for all of his tricks.

To be honest, I never want to see "Wolf Creek" again. It's not a fun movie. I left wanting to hate it, because I hated what happened. But I admire this movie for what it managed to do. I truly had to keep repeating to myself, "It's only a movie," (the infamous "Last House on the Left" tagline) but it's so realistic and so unflinching in portraying what happens, that you'll feel as if someone was always peeking around a corner with a camera, filming an actual event. Of course, this is based on true events, and frankly, there is some discrepancy to how "true" this film tries to be (obviously, much of the second act had to be dramatized, and you'll realize why once you see the movie) but it didn't need that "based on true events" tag. It's already very real.

I hate to end on the old "Jaws" cliché, but as I am going to Australia soon, I can say for a fact that this does do for backpacking what "Jaws" did for swimming. I consider this movie a parable of sorts. Well done.