Wolf Creek (2005)

Ben, Liz and Kristy; backpackers stranded in the Australian outback, are befriended by a local who is a sadistic psychopath that will plunge them into a hellish nightmare of insufferable torture.

Director:

Greg McLean (as Greg Mclean)

Writer:

Greg McLean (as 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.

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Plot Keywords:

hiking | backpacker | australian | australian outback | bushman | 

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Taglines:

The Thrill Is In The Hunt.

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong gruesome violence, and for language

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English Swedish

Release Date:

25 December 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

El Cazador

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£554,618 (UK) (16 September 2005)

Gross:

$16,186,348 (USA) (3 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

No scenes were written specifically for cloudy or wet weather, neither was it a directorial decision to have such scenes. The film's shooting schedule was simply so tight that the crew had to film at all times, regardless of conditions. As such, when it was realized that they were going to have to shoot in the rain, the script was hastily rewritten to include references to the fact that it was unexpectedly raining.

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Goofs

When Liz and Ben are kissing, there is a ring on her right hand in one shot, and then it disappears in the other shots.

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Quotes

Mick Taylor: What was it your mate said again? Oh, yeah, that's not a knife - *this* is a knife!

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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

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Connections

References High Tension (2003)

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Soundtracks

Eagle Rock
(1971)
Written by Ross Wilson (as R. Wilson)
Performed by Daddy Cool
(Mushroom Music Publishing)
Under License from BMG Australia Limited

User Reviews

Solid Oz genre flick

Wolf Creek has a completely standard basic story for this kind of genre movie - travelers in isolated location encounter sadistic nut. Despite this, it's what writer/director Greg McLean does with the details which makes a difference.

The outback locations are rendered with a nice eye and evoke a sense of spooky isolation - anything could happen to you out here and no-one would know, much less be able to help. There is also the much discussed 'dark side of Crocodile Dundee' element - frankly, I can't believe it's taken so long for someone to conjure this one up, and McLean clearly delights in stabbing a knife through the heart of the mythical Aussie archetype. I think he's actually gotten to an uncomfortable, close-to-the-bone truth about the psyche of certain Aussie males, and John Jarret is eerily similar to the kind of individual one would encounter in many a country pub down under.

The fact that this is an Australian film also makes it a rare bird indeed. For some unfathomable reason, the Oz industry rarely does genre, and when it does, usually doesn't do it well. With this in mind, Wolf Creek is something of a breath of fresh air. Yes, it hews pretty closely to the codes and rules of its genre, but for the most part it does it well, and for my money, what works about the film is strong enough to make some of the weaker plot moments forgivable.

Will Gibson's HD camera-work is impressive, maintaining a consistent style from start to finish, aided by solid editing, score and sound design. Now maybe people will stop whining about how 'we can't make genre films here' and we might see some imagination and variety creep into Australian cinema.