Savages Crossing

I have to say that I love John Jarratt. His appearance as the bad guy in the WOLF CREEK films has given him a cult following, and this infamy led him to make SAVAGES CROSSING, a low budget thriller written by Jarratt and his wife, starring Jarratt and his real-life son, Charlie. It's a bit of a family affair, but sadly one that turns out to be distinctly average and rather a let down compared to the intensity of the WOLF CREEK movies.

The light plotting sees a group of characters assembled and stranded at a remote diner during a stormy night where the torrential rain has made the only road going in or out impassable. The characters are largely uninteresting here, but Jarratt holds the attention as an ex-con who has unfinished business with his estranged wife and kid. What follows, though, despite best efforts, is strictly routine, and there's little of the suspense you'd expect from the premise; no edge of the seat stuff. It's also surprisingly tame.

It goes without saying that Jarratt is hugely entertaining, as is ever the case, and he's well matched by NEIGHBOURS star Craig McLachlan who is a welcome presence as the square-jawed heroic type. But the story seems to go on forever, repetitively going back and forth while depending on the characters making dumb decisions to spin things out a bit further. It tests the patience instead of testing the viewer's nerves.

Well......I have just watched this tense taut drama/thriller n it was a brilliant story n well written with amazing suspense throughout. The plot was good with lively action too. One mans demented obsession with his wife n son all taking place in one location.

The acting was superb n the characters were brilliant n bounced off each other.

The ending was unexpected n unpredictable n apt for the story.

I recommend this movie especially if you like suspense n high drama n thrillers.

A flash flood in Australia cuts off a small handful of people in a remote roadside diner . A man called Phil enters and threatens his estranged wife Sue and the stranded drivers realise they're in a desperate struggle for their lives

This is a low budget Aussie thriller with a very small cast and a limited number of sets . This isn't enough to condemn the film as a failure of course but if you're making something along the lines of THE OLD DARK HOUSE then you'll need to make sure you're bringing something new and appetizing to the table and this is where SAVAGES CROSSING fails to a very large extent . What happens for most of the time Phil played by John Jarrat swaggers around over acting to high heaven telling people if they don't tell him where his wife is he's going to have to kill them

Another minor annoyance is Craig McLachan as the hero of sorts Mory . McLachan was once a household name in Britain and Australia twenty years ago due to his starring roles in NEIGHBOURS and HOME AWAY while like so many Aussie soap opera stars had a side line as a pop singer and he does the incidental music here on a soundtrack that is rather intrusive . He doesn't make much of a hunky hero either in a film that feels something of a wash out which is appropriate since it revolves around a flood

Surprised this has such a low IMDB rating as it is not that bad. When a group of people are forced to take refuge in a road house during a storm they are unaware that one among them is John Jarrett who seems to be reprising his role as the Psycho from 'Wolf Creek'. Just released from prison he is seeking his wife and son to claim his share of his wife's money. He then goes on to terrify them and the other people marooned in the roadhouse. The hero standing in his way is Craig McLachlan of 'Neighbours' fame, who just happens to be the person who rescued Jarrett from an overflowing river at the beginning of the film. Running for just 80 minutes this deserves a much better rating than the 3.6 it has as I write.

Savages Crossing is a micro-budget horror flick written by John Jarratt and his son and it really is just an exercise in vanity. Jarratt had a fleeting glimpse at resurrected stardom with Wolf Creek and so he's essentially written himself another psychopathic lunatic role in a similar vein. But hey, the movie works. The first 10 minutes are woeful (and unnecessary) as its shot in day light and the lack of budget shows, but once night falls and the rain pours, Savages Crossing has a great atmosphere and performances. Craig McLachlan is actually really good as the 'take- no-sh!t' country farmer and in my opinion he steals the show. Its not great by any means, but certainly worth a look.