Wolf Creek is a scary little film about three backpackers whose trip to a crater turns into a hellish nightmare, as they're taken hostage by a rather crazed individual. The plot may seem the same as a million other horror films but it's actually a rather refreshing horror film which doesn't follow the usual formula, and may put you off visiting Australia, where the film is set. Although the film is slow to get started once the three backpackers are taken hostage the movie really picks up some momentum. There is a lot of gore and blood during the final third of the film, including a rather disgusting sequence involving someone's fingers. I'll say no more than this, as I'm sure you get the gist of it. Shot on a budget of $1,000,000, peanuts compared to today's blockbusters, Wolf Creek is a solid horror film with some good performances from the young cast.
Kirsty, Ben and Liz are three friends who decide to go hiking in the scenic Wolf Creek National Park in the Australian Outback, intent on visiting the huge crater located there. Having loaded up their car with food and all other essentials, the three of them arrive at Wolf Creek within a few days, with the weather not too pleasant. Sadly for the young friends trouble is just around the corner, when, having walked back from the Wolf Creek crater, they find that their car won't start. Luckily for the three friends a friendly local bushman called Mick Taylor crosses paths with them and offers them a lift back to his garage. The three friends agree to this, just glad to be back on the road again and not stranded in the wildness. Sadly for Kirsty, Ben and Liz, their troubles have just begun, as Mick is not as friendly as at first glance.
Wolf Creek builds up slowly and steadily; you know something is going to happen but you don't quite know what, with the film leaving you guessing. I feel that horror films following this kind of style are much more entertaining then ones where you know what's going to happen right from the start. The disadvantage to this though is that the film does take a long time to get going, and at some points your mind starts to wonder. Thankfully this soon stops once the three friends get to Wolf Creek, with the tone of the film changing dramatically. Although the film is said to be based on a true story, it isn't actually based on one single event, so the events that take place in this film are wholly fictitious. Some people have suggested it is loosely based on the Peter Falconio incident back in the 1990s, but for me it doesn't need to be based on anything; it's a good solid horror film in its own right.
Without giving too much away it is safe to say that Wolf Creek isn't your play it by numbers horror film, something that for me has been a long time coming, with films such as Scream and The Grudge wearing thin. For me, although the film has some really shocking moments it isn't as terrifying as some critics have claimed, with one particular critic calling the film 'brutal', and acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino calling it the scariest film he's ever seen. I'm a little mystified by these comments, because although the film is really scary at times, it's not so bloody and gore infested that it becomes unwatchable, although the scene involving Ben trying to 'unattach' himself from a wall was very squeamish, and I was lucky to have a blanket to hide under. For me it's nice to have a film that plays around with the horror genre without being afraid to go too far.
Wolf Creek is also a surprising film. Once the three lead characters are taken hostage you obviously expect horrible things to happen to them, but as with many other horror films you can probably predict what will happen next. This doesn't happen here. Wolf Creek keeps you guessing right to the last minute, with the gore factor increasing by the minute. Although there is lots of blood, unlike in films such as Saw II and Hostage, the film isn't bloody just for the sake of being bloody. There are many scary moments in the film, but for me the scariest one is Mick Taylor, played by John Jarratt. You can tell from the moment that he picks the three friends up that there is something not right with him, with Taylor a very warped individual. Not only does he take Ben, Liz and Kirsty hostage but he uses them as his own mini-projects, subjecting them to horrific amounts of violence which increase as the film reaches its conclusion.
Nathan Phillips also puts in a good (if not that memorable) performance as nice guy Ben, with Cassandra Magrath and Kestie Morassi acting also very good, with their performances very realistic during the final third of the film. Like with the Blair Witch Project, this film is made on a shoestring budget, but actually looks really good on screen. Greg McClean direction is really good, and the film has a really crisp and shiny feel to it, and definately doesn't look cheap. I often feel that films such as these where the budget is limited are actually better than horror films with bigger budgets and more established actors, with Wolf Creek no exception. The film will also make you look at Australia a little differently, and open your eyes to the fact that hundreds of thousands of people go missing in the Australian outback every year, even if most of these people are found.
Although horrific and very scary in parts, Wolf Creek, in comparison to many other horror films, is a breath of fresh air, and one to watch for people fed up with lame brain horror films.
Wolf Creek (2005): John Jarratt, Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morrassi. Directed by Greg McClean.
![Wolf Creek [2005]](http://picnic.ciao.com/uk/65487586.jpg)
