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Wolf Creek (Greg McLean)
"A Film For Fans Of The Genre"
After visiting Wolf Creek, 3 backpackers get stranded when their car won't start. Luckily a truck comes by and a man offers them his help. The parts needed are back at his camp and they decide to go and stay the night at his place. When they wake up, they find themselves tied up and tortured. Can they escape from the middle of nowhere?
It's no doubt that Wolf Creek doesn't appeal to everyone. It's premise has been done over and over again. Upon first glance it would seem nothing more then a typical horror film that comes and goes quicker then someone's 15 minutes of fame. Well, this is the case with Wolf Creek, but it has some redeeming qualities. Basically it's not that bad of a film. There I said it. Why am I saying it? Well, I'm a fan of the genre that's why and that's who this film will appeal to fans of the genre.
Roger Ebert gave this film a negative review, in fact he gave it the big fat zero, which I think isn't fair. You just have to look at his ratings of other horror films to know that he's not such a big fan of them. In his review he goes on to say that this film has crossed the line. I sit here asking myself, what line is that? Maybe I've seen too many films that are sadistic and cross the line, Cannibal Holocaust for one. This film didn't affect me in any way; in terms of shock or horror. Instead it focuses on tension to grab the viewer and the tension in the film works.
Greg McLean, in his first feature film, does a good job at giving the fans what they want. Never did I think that this guy was an amateur and had no idea what he was doing. McLean comes out with a decent flick, despite the low budget. Which in my opinion gives more of a danger type atmosphere. They are stranded in the middle of nowhere; if it were too clean cut it would lose that atmosphere. Unlike Hostel, who's sole purpose was strictly violence, gore, and making the viewer uneasy; whether or not it worked it up for debate, Wolf Creek does more then that. In Creek we get to know the characters, and for me actually like them (well, the guy anyways, the females were boring).
Sure there are parts that make you roll your eyes, such as the killer being in the exact same car as the female, but you have to expect that from this film; it's part of the genre. Some may be disturbed by this, which I can see, but it doesn't go out of it's way to try and disturb you, unlike Hostel. Creek doesn't try too hard to freak out the viewer, instead it builds up the suspense and tension until the viewer can't take it and for once, actually want the victims to live. John Jarratt, who is clearly the highlight of the film, gives a haunting, comedic performance. Never in a film have a rooted for the bad guy and the victims at the same time.
Creek does have its problems, but it isn't as bad as people are saying. With crappy remakes such as The Grudge, Texas Chainsaw and the upcoming Black Christmas coming up, it's nice to see someone trying to take the genre in another direction. Instead of relying on scares, blood and guts, it relies on tension. Now I'm not saying the film is blood free, it certainly has it's fair share of face cringing scenes. If you like horror films, give Creek a try. Just don't expect the killer to walk around with a machete.
7/10
"A Film For Fans Of The Genre"
After visiting Wolf Creek, 3 backpackers get stranded when their car won't start. Luckily a truck comes by and a man offers them his help. The parts needed are back at his camp and they decide to go and stay the night at his place. When they wake up, they find themselves tied up and tortured. Can they escape from the middle of nowhere?
It's no doubt that Wolf Creek doesn't appeal to everyone. It's premise has been done over and over again. Upon first glance it would seem nothing more then a typical horror film that comes and goes quicker then someone's 15 minutes of fame. Well, this is the case with Wolf Creek, but it has some redeeming qualities. Basically it's not that bad of a film. There I said it. Why am I saying it? Well, I'm a fan of the genre that's why and that's who this film will appeal to fans of the genre.
Roger Ebert gave this film a negative review, in fact he gave it the big fat zero, which I think isn't fair. You just have to look at his ratings of other horror films to know that he's not such a big fan of them. In his review he goes on to say that this film has crossed the line. I sit here asking myself, what line is that? Maybe I've seen too many films that are sadistic and cross the line, Cannibal Holocaust for one. This film didn't affect me in any way; in terms of shock or horror. Instead it focuses on tension to grab the viewer and the tension in the film works.
Greg McLean, in his first feature film, does a good job at giving the fans what they want. Never did I think that this guy was an amateur and had no idea what he was doing. McLean comes out with a decent flick, despite the low budget. Which in my opinion gives more of a danger type atmosphere. They are stranded in the middle of nowhere; if it were too clean cut it would lose that atmosphere. Unlike Hostel, who's sole purpose was strictly violence, gore, and making the viewer uneasy; whether or not it worked it up for debate, Wolf Creek does more then that. In Creek we get to know the characters, and for me actually like them (well, the guy anyways, the females were boring).
Sure there are parts that make you roll your eyes, such as the killer being in the exact same car as the female, but you have to expect that from this film; it's part of the genre. Some may be disturbed by this, which I can see, but it doesn't go out of it's way to try and disturb you, unlike Hostel. Creek doesn't try too hard to freak out the viewer, instead it builds up the suspense and tension until the viewer can't take it and for once, actually want the victims to live. John Jarratt, who is clearly the highlight of the film, gives a haunting, comedic performance. Never in a film have a rooted for the bad guy and the victims at the same time.
Creek does have its problems, but it isn't as bad as people are saying. With crappy remakes such as The Grudge, Texas Chainsaw and the upcoming Black Christmas coming up, it's nice to see someone trying to take the genre in another direction. Instead of relying on scares, blood and guts, it relies on tension. Now I'm not saying the film is blood free, it certainly has it's fair share of face cringing scenes. If you like horror films, give Creek a try. Just don't expect the killer to walk around with a machete.
7/10