Reviews of Wolf Creek 2005
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Roger Ebert has a rather notorious review of this film, in which he gives the film zero stars and goes on about how the film is misogynistic and revolting. While I will agree the "head on a stick" scene is revolting, that moment is not graphically violent, and really is the peak of all the violence in the film. Nope, Wolf Creek is nowhere as offensive to me as any torture porn you can name, mostly because of the fact…
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What makes this film just ever so slightly rear its head above mediocrity is the fact that it is beautifully shot and has a great build up towards the reveal of one hell of a bad guy.
It is a shame, however, that this otherwise creative film feels the need to merrily trod down the beaten path and have its heroes make silly decisions to facilitate the plot.
Still, it's well made, ruthless and at points rather tense, so I have no problems with glossing over its imperfections to enjoy myself.
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In the sea of gritty torture porn movies that were churned out in the 2000's, it usually took a lot for a movie to stand out, or to become an Island floating in the sea of shit. Hostel succeeded not only because it revolutionized the whole craze, but because it used an unknown territory, a seemingly lawless area, isolation, being thousands of miles from your home, and pure hopelessness to create a very terrifying and mysterious atmosphere. Going missing in…
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Here is a film with zero purpose. It is not based on true events and it devoid of any artistic substance. Three British tourists decide to drive across Australia, but they find themselves with car troubles and the man who decides to lend them a hand is not what he seems. A typical set-up for yet another formulaic torture-porn slasher, how fresh. Greg McLean works as directer, writer and producer, and he shows a talent for commercial filmmaking within his…
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Arguably the most beautiful looking horror movie ever. Partly thanks to the blu-ray which was magnificent. Of course, actions that occur throughout the film are of lesser beauty, but that's part of it too.
One thing not in favor of the blu-ray (this being it) is the lack of subtitles. If you're not fluent in Australian you're gonna need 'em mate. My personal view is that every DVD or blurry release should contain subtitles in English. Too much to ask, I know.Oh, and one of the meanest badguys, btw.
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There's a certain expectation when it comes to the setup of a horror film. There has to be some groundwork laid in most cases to tell the story well. This film, though, was sadly almost entirely setup. Literally two-thirds of the film was spent setting up the plot.
The scary part itself was neither scary nor particularly entertaining. I'd heard good things about this one so I was excited to see it, but it ended up being another case of vaguely-but-not-really-at-all tied to a true story that started nowhere and headed to the same place slowly.
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Ho hum. Backpackers in Australia run into someone who doesn't have their best interests at heart. "Based on a true story" except that it wasn't, with all the usual horror conventions of people not doing sensible things which would finish the film within 60 minutes.
This is a nasty bloodthirsty film with some beautiful scenery, but the scenery doesn't come anywhere near to making the film worth watching (unless you like bloodsplattery horror).
Australia is my tenth country in the 30 countries challenge. -
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"I'm going to do something now they used to do in Vietnam. It's called making a head on a stick. You see, once the spine is severed, that what you are: a head on a stick."
Primal and bloody terrifying. Greg McLean's trip of terror in the Australian outback is perfectly judged and allows the tension to build for a butt-clenching 50 minutes before the blood starts to splatter. Aided by an unsettling score, the horror is also contrasted by…
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First of all this obviously borrows from the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the original Hills Have Eyes. The plot was weak, I had no idea where they were going, why, or why they went to Wolf Creek. The characters aren't well developed. There was a little but they were just sort of there. However the atmosphere, and once the movie FINALLY gets to the killer (It's 50 minutes in) I did start enjoying it. I don't mind long builds…