Wolf Creek is a film that tends to divide audiences. Many claim it to be a dark and disturbing masterpiece while others find it dull and pointless. Interestingly, the root of both of these viewpoints comes largely from the same aspect of the film – the uneventful set-up which takes a good half of the film’s running time.

The first act of the film takes its time in allowing the audience to see these kids as real people. We witness their lazy banter, good-natured ribbing and attempts to alleviate the natural boredom of a long car journey. They come across as real people more than movie characters. The unfortunate downside is that in order to achieve this effect we need to spend a long uneventful time with them doing not very much because, well that’s what real life’s often like. There are a few scattered moments of unease and portentous foreboding along the way but these do nothing to prepare you for the pain to come. This is crucial to what makes the film so disturbing and affecting.

When the turning point comes it is so sudden and violent it takes you by almost as much surprise as it takes our unlucky heroes. One moment Mick the -the bushman who helps them- is a jovial, if rough round the edges, Crocodile Dundee alike helping them with their car, the next he is a rampaging monster cackling with sadistic glee as he toys with his bound and helpless prey. John Jarratt is superb as Mick and gives a wholly convincing performance in this role creating a character that is both terrifying and believable. Mick is capable, in control and utterly conscienceless. He does what he does because he likes it and he can. He is one of the most loathsome boogeymen in modern cinema.

The Western Australia outback setting of Wolf Creek plays a large part in its overall effect, it is literally the arse-end of nowhere. There is nothing there but vast empty landscapes and Mick in his truck. It is not often this part of the world is seen on screen and it is photographed beautifully. The Wolf Creek Crater itself, a massive pockmark in the arid skin of the desert, is a magnificent sight and a suitably eerie setting.
 
There is no doubt that this is a well-crafted and superbly performed (aside from Jarratt’s grandstanding performance the young leads all give excellent natural performances) film. The trouble with it is that it offers nothing very new, it is covering ground covered by films from as far back as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  It does so with great competence and aplomb but its central non-message that there are some really bad people in the world and sometimes some really, really bad shit happens to good people is as empty as the barren landscape it all takes place in.

Review By Matt Compton