Wolf Creek Review Country : Australia Year: 2004 Genre: Horror Format: DVD Running Time: 94 minutes Distributor: Optimum Home A breath of fresh air, Wolf Creek is a welcome turn away from the cookie cutter horror we are so used to seeing this day in age. Infact it gets downright ugly, and we love it... Credits Written & Directed by Greg McLean. Starring John Jarrat, Nathan Philips, Cassandra McGrath, Kestie Morassi. Greg Mclean's cinematic debut film 'Wolf Creek' is indie horror at its finest. This rough low-budget film nonetheless shows Mclean's early promise, although it is ironic that there is not much blood in the film. The movie is a comment on violence, and to that end it is the realistic handling of the violence and killings that will bring this film it's notoriety, and that mark it as different from other work being pumped into theater's as of late. This significant film may influence filmmakers of a new generation, but is far from being comfortable viewing. 'Wolf Creek' is a chilling, factually-based, story of three road-trippers in remote Australia who are plunged into danger when they accept help from a friendly local. The local being Mick (John Jarrat) Taylor who pulls off a creepy performance and makes you believe he really enjoys what he is doing. Despite a rather long opening (50 minutes before we see any action) showing plenty of the outback landscape before we meet the protagonist, when we do the wait is worth it. In fact we are suddenly plunged into darkness and horror. We are treated to rape, crucifying, and a brutal killing called 'head on a stick'... its not what you think... its WORSE! And of course the awesome nod to "Crocodile Dundee's" most memorable line - "That's not a knife, this is a knife". The character development is another great part of this film. Mclean actually wants you to care about the characters before they get slayed... the thing that most filmmakers just breeze by. Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi, Nathan Phillips all put in great performances and really make you believe they are hopeless and scared shitless. That is probably what makes 'Wolf Creek' so effective in my opinion. It's bleak, and very dark material... but certainly arrives with the Pit of Horror seal of approval. 'Wolf Creek' is currently in theater's nationwide. ...A must see for any real horror fan... OFFICIAL SITE DISCUSS ON OUR FORUMS Review by John Gray, for Pitofhorror.com