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Wolf Creek
We are entering, or re-entering actually, an era
were horror movie aren't just about quick boos and fake outs.
This era brings us gritty, atmospheric, films that work to
disturb and unsettle us rather than give us cheap scares.
I say re-enter because this era of film existed before, back in
the 70's when horror films were at their best. Films like
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Last House on the Left,
and even I Spit on Your Grave ring more disturbing than
the films we've been treated to as horror for the past ten
years. Rob Zombie and Quentin Tarantino deserve a lot of
credit for bringing back the grit and edge to horror. Due
to Tarantino's unending support of the genre and Zombie's own
film The Devil's Rejects we are finally getting some
edgier stuff.
Wolf Creek is another of these grittier
films. The first thing it does away with is making us
dislike certain characters. A classic cliché of horror
over the past twenty years is to make the audience hate certain
characters so that their eventual deaths in the film will be
more palpable and well, enjoyable. There might be some
good gore but this isn't really scary or disturbing.
What's more effective is when the audience likes all the
characters. When these likable types are killed the
overall feeling is much more effective. Also, Wolf Creek
isn't a slasher film. It only features three main
characters plus the killer. Obviously with so few
characters the killer can't just mow them down. Wolf Creek
is more about the torture of the characters and the atmosphere
of the chase. In fact we spend the first hour of the film
traveling across the Australian wilderness with these
characters, getting to know them, and beginning to care for
them.
Other reviews have commented on how graphic the
film is, when in reality it isn't. Similar reviews were
written about how graphic the original Texas Chainsaw
Massacre was when it also wasn't very graphic. These
reactions come from atmosphere and weight given to each kill
because no one looks pretty with perfect hair and makeup and we
like the character being killed. One kill in particular,
probably the most disturbing in the film, features no gore at
all. A film like this is successful when it makes the
viewer believe they are seeing more than was ever actually on
screen and Wolf Creek seems to have done just that for
many inexperienced viewers of films of this type.
The film isn't scary, it's disturbing in its
realism and grittiness. It appeals in the same way as the
earlier mentioned 70's classics did. The big difference is
that I couldn't help but feel this film was on the verge of
going even further than it does. This R rated version
feels like it's been trimmed for that rating and if it has I
hope we get a director's cut. As it stands though this
film is still stronger than most of the so called horror films
dropped in our laps by Hollywood. I used to really bitch
about the growing number of PG-13 horror films hitting the
market but now I thank them because films like The Devil's
Rejects and Wolf Creek are the reaction to those
films. Wes Craven was instrumental in the great horror
films of the 70's with his exploitation classic Last House on
the Left. In a way he has been instrumental in
bringing the genre back to life. He's been dropping PG-13
crap on us like Scream and Cursed, causing the
reactionary filmmaking of Rob Zombie and Greg McLean. So
again we owe a big thanks to Mr. Craven!
The last half of the film is nihilistic and
unrelenting and much more humorless than even The Devil's
Rejects. Don't look for a comedic break in the tension
because their won't be one. If you liked The Devil's
Rejects or the other classic films I mentioned than you're sure
to have a good time with this film. If you really love the
20 something hard body PG-13 horror that Hollywood cranks out
then stay away because Wolf Creek will be way to intense
for you.
8/10
Stephen Lackey |
