The Last Wave (1977)

87% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(3,045 ratings)

Peter Weir follows up on his critically acclaimed masterpiece Picnic at Hanging Rock with this surrealist psychological drama. The film opens with a freak hailstorm in Australia's outback. Cut to David Burton (Richard Chamberlain), a well-to-do Sydney corporate lawyer plagued by visions of impending… More Peter Weir follows up on his critically acclaimed masterpiece Picnic at Hanging Rock with this surrealist psychological drama. The film opens with a freak hailstorm in Australia's outback. Cut to David Burton (Richard Chamberlain), a well-to-do Sydney corporate lawyer plagued by visions of impending doom who is assigned to defend five accused of murdering a fellow Aborigine. The case itself proves to be mysterious -- no exact cause of death can be determined by the pathologist, and the accused remain strangely tight-lipped about the whole affair. As his visions grow increasingly weird and intense, Burton sees in his dream one of the five Aborigines, Chris (David Gulpili of Walkabout fame), who is drenched and clutching a sacred rock. Burton's interest in the case slides into complete obsession, and he comes to believe that not only was the murder related to an underground urban tribe of Aborigines but that Australia is about to be decimated by a massive, apocalyptic tidal wave. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Peter Weir
Written By: Tony Morphett, Petru Popescu
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Dec 1, 1977 Wide
On DVD: Nov 13, 2001
Studio: Cowboy Pictures

Critic Reviews

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
Weir's touristy vision is strictly from the outside looking in.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Its creepiness is undeniable, and it seems far less dated than many late 1970s films.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Startling and mesmerizing Australian film about aborigines, nature and dreamtime.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
There's plenty of floods, thunderheads, cars submerged in water and heavy downpours to get yourself all wet on.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a unique film that bears the uneven, yet genuine, traces of a deeply felt work not entirely settled
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Weir does a fine job of weaving real events with dream sequences, as well as capturing the aboriginal perspective.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Pierluigi P

A haunting character study about a pragmatic man who slowly becomes a believer the hard way. Engulfed by visions that connect him with the mysteries of the aboriginals and an apocalyptic prophecy. Not as well known as 'Picnic at hanging rock' but certainly better.
A.D. V

Eerie apocalyptic thriller based loosely on Aboriginal mythology and with a none too subtle commentary on man's treatment of the planet. Weir's best film besides Fearless (no not the Jet Li movie).
El Hombre I

Peter Weir is known for some excellent Hollywood commercial films such as Witness, The Year of Living Dangerously and Master and Commander, but earlier in his career he made more challenging films in his native Australia. The Last Wave gives a perspective on law we don't find in… More
Peter Weir is known for some excellent Hollywood commercial films such as Witness, The Year of Living Dangerously and Master and Commander, but earlier in his career he made more challenging films in his native Australia. The Last Wave gives a perspective on law we don't find in Hollywood films. Richard Chamberlain gives a great performance as David Burton, a lawyer hired to defend a group of aborigines accused of murder and is drawn into a nightmarish world of customs and folklore, history and the supernatural. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=wave.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/wave.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>