Wolf Creek (2004)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael M

  
  The plot is absolutely asinine and totally ridiculous but this typical grindhouse movie was quite a thrill ride and unlike most modern horror movies didn't make me laugh. This independently made kidnap horror flick "based" on a true story is an exceptional debut feature… More
  The plot is absolutely asinine and totally ridiculous but this typical grindhouse movie was quite a thrill ride and unlike most modern horror movies didn't make me laugh. This independently made kidnap horror flick "based" on a true story is an exceptional debut feature for McLean and a very unpredictable one.

• xGary X

  
  Three young tourists travelling in the vast expanses of the outback accept a lift from a seemingly friendly frontiersman but he soon reveals himself to be a sadistic predator. Horror films for the most part are like theme park rides; they provide a few cheap thrills and shocks, and… More
  Three young tourists travelling in the vast expanses of the outback accept a lift from a seemingly friendly frontiersman but he soon reveals himself to be a sadistic predator. Horror films for the most part are like theme park rides; they provide a few cheap thrills and shocks, and when they are over, it's back to normality. There are no monsters, zombies or vampires in real life. The most disturbing thing about Wolf Creek is that there ARE people like Mick Taylor in the world; men who see other human beings as animals to be preyed upon and who can cheerfully torture and kill them without conscience. I was gripped by this film as soon as he appeared on the screen, the biggest kick in the gut is the sheer believability of it all; the victims seem like genuine people rather than the usual Hollywood rent-a-bimbos and the violence is all the more gruesome because it is NOT presented in a sensationalist or exploitative way. In fact, Quentin Tarantino himself described it as "the scariest film I've ever seen". The Hitcher for grown ups.

• Coxxie M

  
  Crikey, i got a knife through my spinal cord! ugh, Blimee, i got me fingas cut off by your big sharp-like knife! oh, bloody hell, fuck me rusty, mate. i gots me head on a stick.... crikey.

• Bruce B

  
  Does anyone camp out or really travel in Australia anymore, after watching a number of movies from Australia I think my chances of survival are greater in Newark, NJ and this film is no exception to that. A trio of friends are exploring the outback and visiting a crater left by a… More
  Does anyone camp out or really travel in Australia anymore, after watching a number of movies from Australia I think my chances of survival are greater in Newark, NJ and this film is no exception to that. A trio of friends are exploring the outback and visiting a crater left by a meteor, during the visit they notice that there watches have all stopped at the same time and also there car will not start. After sitting in the dark for hours help arrives at least they think help has arrive, but what starts is some of the best gore scenes I've seen in a long while, had to take a breath and turn my head more then once. Plenty of on the edge scenes, bloody and breathtaking. 3 1/2 stars

• Jeff "

  
  Wolf Creek is a solid film that truly delivers on the horror. John Jarratt is a terrific villain in this film as he plays the deranged murderer who captures the backpackers. Simply just insane. Wolf Creek is original, and truly terrifying, it's almost like The Blair Witch… More
  Wolf Creek is a solid film that truly delivers on the horror. John Jarratt is a terrific villain in this film as he plays the deranged murderer who captures the backpackers. Simply just insane. Wolf Creek is original, and truly terrifying, it's almost like The Blair Witch Project, because it looks almost like a documentary style film. But it's all real. And what makes this film scarier is the fact that it's based on factual events. Australia has turned out a lot of terrific horror films, and Wolf Creek is a prime example of one of them. Greg Mclean is a terrific horror director and he knows how to pace the film with the right amount of tension to build up the terrifying end. A work of raw, unrelenting power, Wolf Creek is an uncompromising film that truly delivers effective scares.

• Dead A

  
  This wasn't scary. But it's a good movie to watch. I wasn't bored.

• Anthony L

  
  Filmed on Mini-DV to give it a realistic feel, Wolf Creek is a real edge-of-your-seat horror. Based on a true story, but what really happened?

• Cassandra M

  
  Wolf Creek has a completely standard basic story for this kind of genre movie - travelers in isolated location encounter sadistic nut. Despite this, it's what writer/director Greg McLean does with the details which makes a difference. The outback locations are rendered with a… More
  Wolf Creek has a completely standard basic story for this kind of genre movie - travelers in isolated location encounter sadistic nut. Despite this, it's what writer/director Greg McLean does with the details which makes a difference. The outback locations are rendered with a nice eye and evoke a sense of spooky isolation - anything could happen to you out here and no-one would know, much less be able to help. There is also the much discussed 'dark side of Crocodile Dundee' element - frankly, I can't believe it's taken so long for someone to conjure this one up, and McLean clearly delights in stabbing a knife through the heart of the mythical Aussie archetype. I think he's actually gotten to an uncomfortable, close-to-the-bone truth about the psyche of certain Aussie males, and John Jarret is eerily similar to the kind of individual one would encounter in many a country pub down under. The fact that this is an Australian film also makes it a rare bird indeed. For some unfathomable reason, the Oz industry rarely does genre, and when it does, usually doesn't do it well. With this in mind, Wolf Creek is something of a breath of fresh air. Yes, it hews pretty closely to the codes and rules of its genre, but for the most part it does it well, and for my money, what works about the film is strong enough to make some of the weaker plot moments forgivable. Will Gibson's HD camera-work is impressive, maintaining a consistent style from start to finish, aided by solid editing, score and sound design. Now maybe people will stop whining about how 'we can't make genre films here' and we might see some imagination and variety creep into Australian cinema.

• Luke B

  
  Grim, nasty and mostly unpleasant. It does some nice things with a tired formula, though it has become apparent that now ALL slasher films must revolve around backpackers. Sure the unfamiliar territory becomes a character in itself which adds to the tension but it also means we get a… More
  Grim, nasty and mostly unpleasant. It does some nice things with a tired formula, though it has become apparent that now ALL slasher films must revolve around backpackers. Sure the unfamiliar territory becomes a character in itself which adds to the tension but it also means we get a bunch of hard rinking stoners who are hard to care for. Wolf Creek does a good job with some nice acting. The kiss scene is awkward sweet and very unlike an oversexed teen slasher. Dialogue is real and those uncomfortable moments are almost unbearable. The violence is almost unbearable in a finger nails down blackboard kind of way. Makes you grit your teeth without looking away. The killer is well acted, being a creepy nice guy who has obviously seen enough horror films to avoid the usual traps. The victims however have not, making the same stupid mistakes we've seen again and again. It's an uneasy flick as opposed to a horror as it is never frightening. The downbeat realistic ending is also a high low point.

• Lorenzo v

  
  Just when you thought it was safe to go hiking in the bushes again...along comes Mick Taylor. Kristy, Ben and Liz are three pals in their twenties who set out to hike through the scenic Wolf Creek National Park in the Australian Outback. The trouble begins when they get back only to… More
  Just when you thought it was safe to go hiking in the bushes again...along comes Mick Taylor. Kristy, Ben and Liz are three pals in their twenties who set out to hike through the scenic Wolf Creek National Park in the Australian Outback. The trouble begins when they get back only to find that their car won't start. The trio think they have a way out when they run into a local bushman named Mick Taylor. Wait until you get a load of what Mick has in store for them. Their troubles have just begun. This is a stunning piece of film that had me rooted to the seat in disbelief. The film starts of in a cool and fun way, however you just know things are going to go tits-up. I sat not wanting to care for the 3 characters as I thought a gore-fest was just waiting for them, however the depth and friendship that is so well acted, suckers you right into the group's tragedy. This is a film that left me feeling numb at the end rather than terrified. That night after watching it, the horror crept into my mind and I found the film an utterly compelling one to watch again. <b>4/5</b>

• Jens S

  
  The Australian contribution to the new wave of slasher horror movies is actually one of the better examples of the genre. The movie takes its time introducing characters that are not cardboard stereotypes ready to be killed off one after the other for once and that are actually pretty… More
  The Australian contribution to the new wave of slasher horror movies is actually one of the better examples of the genre. The movie takes its time introducing characters that are not cardboard stereotypes ready to be killed off one after the other for once and that are actually pretty believable, which makes the whole feeling of the movie a lot more realistic. The atmosphere of the outback and the isolation there is shown perfectly by the great cinematography. While the villain character does not feel entirely as real as the three well acted protagonists the second half of the movie is still pretty exciting and nerve wracking. The fact that all this is based on real events doesn't make the overall feeling any happier. Fans of the genre should be pleased, unless they prefer blond Hollywood bimbos saving the day with a witty one liner.

• Tim S

  
  As stark, realisitc and tragic as it gets, this story about 3 youths getting lost in the outback is a powerful and frightening experience.

• Lady D

  
  Probably the most tense film I've ever watched. The acting was so believable which made the situation frightening enough, but then wehn you take into account that it is based on true events, you realise what an amazing story it is. John Jarret plays one of most frightening… More
  Probably the most tense film I've ever watched. The acting was so believable which made the situation frightening enough, but then wehn you take into account that it is based on true events, you realise what an amazing story it is. John Jarret plays one of most frightening madman I've seen on screen. Texas Chainsaw v's A Paradise Lost (Turistos) VERDICT: An absolute must see

• Kylie B

  
  Ish, I really wanted to enjoy this. The gore was great, and the premise was an ace idea, but I just couldn't get into the film. But then, as I never have or never will backpack through Australia, maybe the main punch of the film passed me by.

• Dean !

  
  A tough, gritty horror similar to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

• Michael S

  
  Another case of a filmmaker thinking gore is scary- guess what it isn't.

• Steve B

  
  Remember what I said about Australians not know what they're doing when it comes to horror movies? This is the exception that proves the rule.

• Kalel J

  
  Marketed as a true horror film based on true events, Wolf Creek had been making a name for itself as being horrifically scary and captivating, though after viewing it I can honestly say that it only half succeeds. Utilizing story elements such as the unknown in the barren outback, a… More
  Marketed as a true horror film based on true events, Wolf Creek had been making a name for itself as being horrifically scary and captivating, though after viewing it I can honestly say that it only half succeeds. Utilizing story elements such as the unknown in the barren outback, a sadistic torturer who befriends those he chooses with charming humbleness, and a character friendship that we become a part of - Wolf Creek had potential to really work. It spends a fair deal of the film building itself in the nothingness of the Australian outback, we live with and grow into the characters in this time - then the horror begins. John Jarret gives a bone chilling performance in a role that is sure to leave shivers in audience members, but where the film really lets itself down is it's quick descent. Like a rollercoaster, this film works its way up to the high point and then quickly ends. The film is not full of gratuitous violence, though it's torture depictions will leave many unsettled. Wolf Creek is not a bad film, but it's brisk second half pacing and lack of believabiliy (a main stay in it's marketing) ultimately make this film nothing too special.

• Emily A

  
  10 out of 10 for gore and villain appeal, but this movie is still not very good. It's hard to tell what I didn't like about it, but it robably has something to do with the fact that the killer seems to have no motivation. I hate that.

• Lanning :

  
  I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. <p>Geez, Louise, a true horror (of a) story. But I have a sincerely reality-based kind-stranger suggestion for a reclamation plan, just in case any participants in this super project are checking flixster for review… More
  I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. <p>Geez, Louise, a true horror (of a) story. But I have a sincerely reality-based kind-stranger suggestion for a reclamation plan, just in case any participants in this super project are checking flixster for review comments. First. all you players in this lovely film should immediately remove any mention of your work on this gem of a project from your resumes. We all gotta eat, right? Second, you must all call your sterling agents and request, politely, in the sprit of collegiality, that the commissions you paid to them for scoring work in this stellar endeavor be refunded to you asap. Third, you lucky thespians should use those refunds to buy up every available copy of this movie. In the entire world. Fourth and lastly, you should pool any remaining portion of the aforementioned refunds in order to fund negotiating for the rights to this film so that cable companies will be unable to air <i>Wolf Creek</i>, at least, hopefully, not in your lifetimes. Hopefully never. Ever. Ever ever ever. Into eternity. And beyond even that.<p> In point of fact, all my flixster friends, I'd be willing to bet a dollar that the Australian Tourism Bureau would kick in some serious cash in order to help these actors fulfilll my proposed plan of action. <p> But, hey, on the postive side--I truly believe there is always a positive side--, this is quantum leaps better than <i>Blair Witch</i>.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings