Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek
by Greg McLean (2005)

Three friends decide to explore the isolated crater of Wolf Creek in the Australian desert. Their car breaks down, and they are rescued by Mick Taylor.

Quote.

“Every year, 30,000 people go missing in Australia. Some are found within a month. Others within a year. Some are never found again. But how do you find someone when no one knows they’re missing?”
(Open of the film)

The Australian Outback.

Imagine being in Western Australia, along with two friends, in the wild heart of the country. A harsh environment surrounds you, with landscapes ranging from arid deserts to grassy savannas, to eucalyptus forests. You have just visited the famous Wolf Creek crater, a massive hole formed by the impact of a meteorite. The spectacle appears fascinating and majestic, almost romantic—a harsh but captivating land. But then, on your way back from the excursion, your car won’t start, and you find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere. Hours pass, and anxiety grows because you are far from everything, and the weather starts to turn merciless. Fortunately, when you are almost desperate, two headlights appear on the horizon, and a jeep approaches. Behind the wheel is a local who offers to tow your car and help you. He says his name is Mick Taylor.

Considerations.

Greg McLean directs his first feature film, a true road trip nightmare, one of the most interesting horrors in recent years. Wolf Creek is inspired by real events, news stories involving various cases of murders and disappearances in the Australian desert, associated with the names of two criminals, Ivan Milat and Bradley John Murdoch. The film impresses and enchants from a cinematographic perspective (managed by Will Gibson). The Australian landscapes are shown using long shots to describe and enhance their vastness. It is truly captivating to immerse oneself in such a setting in the film’s first part—a sort of elegant and refined preparation that foreshadows the massacre that will unfold later.
There is no doubt that one of the most interesting aspects of Wolf Creek is the villain figure. Mick Taylor appears on the scene as a burly, friendly man with a strong Australian accent, but he later reveals himself to be a psychopathic danger. He is a kind of successful blend between the classic bogeyman and the local “hillbilly” with homicidal tendencies. A Crocodile Dundee wandering around hunting tourists who are unfortunate enough to cross his path. It goes without saying that special praise goes to the actor who plays the part, the phenomenal John Jarratt.
Wolf Creek is known for its realistic and raw style, with a particular attention to detail that amplifies tension and horror. It has been criticized for its brutality and for how it exploited stories of true crime. Some viewers and critics felt that the film might be too disturbing for some, especially for its connection to real events. In this regard, it is impossible not to mention the scene “head on a stick!”

Conclusions.

Wolf Creek is considered one of the most influential horror films from Australia, and the character of Mick Taylor has become a sort of icon in the genre cinema. The film has had a significant impact not only in Australia but also internationally, contributing to a revival of the Australian horror genre. It was a box office success and spawned a sequel, “Wolf Creek 2” (2013), and a television series.