Reviewed by Jesse Miller, MoreHorror.com
The sequel to 2005’s hit horror and probably one of Australia’s most infamous films (Wolf Creek) is finally upon us and we welcome back Writer/Director Greg McLean as he continues the original’s sadistic, cruel and menacing themes but with a bigger budget and more of an emphasis on the thrill of the chase being killer and victim.
I’m not going to go into plot – I think it’s best if you go in blind because I did that very thing and ended up surprised and entertained – but Wolf Creek 2 differs from its predecessor by ditching the slow build up approach by opting for more of a cat-and-mouse thriller vibe that proves to be rather effective, thanks to a wonderful build up of one excruciatingly tense scene after another.
John Jarrett reprises his role as the misogynistic, xenophobic and evil Mick Taylor – the anti-Crocodile Dundee, if you like – and he’s just as menacing and horrific to watch than he was in the original.
This Taylor fella relishes so much in the violence, the chasing of his victims and his rage towards these foreign backpackers is so potent that it made me shrink a little in my seat. He jovially toys around with his victims and Jarrett sells all this completely, fully disappearing into his role. When you watch this, just take a look at his eyes and see how cold and evil they are – absolutely chilling.
Wonderful support comes from Phillipe Klaus and Shannon Ashlyn as a pair of German hitch-hiking lovers and Ryan Corr does a terrific job as the unfortunate Paul, who holds his own against Taylor and has a fabulous dynamic with the psychopath, which leads to one of the film’s most entertaining moments.
The film is a nasty bugger – so nasty, certain critics over here in Australia refused to review it – and that’s alright by me because it’s fitting to the sickening character that is Mick Taylor – but I will say that although I accept it, there are moments, here or there, where it seems that it’s needlessly cruel for the hell of it.
Consider a scene where a handful of Kangaroos are demolished brutally during one of the film’s spectacular car chases. It doesn’t have to be in there to point out that this is a cruel man we are dealing with – that much is evident already – and it only exists as an attempt to shock.
There are other jarring moments in the film, such as its shift in tone from being an uneasy and brutal horror to its awkward use of black humour that pops up here or there or the use of Beethoven during what was a violent and disquieting sequence.
Wolf Creek 2 is quite the thrill ride – a ride that dips on occasion, sure, but a hell of a ride nonetheless and one that’s beautifully shot – so my hat is off to Mr. McLean for having a wonderful eye for orchestrating tension and getting some terrific shots out of the location and capturing that haunting isolation.
Let it be said that while it’s an uneven film, this is one trip to the outback that is definitely worth your time and money.
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