Wolf Creek (2005)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Greg Mclean

Writer:

Greg Mclean (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Based on true events

Plot:

Stranded backpackers in remote Australia fall prey to a murderous bushman who offers to fix their car, then takes them captive.

Plot Keywords:

Australia | Outback | Stranded | Australian Outback | Crater

Awards:

3 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

John Jarratt	...	Mick Taylor
Cassandra Magrath	...	Liz Hunter
Kestie Morassi	...	Kristy Earl
Nathan Phillips	...	Ben Mitchell
Gordon Poole	...	Old Man
Guy O'Donnell	...	Car Salesman
Phil Stevenson	...	Mechanic
Geoff Revell	...	Petrol Attendant
Andy McPhee	...	Bazza
Aaron Sterns	...	Bazza's Mate
Michael Moody	...	Bazza's Old Mate
Andrew Reimer	...	Flashback Dad
Vicki Reimer	...	Flashback Mum
Isabella Reimer	...	Flashback Girl
David Rock	...	Irish Backpacker
Jenny Starvall	...	Swedish Backpacker
Guy Petersen	...	Swedish Backpacker
Paul Curran	...	Pool Party People
Christian McMillan	...	Pool Party People
Sean Gannon	...	Pool Party People
Aaron March	...	Pool Party People
Eddie White	...	Pool Party People
Geoffrey Yu	...	Pool Party People
Amy Schapel	...	Pool Party People
Teresa Palmer	...	Pool Party People
Bow Vayne	...	Pool Party People
Renee Chomel	...	Pool Party People
Simone Duntone	...	Pool Party People
John Henry Duncan	...	Pool Party People
Chloe Gardner	...	Pool Party People
Greg Sara	...	Pool Party People
Renee Luna	...	Pool Party People
Michael Soang	...	Pool Party People
Niesha de Jong	...	Pool Party People
Leesa Millhouse	...	Pool Party People
Alex De Rosa	...	Pool Party People
Darren Humphreys	...	Detective
Peter Alchin	...	Police Officer
Rory Walker	...	Roadhouse Guy
Jon Blaikie	...	Roadhouse Guy (as John Blaike)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Greg Mclean	...	Old Man's Body / Police Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Greg Mclean

Writing credits
Greg Mclean		(written by)

Produced by
George Adams	....	executive producer
Martin Fabinyi	....	executive producer
Michael Gudinski	....	executive producer
Gary Hamilton	....	executive producer
Matt Hearn	....	co-producer
Matt Hearn	....	executive producer
Simon Hewitt	....	executive producer
David Lightfoot	....	line producer
David Lightfoot	....	producer
Greg Mclean	....	producer
Dale Roberts	....	post-production producer

Original Music by
Frank Tetaz		(original score composer) (as François Tétaz)

Cinematography by
Will Gibson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jason Ballantine

Casting by
Angela Heesom

Production Design by
Robert Webb

Costume Design by
Nicola Dunn

Makeup Department
Charmaine Connelly	....	special effects prosthetics supervisor: Connelly Make-up FX Team
Charmaine Connelly	....	special makeup effects supervisor: Connelly Make-up FX Team
Rick Connelly	....	special effects prosthetics supervisor: Connelly Make-up FX Team
Rick Connelly	....	special makeup effects supervisor: Connelly Make-up FX Team
Jennifer Lamphee	....	hair stylist supervisor (as Jen Lampree)
Jennifer Lamphee	....	makeup supervisor (as Jen Lampree)
Fiona Rees-Jones	....	hair stylist
Fiona Rees-Jones	....	makeup artist
Coralie Ryan	....	makeup effects assistant: Connelly Make-up FX Team
Sarah Smith	....	makeup effects assistant: Connelly Make-up FX Team
Danielle Snashall	....	makeup effects assistant: Connelly Make-up FX Team

Production Management
Jason Ballantine	....	post-production supervisor
Mark 'Sharky' Johnson	....	unit manager
Anna Molyneaux	....	production manager
Steve Russell	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rick Beecroft	....	first assistant director
Annie Dovey	....	third assistant director
Mat King	....	second unit director
Brad Lanyon	....	second assistant director

Art Department
James Calvert	....	pre-visualization: The Peoples Republic of Animation
Nick DeBoar	....	pre-visualization: The Peoples Republic of Animation
John Kruger	....	graphic designer
John Kruger	....	signage
Xan Lamphee	....	props coordinator
Xan Lamphee	....	set dresser
Chris Landreth	....	construction manager
Brodie McCrossin	....	pre-visualization: The Peoples Republic of Animation
Patch Moore	....	construction: mine
Obie O'Brien	....	props buyer
Obie O'Brien	....	set dresser
Geoff Robertson	....	artist: conceptual poster art
Tom Sheridan	....	art department assistant
Andrew Stephens	....	art department assistant
Geoffrey Tarr	....	stand-by props (as Geoff Tarr)

Sound Department
Marco Arlotta	....	boom operator
Mike Bakaloff	....	boom operator (as Michael Bakaloff)
Pete Best	....	adr recordist
Pete Best	....	sound effects editor
Pete Best	....	sound mixer
Tom Heuzenroeder	....	sound effects editor
Des Keneally	....	sound recordist (as Des Kenneally)
John Simpson	....	foley artist
Peter D. Smith	....	dialogue editor (as Peter Smith)
Peter D. Smith	....	sound mixer (as Peter Smith)
Adrian Medhurst	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mark Chataway	....	visual effects
Don Dixon	....	digital liaison: Atlab
Marty Pepper	....	Flame artist
Marty Pepper	....	flame visual effects
Marty Pepper	....	hi-def colourist
Marty Pepper	....	senior colourist
Marty Pepper	....	visual effects editor
Robert Sandeman	....	digital supervisor: Atlab

Stunts
John Gauci	....	action vehicle driver
Bernard Ledger	....	precision driver (as Bernie Ledger)
Bernard Ledger	....	stunt coordinator (as Bernie Ledger)
Bernard Ledger	....	stunts (as Bernie Ledger)
Paul Lightfoot	....	precision driver
Paul Lightfoot	....	stunts
Inge Sildnik	....	precision driver
Inge Sildnik	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Marcus Bosisto	....	supplier: lighting and grip equipment
James Calvert	....	still photographer
Tony D'Antonio	....	camera assistant
Daniel Guerra	....	still photographer (as Daniel 'Gulio' Guerra)
Paul Lightfoot	....	assistant grip
Paul Lightfoot	....	assistant lighting
Jason Munn	....	camera assistant
Jody Muston	....	focus puller
Jody Muston	....	second camera operator
Hugh O'Sullivan	....	assistant grip
Hugh O'Sullivan	....	assistant lighting
Kent Smith	....	additional cinematographer
Darcy Sullivan	....	camera assistant
Todd Telford	....	key grip
Todd Telford	....	key lighting
Richard Trayling	....	grip
Richard Trayling	....	lighting
Brandon Trost	....	additional photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Paula Buckland	....	wardrobe assistant
Nicola Dunn	....	stand-by wardrobe
Marriott Kerr	....	costume supervisor (as Mariot Kerr)

Editorial Department
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Justin Astbury	....	composer: dance music
Rob Biancetti	....	composer: dance music
Dave Brown	....	musician: guitar prepared and lap top guitars
Oscar Carlos	....	musical score treatments
Brett Dean	....	musician: viola
Rosanne Hunt	....	musician: cello
Andrea Keable	....	musician: violin
Tom O'Dwyer	....	musician: bass clarinet (as Tim O'Dwyer)
Anthony Pateras	....	musician: piano preparation and additional piano frame
Byron Joel Scullin	....	musician: vital ancillary
Frank Tetaz	....	music producer (as François Tétaz)
Frank Tetaz	....	musician: piano frame, rhodes, pedal steel and ukelyn (as François Tétaz)
David Thrussell	....	music score treatments
Miki Tsunoda	....	musician: violin
Vlademar Valarian	....	musician: percussion
David Vodicka	....	music clearances
David Vodicka	....	music contractor: Screen Services
Emma Wiking	....	music clearances
Emma Wiking	....	music contractor: Screen Services

Transportation Department
Jon Blaikie	....	action vehicle coordinator (as Jon Blaike)
Urch Shreiner	....	action vehicle assistant
Tom Tomney	....	operator: 4 wheel drive
Geoffrey Wastall	....	operator: 4 wheel drive

Other crew
George Adams	....	completion guarantor: Cinefinance
Michael Clarkin	....	location manager
John Coory	....	armorer and pyrotechnics
Sally Corooran	....	liason: South Australian Film Corporation studios
Mason Curtis	....	location consultant
Davids Darzins	....	legal
Andrew Davies	....	caterer: Crew Food
Nick Davies	....	caterer: Crew Food
Annie Dovey	....	unit nurse
Dennis Dovey	....	production assistant
Bob Fisher	....	completion guarantor: Cinefinance
Benjamin Garland	....	unit runner (as Ben Garland)
Mac Gudgeon	....	script editor
Foster Hart	....	legal
Richard Hyde	....	insurance
Jenny Lalor	....	legal
Alan Lamb	....	wire recordings
Bernard Ledger	....	safety supervisor (as Bernie Ledger)
Paul Lightfoot	....	unit runner
Merrilyn Mensforth	....	accounts assistant
Merrilyn Mensforth	....	production assistant
Anna Molyneaux	....	production coordinator
Jain Moralee	....	location manager
Amanda Palmai	....	caterer: Crew Food
Alison Parker	....	production coordinator
Byron Joel Scullin	....	wire recordings
Lisa Simons	....	accounts assistant
Greg Sitch	....	legal
Corrie Soeterboek	....	completion guarantor: Cinefinance
Gillian Stiene	....	continuity (as Gillian Stein)
Trudy Talbot	....	financial controller
Trudy Talbot	....	production accountant
Helen Tiller	....	accent coach
Helen Tiller	....	dialogue coach
Sam White	....	assistant to director
Erryn Worth	....	post-production script supervisor

Thanks
Tennyson Andrew	....	the producers would like to thank
Andrew Andreyev	....	the producers wish to thank
Christine Baillie	....	the producers would like to thank
Elene Balaskas	....	the producers would like to thank
Michael Bau	....	acknowledgment: for the South Australian Film Corporation
Mark Broomhead	....	acknowledgment: for the Film Finance Corporation Australia
Judith Crombie	....	acknowledgment: for the South Australian Film Corporation
Sandra Di Iulio	....	the producers wish to thank
Sean Evans	....	the producers would like to thank (as Senior Constable Sean Evans)
Jamie Guerra	....	the producers wish to thank
Simon Hewitt	....	the producers wish to thank
Dan Hogan	....	acknowledgment: for the South Australian Film Corporation
Terry Jennings	....	acknowledgment: for the South Australian Film Corporation
Helen Leake	....	acknowledgment: for the South Australian Film Corporation
Lindsay Lipson	....	acknowledgment: for the Film Finance Corporation Australia
John Maiolo	....	the producers would like to thank
Ross Matthews	....	acknowledgment: for the Film Finance Corporation Australia
Adrian Murray	....	the producers would like to thank
Andrew Neil	....	the producers wish to thank (as Andrew Neal)
Bree Nevin	....	the producers would like to thank
Heather Oxenham	....	the producers would like to thank
Bronwyn Poole	....	the producers would like to thank
Craig Shute	....	the producers wish to thank
George Sibenala	....	the producers would like to thank
Lyn Sibenala	....	the producers would like to thank
Anthos Simon	....	the producers would like to thank
Stephen F. Smith	....	the producers would like to thank
John Teague	....	the producers would like to thank
John Tobin	....	the producers would like to thank
Mark Vatuli	....	the producers wish to thank
Geoffrey Wastall	....	the producers would like to thank: Partacoona Station (as Geoff Wastall)
Tracey Wastall	....	the producers would like to thank: Partacoona Station
Steve Whitham	....	the producers would like to thank

Production Companies

• Australian Film Finance Corporation, The (presents) (as FFC Australia/Film Finance Corporation)
• South Australian Film Corporation, The (in association with)
• 403 Productions
• True Crime Channel
• Best FX (Boom Sound) (uncredited)
• Emu Creek Pictures (uncredited)
• Mushroom Pictures (uncredited)

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2005) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2005) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Dimension Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Group Power (2007) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Medyavizyon (2006) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Optimum Releasing (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• TFM Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Time Code (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Culture Publishers (CP) (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Darclight Films International (2005) (worldwide) (all media) (as Darc Light)
• Film (2009) (Hungary) (TV)
• Genius Products (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Mushroom Pictures (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Weinstein Company, The (2005) (USA) (all media)

Special Effects

• Connelly Make-Up FX Team (special effects prosthetics and make-up effects)
• Oasis Post Australia

Other Companies

• Angela Heesom Casting  casting (uncredited)
• Atlab  digital film recording services (as Atlab Australia)
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)  music recorded at (as ABC Southbank, Melbourne)
• Best FX (Boom Sound)  mixed at (as Best FX)
• Best FX (Boom Sound)  sound post-production and mixing (as Boom Sound @ Best FX)
• Birkenstock  the producers would like to thank
• Bonds  the producers would like to thank
• CineFinance Insurance Services  completion guarantor (as Cinefinance)
• City Of Burnside, The  the producers would like to thank
• City Of Enfield, The  the producers would like to thank
• City Of Onkaparinga, The  the producers would like to thank
• City Of Port Adelaide, The  the producers would like to thank
• City Of Unley, The  the producers would like to thank
• Country Fire Service Of South Australia, The  the producers would like to thank
• Crew Food  catering
• District Council Of Mallala  the producers would like to thank
• District Council Of Mount Remarkable, The  the producers would like to thank
• Encore Travel  travel and vehicles
• Enormodome  music recorded at
• Flinders Ranges Council, The  the producers would like to thank
• Hard Yakka  the producers would like to thank
• Hema Maps  the producers would like to thank
• Hirboom Australia  Motorola radios
• Independent  the producers would like to thank
• Insight  the producers would like to thank
• Iwaki Auditorium  music recorded at
• Kojo Productions  post-production (as Kojo Group)
• Lake Coolangatta Café  the producers would like to thank
• Lemac Australia  hi-definition cameras and lenses supplied by
• Lemac Film & Video Equipment  camera and lenses (as Lemac Australia)
• Lightforce Australia  the producers would like to thank
• Masonfilm  wardrobe and make-up trucks (as Mason Film)
• Moose Mastering  mixed at
• Oasis Post Australia  post-production and HD facilities
• Partacoona Station - Flinders Ranges  the producers would like to thank
• People's Republic of Animation, The  pre-visualization
• Port Augusta Council, The  the producers would like to thank
• Port Gawler Off Road Hire Park  the producers would like to thank
• Port Parham Sports and Social Club, The  the producers would like to thank
• Psycholites  lighting and grips equipment and vehicles
• Royal Flying Doctor Service - Central Operations, The  very special thanks
• Screen Services  music clearances and contracting
• Simon Hackett Wines  the producers would like to thank
• South Australian Ambulance Service, The  the producers would like to thank
• South Australian Film Corporation, The  production offices (uncredited)
• South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service  the producers would like to thank (as The Metropolitan Fire Service)
• South Australian Police Department  the producers would like to thank (as South Australia Police)
• South Australian State Emergency Service, The  the producers would like to thank
• Swatch  the producers would like to thank
• SystemBot  dance music
• Webster, Hyde, Heath Insurance Brokers  insurance (as Webster, Hyde, Heath)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong gruesome violence, and for language.

Runtime:

99 min | 104 min (unrated version)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:R | USA:R | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | New Zealand:R18 | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Norway:18 | USA:Unrated (unrated DVD version) | Germany:18 | France:-16 | Philippines:R-18 | Mexico:C (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Italy:VM18 (tv rating) | UK:18 | Finland:K-18 | Ireland:18

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation, The

Trivia:

As it was originally filmed, the scene where are Ben (Nathan Phillips), Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi) are sitting around the campfire and Ben is telling the story about the alien lights, was over seven minutes long, and shot entirely in one take.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The female Swedish backpacker's line is translated in the captions as "Come on, let's get him out of here", when she's actually saying "Hur i helvete kom han hit?", which in English translates into "How the hell did he get here?"

Quotes:

Mick Taylor: Where you from, mate?
Ben Mitchell: Sydney.
Mick Taylor: Poofter capital of Australia!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

Soundtrack:

Sunshine

Surprisingly effective and chilling.

Let me preface this by saying that I did not view the trailer before I saw this movie, nor did I really know anything about it. I do not know if that will lessen the impact at all, but it might (not sure what they show in the trailer).

Writer/producer/director McLean shot this movie on a digital HD handy cam, giving it an amateurish feel - but it is far from amateur. The first 45 minutes feel like a completely different movie than the last hour or so, and that is one of this movie's many strengths. McLean spends time letting the audience get to know the three main protagonists, who are Liz, Kristy, and Ben. They girls, who are both from Britain, are nearing the end of their Australian excursion, and they set off with their new Aussie mate, Ben, on a road trip/backpacking trip across the country.

McLean has an eye for the unsettling, even in the mostly warm first minutes, and he uses the stark colors and landscapes of the deepening outback to give it a slowly building sense of dread. Their are a few ominous signs - a dog barking viciously at something off screen, a rather unpleasant encounter in an out of the way gas station, and an awkward conversation about UFOs and aliens. I knew it was a horror movie, and the slow buildup is a wonderful way to create true and genuine tension.

Another thing that creates tension is the fact that the three main characters are so well fleshed out, and feel so real, that the audience begins to care for them. Knowing it is a horror movie, we know that something is eventually going to happen, and beginning segment, in its quiet, tender moments, make you wonder when that is going to happen. It's all part of the extremely good package.

Another thing to like about this horror movie is that the characters, for the most part, do not do any stupid things or horror clichés; rather, they are trying to survive and they do respond in believable ways to the horrors around them. And when those horrors finally come, after an particularly amazing segue (going to sleep...sunset...waking up hogtied), they do not let up.

Part of the criticism of this movie is that it is realistically violent and brutal, but it's a juxtaposition from the first half. It's also a juxtaposition of civilized vs. uncivilized, and the sterile, uncompromising landscape of the Outback is the perfect place for this to occur. There wasn't an over the top amount of gore, which is good, because the cruelty of what the three endure is enough to churn anyone's stomach. However, the movie is not just simple exploitation - far from it, actually. It's about that deep-seated fear of the unknown, and what could happen in an unfamiliar place.

McLean, while following a somewhat formulaic idea, stays far away from the usual stupidity. The fact that we have grown to care for the three main characters is why the second half is so effective, because there are things that happen to them that are so brutal that you feel it right with them.

'Wolf Creek' is one of the few good/great horror movies I've ever seen.