Wolf Creek is a horror movie that works because it feels real. Of course, that might be because it's apparently based on true events, or it could just be that writer-director Greg McLean has crafted a movie that gives us a chance to get to know, and like, his characters even though we know they're soon to be meeting a terrible fate. It's this build-up that sets this apart from other horror movies of this type as the film never once feels like a tired slasher movie, grips you in its unpleasant grasp for the last third, and actually makes you care about the victims (which makes the impact of their undoing even more effective).

It's the Summer of 1999 and Sydney native Ben (Nathan Phillips), and his two British friends Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi) decide to head-off on a coast-to-coast sightseeing road trip of Australia. We get to know them a little better in these early scenes as McLean establishes a "feel good" mood (that we know will be shattered soon enough) by having the friends enjoying their going-away party, staging a montage of them goofing around and having fun while on the road, and showing them laughing, singing, and generally having a great time with each other.

But things are soon to go sour for our trio as they stop at Wolf Creek Crater in order to see the impact site of a meteor only to return from their three hour hike and have their car refuse to start. Just when they think they'll be spending the night in the chilly, rainy middle-of-nowhere along comes an outback hunter type called Mick (John Jarratt) who examines their car, figures out the problem, and offers to tow them back to his camp where he'll fix the problem and have them back on the road in a jiffy. Taken in by his wacky sense of humour and off-beat chortle of a laugh, they agree - and that becomes the biggest mistake of their vacation.

It's here, at about the 48 minute mark, that McLean starts to let the film's horror roots show as Liz wakes-up bound and gagged in a nearby shed with her friends gone. Disoriented and unsure what's happened, these early moments offer some unsettling, creepy suspense especially when Liz hears Kristy screaming off in the distance and witnesses her bloody and tied to a pole while their seemingly helpful, but eccentric, guest puts her through plentiful mental anguish.

From there Wolf Creek becomes a full-fledged horror-thriller. It's not fun to watch, there's a lot of hard to take moments (like the entire "head on a stick" sequence that's uncomfortable to sit through), and you never feel like these people have any sort of escape. For this you have to give both McLean and his villain, veteran character actor Jarratt, credit as McLean stages all these sequences matter-of-factly while Jarratt keeps his character rooted in reality while giving him just enough psychosis for you to buy. The film also is helped by the fact once the horror begins it seems to take on a somber look when earlier, happier, scenes are shot to look brighter and less claustrophobic.

If you're looking for one of the better horror flicks of 2005, then you should check out Wolf Creek. You can tell a movie is doing its job well and effectively when it manages to get under your skin in such a way. And while it's pretty hard to buy the whole "true story" angle (and you shouldn't) and there's a few moments where you'll need to suspend your belief, you could see the events within actually happening.

Kudos to the Weinstein's and their newly formed company for importing this Australian horror flick to North America - it certainly manages to put most of the "locally made" fare to task and is a nice change from the PG-13 horror flicks Hollywood seems content on pumping out. (Chris Hartley, 2/3/06)

Directed By: Greg McLean.
Written By: Greg McLean.

Starring: John Jarratt, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi, Nathan Phillips.