Wolf Creek

Based on the Wolf Creek movies: "Wolf Creek (2005)" and "Wolf Creek 2 (2013)" which I liked so I had high hopes for the series, but unfortunately it didn't quite deliver.

It has it's moments particularly in the first and last episodes but the road there is a bit sketchy with far too many detours adding multiple characters to the mix which takes away from the main story.

John Jarrat is back as the bad guy Mick Taylor and that's great but for some reason the creators doesn't think that he's enough of a threat in the series so they randomly throw in a biker-gang as well.

Lucy Fry is our heroine in the saga, everything about her just screamed "model" to me when I saw her, from the lack of emotion in expression down to her walk, so it was unsurprised when I now googled her and found out that she in fact was a model before she took up acting.

I mean she's not at like Claudia Schiffer level of acting or anything but the character she plays undergoes a transition that need to be dealt with by an actress with a little more experience.

A direct quote from hers in real life is "I am enough - you don't need to do anything. The simplicity of how easy acting can be." And that would explain why her performance became what it is and I would probably tell her to rethink that idea.

Anyway, overall the series is okay but in the end somewhat pointless and it could have been a lot better if they didn't lose focus as often as they did.

The first season was vintage Mick and could not have been improved upon much. I watched all 6 episodes on one day. Watch it, highly recommended.

The second season's victims were plagued by dumb dialogue and idiotic behaviour. The worst were the asinine arguments they had with each other. The entire cast was unlikeable and the only one I may have wanted to know more about was killed in the second episode, as was the one I saw as the reluctant but ultimately capeable leader. With noone left to root for it was difficult to get motivated and watch this. Mick couldn't shine much because his opponents were all but handing themselves to him. On a positive side, it made me look for Men at Work - Down Under.

I hope there'll be more seasons as long as they are like season one, and season 2 is only used to showcase what not to do. And forget the lame attempts at magic. Mick is terrifying because he is rooted in reality and one could run into someone like him any day.

Series 1 got off to a great start but then it was just...meh. A fairly uninspiring female lead, incompetent police, completely unrealistic scenarios, a cast of walking cliches. Has its moments but overall, pretty disappointing.

Series 2 I really liked. A diverse cast of characters, some humour, and much more Mick Taylor.

I'm hoping Season 3 will maintain the quality of season 2 or improve on it.

... & so the movies continue into this great TV series. It's nice to see John Jarratt back as Mick. The series makes for number of episodes that follow on from each other. When you watch these episodes you forget you're watching a TV series, you still think you're watching another "Wolf Creek" movie. The cast are brilliant. I especially like the character Sullivan Hill (played by Dustin Clare). All in all a great series and I hope this continues its great success.

I was leery of watching this series but found it to be far better than both films. There is quite an arc from Episode 1 to Episode 6 and gives the young protagonist ample opportunity to shine as a kind-hearted, smart, yet tough deliverer of justice. There is something so satisfying, watching a character grow the way Eve does. Along the way in the narrative, she has to toughen up even more and grow up quickly to achieve her objective. And there's hardship and a lot of pain along the way.

I appreciated that this is not merely a slice and dice horror series (the films are fine and offer an effective urban legend, but the overwhelming gore and terror wore me out), but something with nuance and back story. The episodes give you time to really care about the people involved in Eve's journey. And how refreshing there is a love story that transcends physical lust; more like two souls that found each other but ultimately couldn't be together.

As to the acting, mostly quite good. Lucy Fry, who has the gravitas and strength of a young Robin Wright, excels as Eve, out to avenge her loss. She is ably supported by a number of characters, particularly Dustin Clare as Sullivan, the police officer compelled to help her at any cost, a kindly female truck driver, and an escaped prisoner who becomes an ally. John Jarratt does his usual believable, sinister performance as the game-playing butcher, Mick, the guy you never want to run into in a dark alley, the Outback or anywhere else.

Great job.