Les Dents de la mort

You want a good crocodile flick which gives you the carnage but also well-meaning in its context, then you can't look any further than the 1987 Aussie exploitation ecological monster fare "Dark Age" starring a very young John Jarrett (who would be best remembered for his unnerving performance in 2005 horror feature "Wolf Creek") playing a Northern Territory park ranger Steve who's in-charge of conserving the disappearing crocodile population. But things go bad to worse, when locals start becoming a target for one very large crocodile and the hunters of the area (who always seem to a beer can in their hand) go about trying to wipe out the species. But Steve has a plan, but needs the help of an aboriginal elder who believes the crocodile to be sacred. You could probably say this was Australia's answer to "Jaws" and it would do a good job of scaring you out of the water. The material doesn't go into a lot depth with the character dramas (though they are there), but it effectively draws upon its conservational message but never letting it get in the way of a good jolt. Sonia Borg's smartly penned screenplay gels all elements rather well. Director Arch Nicholson (who also did the excellent 1986 made-for-TV survival hostage flick "Fortress") crafts out an exciting outback adventure, using conventional genre staples with unsparing force and the atmospherics of the terrain provided some arresting sequences of beauty and chills. Even the characters interactions draw up intensity, but it's the attack scenes which will stay with you. Watching the croc prey on its victims, then in a matter of seconds have them in a vice grip as we hear their bones crunching under the pressure with blood engulfing the water is an unnerving sight. But just seeing this creation in its glory is scary enough and the effects are outstanding, despite that it might seem a bit stiff in its movements. It's well shot and the camera uses different angles, which also helps. The performances are all game with some memorable turns by Max Phipps as gun-happy hunter John Besser, Nikki Goghill (whose blue eyes really stand out) as Steve's girlfriend Cathy, Burnam Burnam as the native elder Oonadabund and David Gulpill as his fellow tracker Adjaral. It had been awhile seen I last saw it and it surprised how well it actually stood up. Great nature-runs-amok outing which would make a perfect double bill with "Razorback".

"We born. We die. Spirit lives."

Here's a killer croc tale that goes a different direction, and takes a more realistic standpoint, than the other "croc just to shock", "unrealistic monster tales, with a fresh resolution. This straight to video movie, isn't half bad, and I must say I enjoyed it, after initially just watching it for Jarrett. Nineteen years, prefore Mick Taylor, young looker, Jarrett, plays the much nicer, masculine park ranger hero, where hottie Nikki Coghill, a journalist, adding sultry sex appeal, in the unforgiving Darwinian heat, has popped back up into his life. A croc has tragically, brutally taken the life of a child, and some others, so the locals are taking it somewhat personal, as does these posse of revenge fueled hunters. Here's Jarrett's dilemma: a band of aboriginals want the Croc caught and saved, as it carries the spirit of their past, where they want it dropped back to it's original dreaming locale, so we really have good conflict, where a really tense climax is drawn, the last fifteen minutes, almost gold. Yes, a Croc tale with a different spin, but more so here, we're in realistic waters with Jarrett. It's kind of sad, in it's snubbed cinematic injustice, as here's quite a good well put together pic. To call it a yarn, doesn't feel right. It's unfitting. It's more respective of that. There's a more realistic aura hanging about here, than probably about every other croc tale.... that's if you discount 2007's fine Croc piece, Black Water. Of course, this movie is not as good as that, but this one does pack real bite, like some of the performances, but Jarrett does play it quite down pat, where his acting's not gonna be remembered here, in his better looker days.

Dark Age (1987)

*** (out of 4)

The setting is the Australian outback where a twenty-five foot crocodile begins attacking and killing people. Steve Harris (John Jarratt) is a park ranger who has been trying to get people involved in a protection plan for the crocs but now with the help of two guides he must try and track down the large creature.

Where has DARK AGE been all of my life? I love the various creature features that followed the success of JAWS and there have been several that had crocodiles running loose killing people. This one here is certainly one of the better ones and in all honesty I'm a little shocked that the film isn't better known. After going through some of the extras on the disc I learned that the film never got a theatrical release and it pretty much sunk onto video shelves and never made much of an impact.

That's really too bad because this works perfectly as a killer crocodile movie but also as an Ozploitation picture. The Australian outback makes for a terrific location and we get some beautiful views of the wetlands. I thought the film really played the location up nicely and it was great getting to see the characters go through these various areas. It just adds a level of suspense to the picture when you feel and believe the setting your watching (aka not being shot in a studio soundstage).

What makes the film so entertaining is that the director was willing to have anything happen. That means you've got attacks on countless adults and even children are at risk! The movie really didn't play any games as this was a killing machine and the attack sequences were quite good. It was clear that they were dealing with a fake crocodile in several scenes but this didn't take away from the entertainment value. I'd also argue that Jarratt was very good in the lead role and helped carry the film.

Some of the non-croc stuff isn't quite as entertaining but if you're a fan of these types of movies then DARK AGE is certainly a must see.

My review was written in July 1988 after watching the film on Charter video cassette.

Australia's answer to "Jaws", "Dark Age" is a competently made horror film about a legendary large croc on the rampage. It's not a strong enough title on its own and got lost in the distribution pipeline before its current home video release.

Local color (atmospherically filmed in far north Queensland and Northern Territory) highlights this tall tale of Numunwari, a 25-foot long crocodile held sacred by the aborigines. Storms cause the beastie to head down river and start eating humans.

John Jarratt plays a government ranger who's fighting poachers and trying to save crocs from extinction. Ironically, he's assigned by his government superior to hunt down the big beast, while every amateur hunter in sight uses the emergency as an excuse to declare open season on all crocs.

Aboriginal folklore gives "Dark Age" its own flavor, but too many scenes and plot devices directly ape "Jaws" to cornball effect. The issue of protecting local interests against the adverse publicity of recurring croc attacks, the ultimate 3-man trek (Jarratt and two aborigines) after the beast and a very familiar scene of kids swimming peacefully in a harbor when the croc arrives to attack lack originality.

Jarratt is an appealing hero, with the lovely Nikki Coghill effective as an anthropologist and romantic interest. Burnam Burnam is solid as the aboriginal elder, supported ably by David Gulpilil.

Director Arch Nicholson (of HBO's Rachel Ward-starrer "Fortress") has a topflight technical team, but the killer croc's fake look doesn't help to generate scares or suspense.

The main reaction this film about a giant crocodile terrorising Australia elicited from me was "OMG, IT'S ALF FROM HOME AND AWAY!!". Aside from that, the strange thing about it is the highest level of suspense isn't the huge reptile stalking and killing it's human prey, but the final chase as some well-meaning conservationists try to drive it to a secluded breeding spot away from a gang of yahoo hunters who want to turn it into luggage. My sympathies lay with the 'monster' 100%.

The film kind of washes over you in an unpretentious way... don't expect a frightfest along the lines of Jaws, and even the music is cheap 80's synch. But it's nice to see Aboriginal culture represented so positively and informatively on screen, with a couple of them even giving more than passable performances in starring roles. Could the next big superstar from Down Under come from there? Don't bet against it... 5/10