Wolf Creek 2

I am lost for words for what Greg McLean was thinking when coming into Wolf Creek 2. The first film set the benchmark for future Australian Horror films and really gave me renewed hope that my nation was making inroads into my favourite genre. I was so psyched to see the sequel. Knowing how nasty and memorable the first one was, while i didn't expect this one to surpass it, i still hoped it would have kept its gritty style and "true horror" feel. I was mortified to see that for some unknown reason, Greg has chosen to go down the "Horror comedy" path and completely butcher everything that made him a household name in the extreme horror genre. Wolf Creek 2 has completely eliminated the menace, the isolation, the gritty style of film work and the ultra realism. He has substituted it with over stylized crap that you come to expect from Mainstream Hollywood. Yes it was funny in parts and John Jarratt showcases his talents as a truly great actor, but this is not what Wolf Creek is about! Congratulations Mr McLean, you have officially sold out and lost a fan in the process. This is evidence of the power of money and how a potentially great film maker, can lose his identity when lured in by money.

And while over 7 years have passed since the first one was released (I'm assuming you know the first Wolf Creek or don't care that I refer to it, because this builds up on that), our main "character" is still the same. As you know (or are about to find out), he is the villain and the audience is expected to root for him somewhat this time around. The actor is really charismatic.

The first encounters seem random which might make a case for anyone to not like this movie that much. Also there is some "german" thrown in, with a heavy accent. Do not judge them if you understand what they are saying. We do get a player in the end who seems to be up to par with our villain and the movie seems undecided which one we should root for. Although it does tend to swing into the villains direction. Very gruesome and very violent this is not everyones taste ... but if you're hooked (no pun intended) on our main villain, you'll love it

The lead actors in the film, both the villain and protagonist are great. Very scary movie. Some scenes are brutal and pretty hard to take. The supporting roles in the beginning are played by great actors too and the writing makes you care about the characters. Great little film and super fast-pacing make it a thrill ride from start to finish.

Doesn't match the quality of the first film, but overall still a highly enjoyable film.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. Kept me on the edge of my seat right throughout the film. Having seen Ryan Corr in other things it was easy to have sympathy for him. I felt like I was apart of all the action. Some scenes were obviously added for the international market (flying kangaroo's) but that didn't phase me. Some aspects of the film were barely believable, but you have to remember this is a film, whatever happened to poetic license?

If you want to cringe, scream and get your adrenaline pumping this is a film for you!

I thoroughly enjoyed Wolf Creek. All elements of film making seemed to work, for me. I like realism in films and the sense of isolation in the Australian outback was palpable. After viewing the trailer for Wolf Creek 2 I thought that the film might fall into the Hollywood category. What I was hoping for was another gem.

John Jarratt returns as serial killer Mick Taylor. He delivers another strong performance. His laugh and hoarse, Aussie voice never falter. He gets totally into character and runs the show. He has too much screen time, however, to make him as scary as he should be. The viewer is given too much knowledge of his whereabouts, I felt.

The actors who play the tourists are good, notably Ryan Corr, playing well-educated British traveler, Paul. The film doesn't provide much insight into his character which might be the reason why I had little empathy for him, or any of Mick's victims in this film. Towards the end I was routing for the tourists solely because as the viewer we have witnessed the hell their put through. For whatever reason, I really liked the characters in the first film and it was hard to watch them meet their fate.

The sense of isolation is there but doesn't have the same effect as it did in the first film, probably because there are a few more characters in this film, and other devices used to create action, which made the film appear less chilling and more thrilling.

I liked that McLean used subtitles for the German couple because I wasn't expecting it. Of course English isn't always going to be a tourists first language and they're not going to speak it for our benefit. Fret not, once the screaming begins you don't have to do a lot of reading.

Some parts of the film felt a little odd to me at first, and there are a couple of comical sequences. I took it in the movie's stride. Perhaps that was writer number 2, Aaron Sterns, input. I didn't mind. There was enough Mick Taylor sadism to pull me back to the horror film I went in to watch. The setting at the end was a little disappointing because it felt too orchestrated and unlike Mick Taylor. It felt more like a scene from 'Hostel'.

The first film is a rare beauty, and Wolf Creek 2 is a good sequel - nothing more, nothing less IMO.