Wolf Creek (2005)

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:

Bushman | Australia | Meteor | Truck | Captive

Awards:

3 wins & 24 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 J. March	...	Pool Party People (as Aaron March)
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
Teresa Zales	....	production supervisor: additional photography (uncredited)

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 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)
• 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)

Also Known As:

"El Cazador" - Venezuela
"El cazador de Wolf Creek" - Argentina
"Kurt kapani" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Morden vid Wolf Creek" - Sweden
"Terreur à Wolf Creek" - Canada (French title)
"Wolf Creek" - France
"Wolf Creek" - Portugal (imdb display title)
"Wolf Creek" - Spain (imdb display title)
"Wolf Creek - A haláltúra" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Wolf Creek - O apolytos tromos" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Wolf Creek - Viagem ao Inferno" - Brazil

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) | Mexico:D (Some Cinemas) | Italy:VM14 | UK:18 | Finland:K-18 | Ireland:18

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation, The

Trivia:

Composer Frank Tetaz based parts of the films music score off of an old funeral march tune, giving it a slower tempo for even more moodiness.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Liz picks up the video camera, the sound of a tape ejecting is clearly heard before the video begins to play.

Quotes:

Mick Taylor:See? Head on a stick!

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Soundtrack:

Double the Bass

Surprisingly Devastating

I was thrilled to see a movie like "Wolf Creek" come out in theatres: a straightforward horror film not relying on clever twists (except one, small one) or gimmicks. It was the kind of film "High Tension" started off as before that last act mindf*ck. And while I ended up appreciating what that movie did, I would have loved it more without the twist.

"Wolf Creek" picks up where films like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Last House on the Left" left off, without feeling the need to necessarily "pay homage" to them. I wonder if the fact that it's not American-made has anything to do with that. I also wonder if the non-American influence kept this from becoming predictable or familiar in any way. What you think is going to happen in this film never quite happens. One of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" taglines was, "Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?" I think this film asks the same question, but doesn't provide so simple an answer.

I think it's best to know little about "what happens" here before seeing it. Most people know the basics--three backpackers on a road trip, they stop at remote Wolf Creek, entering an odd Twilight Zone of stopped time and dead car engines. A friendly bushman stops by willing to help, let the nightmare begin.

I love that director/writer/producer Greg McLean never offers an explanation for the watches and the car engine. What happens in this film seems almost alien--three humans struggling to survive on what appears like a distant, barren planet, up against a hunter with no semblance of humanity in him. Yes, this movie is very similar to "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," but it is in no way a rip-off. While the early-morning showdown on the barren road may look similar to the climax of TCM, it is its own nightmarish entity. In fact, some of the scene reminded me of "Duel." The acting in this movie is brilliant. The three leads--Ben, Kristi, and Liz--are so wonderfully likable, and there is an odd feeling of improvisation in the acting. It's so natural, it seems impossible to script. When everything goes to hell, you want all three of them to survive, and you'll surely be devastated by the slightest injury any of them endures. Many have complained about the hour or so of build up, but I think it was brilliant on McLean's part to make sure we cared about these people, and then to put them through the wringer. It's sadistic, too, emotionally, but it's the sign of a great director.

John Jarratt, as Mick, is unforgettably cruel. Jarratt embodies this character from head to toe, and is fearless in his performance. Mick is an ugly, cruel man, and yet when we first meet him, he seems like the nicest guy in the world. One of the scariest aspects to this film is that you can see yourself falling for all of his tricks.

To be honest, I never want to see "Wolf Creek" again. It's not a fun movie. I left wanting to hate it, because I hated what happened. But I admire this movie for what it managed to do. I truly had to keep repeating to myself, "It's only a movie," (the infamous "Last House on the Left" tagline) but it's so realistic and so unflinching in portraying what happens, that you'll feel as if someone was always peeking around a corner with a camera, filming an actual event. Of course, this is based on true events, and frankly, there is some discrepancy to how "true" this film tries to be (obviously, much of the second act had to be dramatized, and you'll realize why once you see the movie) but it didn't need that "based on true events" tag. It's already very real.

I hate to end on the old "Jaws" cliché, but as I am going to Australia soon, I can say for a fact that this does do for backpacking what "Jaws" did for swimming. I consider this movie a parable of sorts. Well done.