Rogue (2007)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Greg Mclean

Writer:

Greg Mclean (writer)

Release Date:

8 November 2007 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Welcome to the Terrortory

Plot:

An American journalist on assignment in the Australian outback encounters a man-eating crocodile.

Plot Keywords:

Crocodile | Island | Water | River | Terror

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 9

2:10 PM

MAX

Cast

Radha Mitchell	...	Kate Ryan
Michael Vartan	...	Pete McKell
Sam Worthington	...	Neil Kelly
Caroline Brazier	...	Mary Ellen
Stephen Curry	...	Simon
Celia Ireland	...	Gwen
John Jarratt	...	Russell
Heather Mitchell	...	Elizabeth
Geoff Morrell	...	Allen
Damien Richardson	...	Collin
Robert Taylor	...	Everett Kennedy
Mia Wasikowska	...	Sherry
Barry Otto	...	Merv

Also Known As:

Rogue Crocodile (Singapore: English title)
Aguas asesinas (Venezuela) [es]
Eaux troubles (France) (DVD title) [fr]
El territorio de la bestia (Spain) [es]
Morte Súbita (Brazil) [pt]
Río de Sangre (Argentina) (DVD title) [es]
Rogue - Im falschen Revier (Germany) [de]
Sarkovora apeili (Greece) (DVD title) [el]
Solitaire (France) [fr]
Timsah: Nehrin disleri (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Uzas iz rijeke (Croatia) [hr]

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some creature violence.

Runtime:

99 min | Germany:89 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:M | USA:Unrated (DVD rating) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Malaysia:U | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Maidstone, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

De Naray Sothcott Entertainment

Trivia:

The croc's lair was constructed and shot in a warehouse in Maidstone (Melbourne Victoria Australia) which was the same site for much of internal barn shots in Charlottes Web (2006). With story set in the rugged Northern Territory and much of the shooting done there also many would be surprised to learn that many of the "island" shots were done in a man made lake in country Victoria. The art department and the greens department being responsible for making the rocks and trees resemble those in the Territory.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the scene when Pete is walking through the forest during the early hours of the morning, the sunlight is coming from directly above him as seen by the shadows beneath him and the plants around him.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Pete McKell: Hot as hell out there, huh?

Movie Connections:

References The African Queen (1951)

CRIKEY!!! -- This Croc has bite!

Granted, it's not perfect, and the idea is not 100% original (from a cinematic point of view) but one thing I love about Greg McLean's films is that he takes what are essentially Australian icons and flips them totally askew. For instance in Wolf Creek the films brutal killer - Mick Taylor is basically Mick Dundee turned psycho. And in Rogue, he yet again takes a well known Australian reptile and sets it loose on some unsuspecting tourists.

There's no denying McLean can shoot a beautiful movie, and some of the wonderful scenes of the Australian top-end are simply stunning. The characters all portray strong performances, especially when the pressure sets in and they begin to crack. McLean also does a good job at drip feeding the dread and teasing the audience with nothing but growls, grunts and slippery tails. It's an age old formula where directors don't show the full extent of the threat till the end - well, thankfully we don't have to wait that long, as when the croc does reveal itself - we see that it is frickin'MASSIVE! And what's even more scary is that these thing's actually exist up there.

The croc itself is naturally CGI with some animatronics, and it's a relief to see that it looks "real". The movement and animation is authentic and the sound design is also effective in giving the audience that jolted feeling a 3 tonne croc would give.

It's a tense, taught and well directed film, and the only gripe I have about it is that it seems a little short - maybe that was put down the fact that I was so immersed into the film? But it did feel a little short. It also lacked the brutal punch Wolf Creek gave us back in 2005, but never the less, it's a cute little Aussie horror thriller where McLean pays sound homage to classics like Jaws and Aliens. And it's also good to see more "genre" films like this coming out of Australia, and it's also good to know people like the Weinsteins and Warner Brothers are backing horror films from Australia for international releases and distribution.

For anyone into their Reptillian chills and thrills - I highly recommend ROGUE.