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You're reading a really old version of matt-thornton's website. For example, if you're looking at the movie reviews... you'll notice that none of them are of recent films. Indeed, I leave them here for posterity's sake, but I doubt very much that they'll get updated anytime soon. So have a giggle.
You might, if you're lucky, find something recent from Matt at his blog matt's debates. Kernow bys vyken.
Wolf Creek
the one line review:
real life horror story
the overview
Wolf Creek - crap title for something that looks like it's going to be a shit horror flick. And whilst it's not scary, the way the movie is filmed, how it unfolds, and the fact that it's based on an unsolved true crime, makes the film awesome.
the plot:
Three young friends (Macgrath, Phillips, Morassi) are leaving Western Australia on a road trip to Cairns. They plan to go via Wolf Creek - a site of a huge meteor landing. The three are all young and cocky, Ben is an Australian, Liz and Kristy are British. They get to Wolf Creek, see the meteor and try to set off - only their vehicle refuses to start. Then a helpful local turns up and offers to tow them to his farm, where he can fix the car. They accept.
When they get there, he sets to work on the car, and they fall asleep. When they wake up, things have gone a little pear shaped. The helpful local turns out to be a total nutjob, has Ben tied with nails through his hands, Liz tied up with cable ties, and Kristy is half naked and about to be raped.
The rest of the film tells the story as it unfolds, and how there is only one survivor.
the verdict:
The cinematography, especially for a low-budget Australian film is awesome. It really captures the spirit of the three young adults out on a road trip . The actual scenes involving the looney and the demise of two of them, aren't gruesome, but they're pretty intense. The mood is captured well.
The only problem I have with the film is that the murderer has never been caught, which leaves the survivor as the only witness. And since that person is not involved in all of the scenes, there's obviously been a lot of directorial liberty in putting the film together, which makes you question how accurate it is to real life events.
But if you can put that to one side, it's an enjoyable film. MacGrath could easily be the next Keira Knightley (though not quite as fit), you'll spend the film wondering if Morassi is Minnie Driver's little sister (she's not) and Phillips is good as the all-round-nice-guy-but-bit-of-a-dude Australian.
It's not scary, but it's undoubtedly gripping. Worth watching!
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