Savage's Crossing

Director: Kevin Dobson
Cast: John Jarratt, Angela Punch-McGregor, Jessica Napier, Sasha Horler and Chris Haywood
Releasing in cinemas: 27 May 2010
Rated: MA 15+

This - the Jarratt family movie - might well be called Wolf Creek II, for surely it’s a spin off of the original successful thriller. Whilst there is a smattering of scary moments, the latest adventure in terrorizing the outback fails to reach the heights of the first outing. A clunky script and over-the-top performances verging on farce, suck out the suspense as fast as it builds.

Special offenders are John Jarratt (Wolf Creek) again playing a serial killer in an alcohol-fired frenzy; and surprisingly veteran Chris Hayward, who appeared as the aloof Colonel in Beneath Hill 60, and gave a chilling performance in Jindabyne. Haywood here whoops it up until spending some serious screen time dead with a bullet hole in his shaved head, and certainly not looking at his best.

The film opens with an approaching storm and soon there’s torrential rain as Phil (John Jarratt), after his release from rehab, attempts to cross a flooded river aided by Mory (Craig McLachlan), a local cow hand. Phil’s wife Sue (Angela Punch-McGregor) and her son Damien (Charlie Jarratt) learn of Phil’s release and decide to flee to the hills as he tends to be a whack job and is on their trail over money matters.

They don’t get far before being stranded at a roadhouse which also shelters girls on an interrupted country excursion - Shae (Sasha Horla) and Mickey (Rebecca Smart) - from the storm. The roadhouse manager is Kate (Jessica Napier), a friend of Mory, who then arrives on the scene with the bedraggled Phil. Another nutcase and dodgy cop Jack (Chris Haywood) appears and arrests Phil after a struggle; but later Phil escapes into dark bushland.

However all is not what it seems and several main characters have ulterior motives. It’s suspected Jack might also be a hitman in his spare time, paid by Sue to knock off Phil. The threat of violence and death increases as the strangers sheltering together from the storm at Savage’s Crossing try and defend themselves. There could be better ways of spending a night in the country.

The Jarratt family really get involved in this movie. John Jarratt is the producer and co-writer with wife Cody. Jarratt plays the lead role with his son Charlie a cast member. In the director’s chair, we have Kevin Dobson of TV experience and films such as Squizzy Taylor, yet he seems unable to sustain the level of suspense. Could it be too many Jarratts spoil the broth?

With spectacular overplaying by some of the cast, Sasha Horla shows a little restraint and comes across as the most sane. Admittedly she gets the meaningful lines: “What people say in the heat of the moment, 50% bullshit, 40% imagination, and the rest passes for the truth.” and “These people are all schizos”.

The dialogue is coached in risible ‘outback ocker’ and requires the "f" word in every sentence, often repeated twice for emphasis and shouted if possible. Wardrobe is to be congratulated on finding Bazza McKenzie's floppy hat for Mory, and a black country parson’s suit for Phil. The infamous shed from Wolf Creek appears to be once again pressed into service. The best feature is cinematography which conveys the right atmosphere of menace with constant enveloping rain and ominous clouds. Some film references include a 'Daddy's home' door axing from The Shining and lines once mouthed by Renfrew the loopy chap who consumes insects, spiders and birds in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.

While not wishing to be hard in reviewing an Aussie films, this is obviously a work of love and enthusiasm by the Jarratt family but it has to compare with others in the genre. Commendably the Jarratts raised finance for the venture themselves; which isn't easy. As local thrillers go it’s pretty average, with just a chance it might scare teenagers not brought up on Freddie Krueger.

John Bale