20 Horror Movies From The 21st Century That Didn't Actually Suck

12. Wolf Creek (2005)

This Australian horror is one of the best 'backwater' horrors of the new millennium. It's grimy. It's violent. It's also one hell of a ride and has a lot of love within the horror fraternity. It has a bad reputation on the mainstream front as one of the films at the forefront of the 'torture porn' subgenre but, as opposed to Hostel and its ilk, this film is well directed by Greg McLean and feels like a throwback to Aussie horrors like Razorback.

As two British female backpackers and their male Australian friend hunt for a giant meteor crater in the Wolf Creek National Park they are preyed on by Aussie mechanic Mick Taylor (John Jarrett) who gives the three drugged water and kidnaps them. What follows is a torturous (in every sense of the word) ride as Taylor attacks the backpackers, even going so far as to crucify the male member of the group. Eventually, he escapes but no trace is found of the two girls.

Perhaps similar to other films on this list, critics have laid accusations of misogyny on this film and, although hard to argue with, it is also a tense and terrifying movie which takes the initial ideas of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and ups the ante (if that's possible) as the horrific Taylor destroys the three youths. It's a film that preys on our fear of being in an unknown country far more effectively than Hostel too and through some strong performances, makes us feel true sympathy for the victims in the face of the vile Taylor.