Its a sign of how potent Wolf Creek is that its Australian release had to be delayed until after the trial of an Australian accused of murdering a British backpacker events mirrored by the films narrative. That narrative boils down to a story about 3 backpackers being stalked by a killer through the Outback, but this is no standard slasher movie and Mick (John Jarratt, who once fronted a gardening show) is not your typical villain. Hes a flesh and blood character, whose superficial charm allows him to get close to his prey, and he has the whole wilderness in which to ply his trade. In a movie with no shortage of disquieting moments, the standout has to be the head on a stick sequence, and its a toss-up which is the more unnerving Micks description of it or the look in his victims eyes as he sets to work.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
