Look, there’s a reason Wolf Creek has a cult following. It’s by far one of the best Australian horror films produced and John Jarrett, The Wolf of Wolf Creek, brought to life one of the most memorable villains of recent times.
Wolf Creek 2, on the other hand, not so much. Granted it’s only now in cinemas but even if you’ve only read reviews and watched the trailer so far, it’s fairly obvious it has fallen into the classic sequel trap of trying to make everything bigger and ‘better.’
This week beloved fine film specialists, Margaret & David, passed on waxing lyrical over the new Aussie horror: ”We’ve chosen not to review Wolf Creek 2, but on our website you’ll find interviews with director Greg McLean and actor John Jarratt”.
To which the internet responded ‘what the shitter?’ Writer and Director Greg McLean said of the snub:
“Seriously, what on earth are they thinking? Simply not reviewing an independent Aussie movie that beat its US studio competitor Lone Survivor … is worth paying some attention.”
Apparently there’s a new category of movie review from David and Margaret called – no review at all! That’s gotta be a first, right?
— Greg Mclean (@GregECP) February 25, 2014
@AaronSterns Actually I really do! Kinda fun watching them rip a movie apart or gush over something…either would be fine. Curious really.
— Greg Mclean (@GregECP) February 25, 2014
@_LauraMcLeod They didn’t want to review it – totally their decision.
— At The Movies (@abcatthemovies) February 25, 2014
The choice to include Lone Survivor in its stead has been questioned. The film which, judging by the trailer, looks like an American propaganda piece that further reinforces the us-against-them mentality from a point of view that is consistently the dominant narrative, looks pretty uninspired. Having said that, it looks like proper action and shit. Will watch.
So, while it is more than a little disappointing that they would choose to give Lone Survivor a fairly uninteresting review over looking at an upcoming Australian film, they do seem to have a tendency to steer clear of reviewing really overtly ‘gory’ films, which is obviously a personal preference. In the case of Australian film Romper Stomper David also refused to rate it, and the filmmaker really took issue with it (R.I.P $3K suit David was wearing when Wright threw a glass of red wine on him over the whole non-review) which proves how important Australian filmmakers feel about the recognition of Margaret and David. They’re an institution and a very important part of the industry. However, if they are morally opposed to the idea of the sanguinary arts, they should hardly be made to review such a film.
In his review for the original Wolf Creek David – before giving it four stars – said, “The film is incredibly sadistic. I think it’s foul in some ways, in terms of violence. I think it really is thoroughly nasty. I think people and audiences, potential audiences, have to be warned about it.”
For them to be given a hard time for not supporting Australian films when they, for their part, have kept the dialogue surrounding the Australian Film Industry going, seems pretty dang and definitely like a misplaced outpouring of neg engergy.
With respect, it does seem a bit rich for a film that is so clearly pandering to an American audience to seek reviews based on it being Australian made. Take the police cars used in the film. They’re distinctly Americanised and downright unastrayan’ (When was the last time you saw a black and white highway patrol car in Australia?):
Would you just look at that.
Clearly nitpicking because, #butthurt
Considering people are aiming the criticism at MD on a ‘have its back because its Aussie’ basis, when it seems like they just don’t enjoy violent movies (Baby Boomers ¯_(“~)_/¯), are they just getting caught up in a bigger thought vibe that we ‘strayans need to be more generous when talking about Australian films just because they’re Made in Australia? Especially considering, at this stage, they’re close to becoming an endangered species.
At the end of the day, with the limited box-office results Australian filmmakers are finding in the local market – a concerning trend that has become the subject of an upcoming documentary feature – is it any wonder that they’re looking elsewhere for an audience?
