Wolf Creek (DVD)

If you're planning on heading off for a backpacking holiday in the Austrailian outback sometime soon, then you might want to give this film a miss until you're back in the safety of your own armchair.

This Australian horror is based loosely on the events surrounding Ivan Milat who murdered backpackers in the 1990s, and at the end of the film, it does seem as though you've just watched something completely true. Unlike most horror films however, it's beautifully filmed with the cinematographer taking full advantage of the vast Australian scenery. However, this can also be a disturbing factor because you realise just how deserted this place is and there really is no escape.

Two British girls (Cassandra Magrath and Kestie Morassi) meet up with an Australian guy (Nathan Phillips) and they all head across the outback in a car to explore. On their journey they stop at Wolf's Creek, a massive crater caused by a 50 tonne meteorite in the middle of the desert. At the crater, the trio find the place eerie - their watches have stopped and the car won't restart upon their return to it. The menace is added to by the trio sharing spooky stories about UFOs. After a while Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) a sinister "Crocadile Dundee" type redneck turns up and offers to tow them back to his garage to fix their car. This is where the nightmare begins.

Although the story sounds very similar to that of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", this film has more atmosphere than gore with it's shakey mockumentary style and extensive use of the outback environment. There is some very graphic violence and very strong language, but it is necessary and not over-done. The violence is grisly, but effective which makes the film all the more disturbing. It's often said that this film is slow to start, however the forthcoming onslaught is built up perfectly through the developing relationship between the three travellers against the beauty of the outback.

If you're the type of person who'd enjoy a more psychological twist on a traditional horror film formula, rather than full-on blood, guts and gore then see this film because it's more disturbing than nauseating. Highly recommended.