Wolf Creek 2 (Movie review)

In 2005, pronounced Australian Writer/Director Greg McLean (Rogue 2007, Red Hill 2010) brought a terrifying new serial killer to horror movie fans named Mick Taylor in independent film Wolf Creek.  Marketed as “based on true events”, the film received broad commercial success and became beloved by horror genre fans.    What appeared to be more of a Crocodile Dundee character at first, John Jarratt (Picnic at Hanging Rock 1975, Wolf Creek), played Mick; creating a killer more horrifying than Jason Vorhees and made Freddy Krueger look like an extra from Mary Poppins. Hot off his heels from stalking and killing tourists in the first movie,  Mick is back selecting new victims in 2014’s Wolf Creek 2.

Wolf Creek 2 still

Wolf Creek 2 is fundamentally played out by a small cast of eight with the event’s time period not long after the end of the first movie. Set in the unforgiving bleak Australian outback, Mick drives around in his Ford F100, set out for pig hunting. After brutally dispatching two unsuspecting police officers, two Swedish tourists inadvertently end up becoming Mick’s unfortunate next victims.

Caught in the fray, while trying to helping one of the tourists run for their lives, British tourist Paul Hammersmith (played by Ryan Corr – Where the Wild Things Are 2009,Not Suitable for Children 2012) soon becomes embroiled in the fight for his life and sanity in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Following Paul over the countryside, Mick even slays an innocent elderly couple Jack (played by Gerard Kennedy – Division 4 1969, Hunter 1967) & Lil (played by Annie Byron – Muriel’s Wedding 1994, Doing time with Patsy Cline 1997) while they try helping a wounded and distressed Paul, proving the inhuman monster he is; going to any length to get his prey.

John Jarratt as Mick Taylor in Wolf Creek 2

Mick’s seemingly cool calm exterior adds greatly to his deeply disturbed character; particularly most evident while playing a game of questions with Paul tied to a chair by wire. In this diabolical game, if Paul gets five questions right Mick will let him go.  However, for any question he gets wrong he will have a finger cut off, and Mick stays true to his every deranged word. Fleetingly escaping his bonds, Paul finds further evidence of Mick’s psychotic and twisted practices everywhere he turns.  Puzzling with little explanation, Mick lets Paul go, releasing him after his ordeal, at a tire repair shop. Strangely, despite blatant physical evidence of being tortured, Paul is held for questioning by police as the prime suspect for the murders and disappearances in the Wolf creek area. It is only after a complete mental breakdown that Paul is extradited back to England.

Ryan Corr as Paul_ in the lair tunnels in Wolf Creek 2

A word of caution, Wolf Creek 2 contains very graphic scenes of blood, gore, violence, and is not at all for the fainthearted. Furthermore, if you plan on ever visiting Australia, it is not advised to watch this movie beforehand. A startling movie based on true events, even now, poor Paul still remains in the mental institution he has been in since returning from Australia, and the murders remain unsolved.  So beware of Mick Taylor! Jarratt’s portrayal of Mick Taylor is so convincing, so visceral and believable, that after the release of Wolf Creek even fans of the actors were not comfortable being on the same plane as him. Be prepared to be scared like you have never been before.  If you have not seen the first movie it is not imperative for watching its sequel, as it fills in information as it goes. Fast paced, and highly suspenseful, you will be looking over your shoulder for weeks.  CrypticRock give Wolf Creek 2 4 out of 5 stars.

Image Entertainment

Wolf Creek 2 is in theaters everywhere May 16th.

Pre-order a copy of Wolf Creek 2 on Blu-ray/DVD Combo at Amazon.