I know some people greatly dislike Greg Mclean’s Wolf Creek. If I had to take a guess as to why, it would be because it was released right around the height of the “torture porn” craze. When Saw and Hostel made it popular, studios cashed in with both super-low-budget features, and features with a decent budget. Wolf Creek was different, to me. It wasn’t just another “torture porn” film. It was part of the Ozploitation resurgence that occurred during the mid-to-late portion of the last decade. It was stunningly photographed, and oozing with atmosphere. It featured a solid slow-burning pace, where at any moment, you felt, things could go from bad to worse in any imaginable way. It also featured John Jarratt as one of the most terrifyingly charismatic psychopaths to hit the screen in the last couple of decades. It was slow, however. So, people of the new generation of genre lovers probably grew bored, having to wait a little while for the film to establish a feel, and develop the characters before taking them out. Cut to 2014, and and Wolf Creek 2 is being unleashed upon the masses. And, while it retains the beautiful photography, and the atmosphere that was created by its predecessor, this sequel cranks the carnage up to eleven. There is no slow burn, here. This is nonstop insanity from the opening scene, until the final frame. And I loved every second of it. 

Wolf Creek 2, after an insane opening scene, follows a German couple as they backpack throughout the Australian countryside. When they decide to setup camp in the middle of a giant, seemingly deserted field, they are greeted by Mick Taylor(After a couple of near-encounters out on the road), who at first, seems to be offering to help the two of them. After the refusal of his help, however, his real motives become quite evident, as he savagely beats and murders the male component of said couple. From this point, it’s a game of cat and mouse between him, and and the murdered man’s girlfriend. It would appear that she would be the main protagonist of the film, but we’re quickly introduced to Paul, played by Ryan Corr, and after he “gets in the way” of Mick’s intended victim/meal, becomes the major focus of the brutality. Where as Wolf Creek was a slow-burn, Wolf Creek 2 gives the viewer very few moments to catch their breath. Just when you think Paul has made it to a momentary safe zone, here comes Mick with an even more insane method of catching his prey. It almost plays out like a video game, or The Raid. The insanity increases with each scene, always one-upping the last bit of carnage that took your breath away from you.

One of the reactions I’ve noticed, is that some viewers were jarred by the “humor” of the sequel, considering that the first film was a pretty straightforward horror film. Beyond the one-liners from Mick, which we should expect after his wacky on-screen presence in the first film, the only humor I noticed comes in the form of the soundtrack, which in the scope of the film, is completely badass. One scene in particular, that involves a Mack truck, is forever burned into my brain. Some more delicate viewers might get upset at the scene I am referring to, but for me, it is one of the most epic sequences in any horror movie that I have seen so far in the year 2014, and the song they attached to the scene was just perfect, in my eyes. It took an already phenomenal scene, and elevated it to one of the most memorable sequences in any horror sequel that I can remember. Definitely for the last several years, at least. I don’t want to spoil anything, but just as a warning, I’ll say, that if you are a fan of Kangaroos, you may get a little angry during this sequence. Call me a dick, but I was grinning ear-to-ear.

And that’s the feeling I had when the credits rolled, in all honesty. I quickly messaged James on Facebook(who also loved the film) to relay to him that it was an exercise in epic badassery. I’ve enjoyed films in 2014, but so far, Wolf Creek 2 is the only one that caused my face to hurt from smiling and laughing. And that’s not to say that it is a comedy. It really isn’t, save for the soundtrack that I mentioned, and a couple of the things that come out of Mick’s mouth. But, the amount of sheer awesomeness and insanity that happens within the 106 minute running time, caused me to smile uncontrollably. It’s going to have its detractors, because, you know, it’s 2014 and it has become cool to “hate” anything popular. But, if you’re looking for a horror sequel done right, I can’t see you doing much better this year than Wolf Creek 2. I realize that it is still too early in the year to be making such predictions, but I highly doubt you’ll see a “Best Of” list from me this year that doesn’t include this film. I can’t wait until more people get the chance to see it. It is going to do a limited theatrical run, but lucky for you, you’ll be able to rent the film on most Video On Demand platforms starting April 17th. I would recommend going out of your way to see this one as soon as you get the opportunity to do so. Seeing it with an audience would be idea, so if it plays near you when it does its limited theatrical run starting on May 16th, get out to the theater and see it, you lucky sons of bitches.

(8.5/10)