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[TV Review] “Wolf Creek” is an Unexpectedly Brilliant Show!

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It’s been over a decade since the original Wolf Creek first dragged unwitting viewers into a horrible nightmare set in the desolate Australian Outback. The film and its memorable antagonist have since become a staple of the ozploitation genre, with the only real competition being George Miller’s Mad Max franchise. While we did eventually recieve a much-anticipated sequel in 2013, it felt like an over-the-top gore-fest, having more in common with your typical slasher flick than with the original’s horrifying yet believable setup. To most fans of the films, it seemed like this sequel would be the last we would ever see of Mick Taylor’s violent escapades. Luckily, Greg McLean proved us all wrong by bringing the next chapter of this brutal series to the small screen.

Wolf Creek stars Lucy Fry as Eve Thorogood, a young american tourist travelling through Outback with her family in an attempt to deal with her own personal demons. The Thorogood clan eventually stumbles upon a stranger in the wilderness, who initially appears to be a decent fellow. Unfortunately for them, the stranger is actually the sadistic serial killer Mick Taylor, played by the always-excellent John Jarratt. After Taylor reveals his true nature, Eve remains as the sole survivor of a horrific mass murder. However, with the reluctant help of Police Detective Sullivan Hill, played by Dustin Clare, Eve decides to remain in Australia and embarks on an ill-advised quest to avenge the death of her family.

On the surface, it may feel as if this isn’t enough plot to carry a 6-episode season of television, but Wolf Creek has several unexpected narrative tricks up its sleeve. From the complexity of character interaction and development to a grueling look at a young woman’s attempts to survive in an oppresive, male-dominated landscape, this series certainly takes the road less travelled where horror sequels are concerned. Thoughtful story and wonderfully developed characters aside, the cinematography here is also breathtaking, blurring the lines between Film and Television production value. Despite all odds, Wolf Creek feels like a genuine sequel and worthy successor of the films, with almost nothing lost in translation during the switch in medium.

Although the story does take some questionable detours near the end of the season, especially concerning Taylor’s backstory, the additional runtime allows for some incredible world-building as Eve travels Down Under in a seemingly hopeless game of cat and mouse. We end up seeing both perspectives, as Mick has a plan of his own once he realizes that someone is onto his murderous ways, leading to a genuinely thrilling conclusion as these two characters that we know and love (for vastly different reasons) finally face each other in one of the most cathartic showdowns in television history.

Even with the surprisingly cerebral story, it’s the details that make Wolf Creek stand apart from the competition. There’s an almost ethereal beauty to the way that the Outback is portrayed in this show, and it sometimes feels as though both protagonist and antagonist are dealing with forces far beyond their comprehension. Eve’s journey from victim to hardened survivor is also a joy to behold, and a far cry from the usual damsels in distress that populate horror media. There’s an almost mythical scope to the story as these two seemingly unstoppable forces of nature slowly approach one another, adapting to survive.

Much of what makes Wolf Creek so successful can be traced to Fry and Jarratt’s amazing performances. While they don’t necessarily share a lot of screentime together during the majority of the show, the actors have a compelling connection even when their characters are on opposite ends of the country. We’ve already seen John play Mick twice before, so I was already expecting his terrifying charms, but Lucy’s performance was a pleasant surprise, which helped to elevate an already great horror story. In fact, it was only after watching a few interviews that I realized that she’s not even really American, and was holding back her natural Aussie accent.

Ultimately, it’s hard to think of any horror-hound who wouldn’t enjoy the peculiar thrills of this unexpectedly great TV series. There may be a few flaws here and there, especially in trying to flesh out a character whose anonymity is precisely what makes him so terrifying in the first place, but the show almost immediately makes up for these blunders when they occur. From Lisa Salvo’s hauntingly beautiful rendition of Who Killed Cock Robin in the opening credits, to stunning shots of some of the most hostile environments known to man, there is certainly a lot to love about Wolf Creek!

The season finale of Wolf Creek premieres this Friday, November 18th, on Pop at 10:00PM, ET/PT!

Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them.

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‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ Review – Latest Monster Mashup Goes Bigger and Sillier

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GODZILLA X KONG review

The heavyweight championship event that was Godzilla vs. Kong ended in a tenuous truce that saw Godzilla holding dominion over Earth while King Kong claimed Hollow Earth. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire introduces a new Titan-sized threat from the depths of Hollow Earth, one so dangerous that Kong and his human allies will need all the help they can get to defeat it. Director Adam Wingard continues the kaiju spectacle with the latest Legendary Monsterverse crossover event, this time injecting an even greater sense of adventure and silliness. It’s the type of epic-sized popcorn movie that unleashes nonstop monster brawls and tongue-in-cheek humor in equal measure.

Since the events of Godzilla vs. Kong, Godzilla spends his downtime curling up for naptime in Rome’s Colosseum when not snuffing out rogue Titans that emerge. The kaiju king’s activity is closely monitored by Monarch and Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall). Dr. Andrews also keeps a close eye on Kong through stations established around Hollow Earth access points, and poor Kong is lonely as he still searches for others like him. Then there’s Dr. Andrews’ adoptive daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the sole survivor of the decimated Iwi tribe from Skull Island. Jia’s struggles to find her place in school and society at large get exacerbated by strange new visions that seem directly tied to Hollow Earth.

Dr. Andrews enlists Bernie (Brian Tyree Henry) to help her navigate Jia’s new plight. Once the new threat makes itself known, all three, along with wisecracking kaiju vet Trapper (Dan Stevens), descend into Hollow Earth for answers. Instead, they find a terrifying new battle heating up for kaiju sovereignty. 

Rebecca Hall and Dan Stevens in Godzilla x Kong

The Monsterverse franchise often struggles with its human characters and how they fit into the kaiju mayhem, but screenwriters Terry RossioSimon Barrett, and Jeremy Slater may have finally cleared this hurdle by trimming down the human cast and keeping it simple. Jia’s heritage creates an emotional conflict between her and her adoptive mother that injects a sweet earnestness, while Brian Tyree Henry’s Bernie brings levity. Then there’s the scene-chewing Dan Stevens, whose Trapper gets introduced in style as he performs a tooth extraction from an aircraft with infectious exuberance. Stevens plays the character with the bravado of an ’80s action star but one that’s fully aware of himself and the absurdity of his unique gig. Trapper’s boisterous personality goes far in demonstrating to audiences just how much we’re meant to be having fun and not take everything seriously, so much so that Godzilla x Kong could stand to see more of him.

Of course, the real stars are the monsters, and this, once again, is Kong’s show. Godzilla remains the undisputed heavyweight champion, but it’s Kong’s pursuit of finding his place in Hollow Earth that drives Godzilla x Kong. The required exposition delivery as Wingard corrals the converging plotlines into an action-heavy final act does slow the momentum in the first two-thirds, despite frequent action set pieces. But the main event delivers the promised team-up and then some, thanks to at least one pivotal surprise up Wingard’s sleeves that brings the wow factor to the final battle. That key surprise is pivotal, not just for fan service, but to offset how underwhelming the new enemy is, a generic mirrored inverse of Kong and his frenemy. 

Angry Kong

Wingard and crew seem fully aware of that and play up the cartoonish quality of the premise to maximize the fun factor. While it does indeed evoke the intended sense of fun, especially when Kong flings a smaller ape around as a weapon or dons a power glove, there’s a weightlessness to the whole thing. There’s no real impact to any of it, even though it often looks cool.

It all amounts to a visually polished Saturday morning cartoon filled with monster brawls and the humans who love them. Beyond the charming entertainment, though, Godzilla x Kong is more hollow than Hollow Earth.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire roars into theaters and IMAX on March 29, 2024.

2.5 out of 5 skulls

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