Monday, February 05, 2018
Outback/Wake in Fright
- Commentary: I originally saw this movie when it was first released outside of Australia in 1971 under the name Outback. It made such an impression on me that I will always think of it by that name. It is an unrelentingly horrifying film and purely Australian. Couldn't have been made anywhere else. Seeing this film marked the beginning of my fascination with Australian cinema and filmmakers.
I was terribly young when I saw it; not yet 20. For years after that single theater viewing I unsuccessfully searched high and low for further showings of this movie. When DVDs became available I regularly looked for this movie under the title by which I'd known it. Couldn't find it anywhere, in libraries or for sale. Turns out, it was released in 2012 as Wake in Fright. I didn't realize this until I performed yet another search for it a few weeks ago, found a blue ray transfer of it and promptly bought it. Under that name, one of the branches of my library system has a copy. But, that's okay. I needed to own a copy. It is just as startling and unsettling as I remember it. More so, in a way, because I now know, through a special feature on the disc, how the kangaroo hunts were filmed.
I wouldn't willy nilly recommend this film to just anyone. I'm glad I have a copy, though. It is, only slightly arguably, the bravest, most frightening piece of cinema I've ever seen. Leave it to the Australians.
In my Movie Cabinets, by the way, it is filed under "Wake in Fright".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gary Bond John Grant Donald Pleasence Clarence F. Tydon Chips Rafferty Jock Crawford Sylvia Kay Janette Hynes Jack Thompson Dick Peter Whittle Joe Al Thomas Tim Hynes John Meillon Charlie John Armstrong Atkins Slim De Grey Jarvis Maggie Dence Hotel Receptionist Norman Erskine Cook Joe
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
Directed by Ted Kotcheff.
Labels: action1, adventure1, drama4, haunting1, horror1, suspense1, thriller1, tragedy1, violence2
