Wolf Creek

(Herald rating * * )

If the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is your idea of a good time, this is the film for you.

Wolf Creek screened at Sundance last year and has been making a name since because of its graphic violent nature, and controversial release dates.

It's a story about three backpackers who go missing in the Australian Outback and its release was delayed in the Northern Territory to avoid influencing the trial of Bradley John Murdoch, accused of murdering Peter Falconio.

First-time director, writer Greg McLean says it was partly inspired by the Falconio case but won't say which events the film is based on.

Wolf Creek is the mysterious story of Liz (Magrath) and Kristy (Morassi), two English backpackers who along with a token Aussie bloke Ben (Phillips) decide to drive from Perth to Cairns. The trip, and the film, start off well. The 20-something characters are all likeable, romance is in the air, the scenery is stunning, and you have the feeling this film has potential.

When the trio arrives at Wolf Creek National Park they walk off to the park's remarkable meteor crater. When they return hours later, their car won't start.

Night falls, and the three sit and wait for rescue, which comes in the shape of a local bushman, a seemingly nice guy called Mick (Jarrett, who played nice guy Terry in McLeod's Daughters) who offers to tow their car back to his hut where he can fix the problem.

You instinctively know it's time to shut your eyes, as the film switches from intriguing to plain old gruesome.

If McLean intended to create a film that horrifies, he deserves an A for effort. Wolf Creek isn't so much scary as it is ghastly, and uncomfortable in its use of graphic violence.

The film ends abruptly, and it seems McLean has taken his audience for a ride. He has taken a supposedly intriguing unsolved mystery and turned it into an exploitive, pointless and humourless slasher horror flick.

CAST: Cassandra Magrath, John Jarrett, Kestie Morassi, Nathan Phillips, Andy McPhee
DIRECTOR: Greg McLean
RUNNING TIME: 100 mins
RATING: R18 - Sadistic violence and sexual themes and offensive language
SCREENING: Village and Hoyts cinemas