Stranded backpackers in remote Australia fall prey to a murderous bushman who offers to fix their car, then takes them captive. The three backpackers are tortured by a sadistic psychopathic local.
For thoughts on Wolf Creek, please check out our video here.
Video Quality
Wolf Creek debuts domestically on Blu-Ray courtesy of Lionsgate which appears to capture the intended aesthetic of the film even if it is not always the most dazzling viewing experience. We cannot be certain, but this transfer is likely derived from an older master. This was captured in that mid-2000s period when filmmakers were still figuring out how to properly utilize digital filmmaking. The film mixes HDCAM technology with traditional 16mm film for a picture that always has a specific creative bent yet never looks completely natural. The digital footage has a digital sheen that would never be mistaken for anything else. The 16mm footage is less aggressively processed, but it does struggle to hold up to its ideal glory in the unforgiving darkness of the frame in the latter half of the story.
Color saturation is not one of the strong suits thanks to the aggressively tweaked temperature. Some of the locales are rendered with the appropriate richness. Skin tones are warm with exposed skin accumulating grime and wounds. Black levels are somewhat inconsistent as they stumble with crush, digital noise, and sporadic banding. The transfer has fine clarity throughout with upsetting flourishes in the production design and makeup effects. Compared to other Lionsgate releases in this most recent SteelBook batch, this seems to be the one least likely to benefit from a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade. Most will likely be satisfied with not having to import an international HD release. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has finally brought this to Blu-Ray for American audiences.
Audio Quality
Lionsgate brings Wolf Creek to Blu-Ray with a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track that translates the soundscape with a hiccup. Dialogue comes through clearly with none of the information feeling overshadowed by the the sound effects. The score travels through the room with ideal fidelity. The track keeps things fully three-dimensional with sounds coming from the appropriate direction. The movie uses environmental sounds to great effect, and the track maintains strong detail even when victims are fighting for their lives. This track does what it needs to. Optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles are provided.
Special Features
Lionsgate has provided Wolf Creek with a sleek new SteelBook in collaboration with Bloody Disgusting available exclusively at Wal-Mart. Video of the SteelBook can be found above.
- Audio Commentary: Director Greg McLean, Executive Producer Matt Hearn, and Actors Cassandra Magrath and Kestie Morassi provide a lighthearted commentary track in which they reveal details of the production, the shooting locations, the tight budget, and more.
- The Making of Wolf Creek: An impressive 50-minute featurette that delivers some interviews and behind-the-scenes footage delving into the creation of the film.
- Deleted Scene: A 38-second unused scene in the general store is provided.
- Theatrical Trailer: The nearly two-and-a-half-minute-long trailer is provided.
Final Thoughts
Wolf Creek is a visceral and upsetting tale that plays on the fear of getting lost in the middle of nowhere without any hope of getting out alive. The movie can be cruel, but it is in service of setting the stakes for the remaining characters. The film does not allow itself much fat of the narrative so you are constantly moving forward once you are off to the races. This is a memorable horror thriller. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has delivered a new Blu-Ray release featuring a fine A/V presentation and a decent selection of special features in a snazzy new SteelBook. If you like killer psychopaths on film, this is worth checking out. Recommended
Wolf Creek is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray SteelBook exclusively at Wal-Mart.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
