Mar '17
As a true blue Aussie I've always loved American and European horror. Us Aussies, however, have churned out some gems over the years. I think our lack of funds has actually attributed to some original and outright creepy stuff.
Wake in Fright
An excellent novel adapted into film in 1971. The film itself was unavailable for many years until 2009 when it was digitially restored and made avaiilable on DVD/Blueray. I read the book in high school and had the privilege of finally seeing the film upon it's release in 2009. It has a Deliverance feel about it but our protagonist is forced into joining in with these outback inbreds and partaking in their weird and often violent shenanigans. As the title suggests, he often wakes in fright during the film with a cunt of a hangover and more regret about the night before than any of us could dare to imagine.
Lake Mungo
I love a slow burn and this film is certainly that with a payoff that sends serious shivers down your spine. Filmed in a documentary style, we get to hear from the family of a girl whose body is found in the lake and the events that led up to that. Doesn't sound like much on the surface but boy did it give me the chills.
The Babadook
What's in the mind and what's really going on? A beautifully dark film on the terrifying degradation of the mind of a single mum.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Eerie is probaby the best word to describe this. Stunning visuals and a haunting pan flute soundtrack. This film takes us on a trek with bunch of school girls who move into another dimension (or something like that) when they go on a day trip to Hanging Rock.
Next of Kin
A relatively unknown little horror from 1981. A young woman inherits a retirement home where strange happenings and deaths start to occur. I must say the house that features in this is one of the most creepy I've seen in any movie. Also starring a very young John Jarratt.
Wolf Creek
Speaking of John Jarrat, before this film came I out I knew him mostly as the loveable larrikin that presented on our version of Better Homes and Gardens TV show during most of the 90's. It's a testament to his great performance that this vision of him soon disappeared when watching this gut wrenching horror inspired by many a back packer killing in our sunburnt country. I love the idea that he dressed up as Mick when the film was first released and waited in the foyer of a cinema for unsuspecting viewers to come out after watching this. God I wish I was one of them!
Wake in Fright
An excellent novel adapted into film in 1971. The film itself was unavailable for many years until 2009 when it was digitially restored and made avaiilable on DVD/Blueray. I read the book in high school and had the privilege of finally seeing the film upon it's release in 2009. It has a Deliverance feel about it but our protagonist is forced into joining in with these outback inbreds and partaking in their weird and often violent shenanigans. As the title suggests, he often wakes in fright during the film with a cunt of a hangover and more regret about the night before than any of us could dare to imagine.
Lake Mungo
I love a slow burn and this film is certainly that with a payoff that sends serious shivers down your spine. Filmed in a documentary style, we get to hear from the family of a girl whose body is found in the lake and the events that led up to that. Doesn't sound like much on the surface but boy did it give me the chills.
The Babadook
What's in the mind and what's really going on? A beautifully dark film on the terrifying degradation of the mind of a single mum.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Eerie is probaby the best word to describe this. Stunning visuals and a haunting pan flute soundtrack. This film takes us on a trek with bunch of school girls who move into another dimension (or something like that) when they go on a day trip to Hanging Rock.
Next of Kin
A relatively unknown little horror from 1981. A young woman inherits a retirement home where strange happenings and deaths start to occur. I must say the house that features in this is one of the most creepy I've seen in any movie. Also starring a very young John Jarratt.
Wolf Creek
Speaking of John Jarrat, before this film came I out I knew him mostly as the loveable larrikin that presented on our version of Better Homes and Gardens TV show during most of the 90's. It's a testament to his great performance that this vision of him soon disappeared when watching this gut wrenching horror inspired by many a back packer killing in our sunburnt country. I love the idea that he dressed up as Mick when the film was first released and waited in the foyer of a cinema for unsuspecting viewers to come out after watching this. God I wish I was one of them!
Storm Warning, Turkey Shoot, Dead End Drive In, Snowtown & The Horseman are some more gooduns, admittedly the latter two are more Ozploitation than Horror.