Wolf Creek 2 praised at Venice Film Festival premiere

Director Greg McLean, right, actor John Jarrat and producer Helen Leake in Venice for the Wolf Creek 2 premiere. Picture: Gabriel Bouys/AFP Source: AFP

 
 

The Daily Telegraph reports

Australian slasher flick Wolf Creek 2 has been well-received by movie critics after making its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

The outback sequel to 2005's acclaimed horror movie made its first showing at the popular film festival on Sunday.

The sequel follows the return of outback serial killer Mick Taylor as he reeks his special brand of gory havoc upon more unwitting tourists.

Industry publications Variety and The Hollywood Reporter praised the film's acting talent and production values, despite acknowledging the original for having stronger impact and quality.

"Neither as striking nor as fundamentally scary as its predecessor, this pumped-up, robustly crafted pic is still quite a ride, and one that genre-inclined distribs (sic) should have no qualms about hitching,'' Variety wrote.

The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, praised the film's "atmospheric cinematography'' and black humour.

It also lauded "very fine acting'' by John Jarratt, who reprises his role as serial killer Taylor, and Packed to the Rafters star Ryan Corr, as his hapless victim.

"If Corr acts and looks better scene by scene as his character pulls out panicked courage, Jarratt has his role as a psychopath down pat and seems calmly poised for an eventual Part 3,'' it wrote.

Director Greg Mclean on Twitter welcomed the "fantastic'' screening reaction.

"Extremely happy WC2 team today, so warmly welcomed by the coolest cat on the Lido, Alberto Barbera. Impressionante (sic)!,'' he tweeted on Sunday.

Wolf Creek 2 will be released in Australian cinemas on February 14.

Wolf Creek 2 secures world premiere at Venice Film Festival

Actor John Jarratt channelling Mick Taylor in Wolf Creek 2. Source: News Limited

 

Neala Johnson, The Daily Telegraph, reports

One of the classiest and oldest film festivals in the world, Venice, will this year get a good old-fashioned dose of Aussie splatter.

Horror movie Wolf Creek 2 will have its world premiere at the Italian festival, which runs from August 28-September 7.

The film revives John Jarratt's iconic role as sadistic pig-shooter Mick Taylor, letting him loose on unsuspecting backpackers for another outback killing spree.

Director Greg Mclean today called the premiere a "great way to experience how this very Australian movie plays to a global audience. My hope is it will be embraced for being every bit as entertaining, controversial and compelling as the first movie".

In a statement, Jarratt added, "It's very rare for a film festival to accept a sequel, unless it's exceptionally high quality. This is a wonderful endorsement of our great film."

Wolf Creek 2 will be shown in Venice's Midnight program, which has previously played host to the likes of Robert Rodriguez's shoot-'em-up slasher Machete.

It will not be alone in showing a darker side at Venice. Festival director Alberto Barbera has said this year's program "reflects the crises we are going through ... sexual abuse, violence against women, the break-down of family ties, inadequate parents, the crisis of values ... filmmakers are not giving any signs of optimism or a way out''.

Venice will play host to three other Australian films. Tracks (about a journey across the centre of Australia, starring Mia Wasikowska), will screen in competition. Low-budget drama Ruin will feature in a competition for rising talents and documentary Ukraine is Not a Brothel will screen out of competition.

Another Australian film set to premiere overseas is Felony, a crime drama written by and starring Joel Edgerton. Co-starring Jai Courtney and Melissa George, it will debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 5-15.

Wolf Creek 2 opens in Australia on February 20.

Lincoln's all for some risky business

Young Aussie actor, Lincoln Lewis, is all for some risky business. Picture: Kristi Miller Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

Lincoln Lewis believes the Australian film industry is "playing too safe" when it comes to local productions, saying you have to take risks to make money.

Promoting new shark horror flick Bait 3D yesterday, the young gun said it was time to step outside the box.

"In America they put a lot of money into something and most of the time it pays off," he told Confidential. "That's why I'm really stoked with Bait, because it's a mainstream film and Australia doesn't make a lot of them."

Bait - out September 20 - got a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.