Savages Crossing

Well......I have just watched this tense taut drama/thriller n it was a brilliant story n well written with amazing suspense throughout. The plot was good with lively action too. One mans demented obsession with his wife n son all taking place in one location.

The acting was superb n the characters were brilliant n bounced off each other.

The ending was unexpected n unpredictable n apt for the story.

I recommend this movie especially if you like suspense n high drama n thrillers.

Obviously Jarratt is wanting to cash in on Wolf Creek, bringing another psycho loser to the screen, and relishing in it. He is a good actor, and the acting here isn't the problem. It's the movie, written by the Jarratt's who should have never been allowed to put pen to paper. I couldn't believe how horribly bad this movie was. I know I wasn't in for Oscar viewing, and I expected B grade fare, but in two words it's incredibly or pathetically bad. Jarratt's wife, Angela Punch Macgregor, at first unrecognizable, in a splendid performance, and real life Jarratt son, (yes another Jarratt contribute) flee from their house in the wake of an approaching storm/flood. This take refuge in this gas, station run by nonetheless Craig Mclachlan, another one of the top performers in this. Of course the acting prize does go to Chris Haywood, as a shady guy, who shows up at the gas station, to take out the deranged Jarratt who's such fun to watch, in a film so bad, you appreciate it. There's no thriller elements in this. The characters motivations are obvious. Jessica Napier is nice scenery as the gas/convenience store hand who shares a strong kiss with her savior Maclachlan, amidst the raging waters of the wild Wonga river, as falling prey earlier to the maniacal Jarrett. And looking much older is Bec Smart, and lesbian friend, may'be, the terrific Horler. Actors can only do their best when faced with incredibly bad scripts as this. One line had me laughing, as to Maclachlan, correcting Jarratt's first and last character's name, with one of insult, as trying to cross an untamed ford in his fancy car, then having to be towed by Maclachlan's truck. The film even ends on a stupid line, and Macgregor and son, who are kept hidden in a bed shed at the good will of Maclachlan, looks very much like the one used in Wolf Creek, where Mick Taylor had his fun. Just out of curiosity, just watch this to see how bad a movie can be, but there's a few worse floating around, not a lot, about a few. Just don't blame the actors.

Savages Crossing is a micro-budget horror flick written by John Jarratt and his son and it really is just an exercise in vanity. Jarratt had a fleeting glimpse at resurrected stardom with Wolf Creek and so he's essentially written himself another psychopathic lunatic role in a similar vein. But hey, the movie works. The first 10 minutes are woeful (and unnecessary) as its shot in day light and the lack of budget shows, but once night falls and the rain pours, Savages Crossing has a great atmosphere and performances. Craig McLachlan is actually really good as the 'take- no-sh!t' country farmer and in my opinion he steals the show. Its not great by any means, but certainly worth a look.

The nut-job killer (played by John Jarratt) from the rather wonderful 'slasher' 'Wolf Creek', reprises a near exact (twisted) character performance, in a lesser but still totally mad Australian feature. Saying that it's nowhere as good, so for me it goes down a major disappointment. Mr J.Jarratt give you a reason to watch.

A flash flood in Australia cuts off a small handful of people in a remote roadside diner . A man called Phil enters and threatens his estranged wife Sue and the stranded drivers realise they're in a desperate struggle for their lives

This is a low budget Aussie thriller with a very small cast and a limited number of sets . This isn't enough to condemn the film as a failure of course but if you're making something along the lines of THE OLD DARK HOUSE then you'll need to make sure you're bringing something new and appetizing to the table and this is where SAVAGES CROSSING fails to a very large extent . What happens for most of the time Phil played by John Jarrat swaggers around over acting to high heaven telling people if they don't tell him where his wife is he's going to have to kill them

Another minor annoyance is Craig McLachan as the hero of sorts Mory . McLachan was once a household name in Britain and Australia twenty years ago due to his starring roles in NEIGHBOURS and HOME AWAY while like so many Aussie soap opera stars had a side line as a pop singer and he does the incidental music here on a soundtrack that is rather intrusive . He doesn't make much of a hunky hero either in a film that feels something of a wash out which is appropriate since it revolves around a flood