Wolf Creek 2

Director - Greg McLean (Rogue, The Belko Experiment)

Starring - John Jarratt (Wolf Creek, Django Unchained), Ryan Corr (Hacksaw Ridge, Where the Wild Things Are), and Shannon Ashlyn (Devil's Dust, Love Child)

Release Date - 2013

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Mick's back with a few days to kill"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Back around the time I graduated high school the Australian horror film Wolf Creek was released to the masses.  I was not interested in the film at first but over time I was finally open for the experience and really enjoyed it.  Fast forward to 2013 and the film finally got the sequel that many had asked for.  Horror fans were rabid for Mick Taylor and it looked like John Jarratt would once again bring the character back to life.  Just like with the first film, I was not excited for the sequel.  So much time had passed since the original film and I was afraid Jarratt would not be able to give us the same killer.  I was also concerned that the film would be a cheap cash in like the abysmal Lost Boys sequels.  I was able to find the DVD for less than $5 at a thrift store and grabbed it for my collection but never watched it until I received season one of the new television show.  I figured it was better now than never to check it out.

     The film picks up some time after the events in Wolf Creek as we follow Australian serial killer Mick Taylor as he combs the outback for tourists to torture and kill.  He comes across a German couple and makes quick work of the man before setting his sights on the woman when she is able to get away and picked up by Paul (Corr).  Now Paul is thrust in the middle of Mick's bloody game and is forced to fight for his very life.
    
     I went into WC2 with very low expectations and came out of it enjoying a lot more than the first film.  The film was a lot more dark and bleak in tone and was able to amp up the gore game.  This was something I was not expecting.  The acting in this one is fucking fantastic.  The entire cast delivered amazing performances.  Ryan Corr is brilliant as the victim.  It would have been so easy for McLean to cast a young up and coming actress to play the final girl but opted to go the unconventional route and cast a male in distress.  It worked for the most part.  Once again the real star of the film is John Jarratt who absolutely kills it with his portrayal of Mick Taylor.  He is charming when he needs to be, methodical when it calls for it, savage when he's on the hunt, and humorous most of the time.  Its hard to notice the rest of the cast when Mick is in the scene.  A modern day horror icon and nothing short.  The story for this one is a worthy follow up to the first film but it does put the ball in Mick's court.  This gave the viewer more time with Mick while inadvertently putting them in the middle of all the action.  The story starts out fairly quick as well and takes most of the drama out of it unlike the first film.  With that being said, the final portion of the film is rather slow and a little boring.  Finally, this film is a huge step over the kills in the first film.  The kills in this sequel are in your face, bloody, and savage.  The effects are damn near perfect which really adds to the gore factor.  Overall, Wolf Creek 2 is one of the rare sequels that are better than the original.  The kills are far superior, the acting is more well rounded, and the story is a little more hard hitting.  I can not recommend this one enough.