Outback
January 26th 2007 00:52
Outback was adapted from the novel Wake in Fright by Kenneth Cook and directed by Ted Kotcheff (First Blood) in 1971. But the film never received a proper Australian release. Ironically it was nominated for the Palm d’Or at Cannes despite the controversy it yielded (more on that later).
It’s not strictly a horror movie, but more a dust-laden dream of dark and troubling things. Sort of like The Wicker Man lost in the strine desert. There are moments of horror, but it's more of a dysfunctional thriller, with a thick melodramatic atmosphere of dread and foreboding.
In a fly-bown nutshell; an English teacher (unknown English actor Gary Bond) leaves his post at Tiboonda, a desolate outback settlement, and travels by train to Bundanyabba, a more populated, but no less primitive township. It is here in the ‘Yabba that our sensitive young teacher becomes stranded.
There’s nothing to do but keep tearin’ the scab off another can o’ draught and guzzle, guzzle, guzzle ‘til the early dawn. But not before a little “spotlightin” is done; a little ‘roo huntin’ to keep the sozzled, reckless boys amused.
The kangaroo hunting is the film’s centre of controversy, as it is obvious several Skippys are actually shot dead on-camera. However a disclaimer at film’s end states emphatically that the ‘roo hunting was done by licensed professional hunters and was “conducted with the approval of leading animal welfare organizations.” Yeah, right, whatever.
The teacher wakes with another nasty hangover. His ocker mates are already bitin’ the hair of the dog. He needs to get out of this desert Hell. The locals have a twisted sense of hospitality. Drink, gamble, rumble, hunt, drink, gamble, rumble, hunt … and drink a little more.
But it’s like his foot is caught in a noose which keeps yanking him back. After one particularly nasty bout of alcoholic consumption our teacher awakens to find he is naked and sprawled across the doc’s floor. The doc is without his pants too, lying in a beer-soaked coma. The suggestion of violation is none too pleasant.
So our teacher finally manages to hitch a lift with a trucker after bartering with the rifle the ‘roo hunters had so generously provided him. He collapses asleep in the rig, only to wake in fright when the driver, who told him they were passing through the “city”, pulls back the tarpaulin and reveals them to be back in the 'Yabba. “This is the city, isn’t it?” the driver mutters. Our poor teacher shakes his head in despair. The horror, the horror …
My brother originally saw this under its Aussie title Wake in Fright on television in Germany. Immediately I trawled the net in search of a copy. It's a hard find.
In the DVD-R transfer I own all the colour has been washed out and the contrast overblown, which only adds to the surreal imagery and mood; the sun-burnt, dust-blown, sweat-soaked atmosphere of the strine outback. To add further dislocation, the soundtrack had obviously been dubbed in later consisting of just the most immediate sounds (ie a full noisy pub only has the dialogue of the lead actors and a few glasses clinking in the background). It’s like Fellini does The Wicker Man on a Walkabout caught in a Groundhog Day.
There are only bare bones to this unique flick, but it works a bloody charm, like the charm of a snakebite; hallucinatory. Outback is a rare find, a slow burn nightmare of conformity, intolerance and degradation.
Now, shut ya trap, peel it back, and throw another ‘roo steak on the barbie mate!
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Superb work recognizing this under discussed aussie gem on Australia day..."Its like Fellini does Wickerman ona Walkabout caught in a Groundhog Day"- great description.
Have not seen this on DVD, but even a dodgy Pan N Scan VHS made me lose my marbles, would love to it remastered with some TLC.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile