Savages Crossing

Winnah Films

Anchor bay Entertainment

R4 DVD

 

This is another one of those films designed to encourage tourists to stay away from Australia’s outback.

 

Phil has just been released from prison and he is coming back to demand money from his wife – even though he has previously gambled away most of the family’s assets. Phil is a psycho killer and his time in prison has not improved his attitude. His wife knows this and has secretly hired a gunman to dispose of Phil.

 

All the protagonists are stuck in the local roadhouse when a flash flood covers the Savages Crossing bridge. As well as Phil and his family there are two young girl tourists, the owner of the roadhouse and the girl who runs it for him. They will all be involved in Phil’s bloody campaign to get the money he believes is his right and all will suffer at Phil’s hands.

 

The action never stops and the tension continues to rise right through the film. John Jarrett is becoming typecast as the homicidal maniac with the disarming smile (see Wolf Creek) but he does it so well as he drags the story from crisis to crisis. Craig McLachlan as the roadhouse owner / truck driver is a bit overshadowed by him, but still turns in a creditable performance as the laconic but competent outback type. It’s nice to see Angela Punch McGregor again as Phil’s estranged wife. Her personality change from the desperate wife to the hard old tart who hires killers is startlingly effective.

 

It’s a good film, well scripted and brilliantly acted. It is definitely worth a look.

 

vatribflorish

 

 

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This review will appear in Volume 3 No. 3 of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

 

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