There are some signature set pieces in this film and, to be fair, they are pretty much unforgettable. In the opening sequence (which is as good as the film ever gets, all downhill from there) a pair of bored cops decide to get tough on the driver of a truck that went through their speed trap, EVEN THOUGH the driver was not actually speeding. Turns out the driver is the baddie from Wolf1 -- sort of a mix between Freddie Kruger and Hannibal Lecter -- and taunting him is a REALLY bad idea. Later, when the impromptu male victim (more on him below) stumbles on one of the earlier, near-victims trying to escape, and rescues her in his car, only to have the baddie now chasing HIM, there comes a scene where the baddie pulls out a hi-power rifle and takes aim at the man, who promptly ducks, but neglects to do the "chivalrous" thing and warn the terrified woman in the seat next to him. So the bullet meant for HIM ends up blowing HER brains out. And, finally, the same young man, who has now become prey himself, loses a car chase and ends up at the bottom off a ravine, climbs out, and yells to the villain "YOU HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT," and scant seconds later a tractor trailer comes hurtling over the cliff which almost makes him a smudge on the landscape.
Frankly, these are unforgettable scenes. And that is a very good thing because the rest of the film, the glue that holds these three scenes together, is not only forgettable but pretty much repulsive.
Essentially we have two movies here, cut at the half way point. The first is an interesting hodge-podge which riffs not only off Wolf1 but also pays "homage" to Spielberg's DUEL. And to a lesser extent, Texas CHAINSAW.
In fact, the action overall is so disjointed that it actually takes a while to determine who the "innocent" is – and in these films the success or failure of the production invariably depends on how well the audience "connects" with the innocent.
By the second act, we discover the innocent is the above-mentioned young male who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Connection value? Zero. Which means entertainment value zero as well.
The entire second act is (not kidding, really) torture porn without any female actors on the set. An amazing feat. Should be be in Guiness. The only performance that survives this wretched undertaking is the part of the Australian scenery, well played by (err) the Australian scenery. The rest is a travesty.
Frankly, these are unforgettable scenes. And that is a very good thing because the rest of the film, the glue that holds these three scenes together, is not only forgettable but pretty much repulsive.
Essentially we have two movies here, cut at the half way point. The first is an interesting hodge-podge which riffs not only off Wolf1 but also pays "homage" to Spielberg's DUEL. And to a lesser extent, Texas CHAINSAW.
In fact, the action overall is so disjointed that it actually takes a while to determine who the "innocent" is – and in these films the success or failure of the production invariably depends on how well the audience "connects" with the innocent.
By the second act, we discover the innocent is the above-mentioned young male who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Connection value? Zero. Which means entertainment value zero as well.
The entire second act is (not kidding, really) torture porn without any female actors on the set. An amazing feat. Should be be in Guiness. The only performance that survives this wretched undertaking is the part of the Australian scenery, well played by (err) the Australian scenery. The rest is a travesty.