To the majority who have never had the chance to travel to Australia, the country can seem like a world unto its own, with unique wildlife and an abundance of slang undiscernible to outsiders. However, the world of cinema, music, TV, and art have all bridged the cultural gap which once made the country seem like a world apart.
Even as cultural barriers have come down, there is still some intrigue in the landscape, which hosts creatures many of us in the West would consider being scary. To the benefit of fans of horror cinema, these differences garnered some intrigue in the Australian film market, which allowed films from the 70s onward to capture an audience across the world (even if just a niche audience). As a result, the country has produced some standout movies that fans of creature features, slashers, and the supernatural should take note of.
Long Weekend (1978)
A suburbanite couple decides to go on a camping trip to a remote locale. However, their ideal camping trip turns nightmarish when nature seems to revolt against their presence.
Exploring the importance of respecting nature, Long Weekend is an ominous exploration of everything that can go wrong on a vacation. Adding to the odd occurrences brought on by animals and the environment, the production does a good job of making the incidents feel like part of a bigger plan for nature to expunge the disrespectable visitors. Thick with atmosphere and beautiful locations, Long Weekend perfectly frames both the beauty and uncertainty of nature in the outback.
Wolf Creek (2005)
Three backpackers in the Australian outback end up coming across a series of grisly murders. Soon they themselves become the target of a hunter, who uses the harsh terrain as a way to disguise his sadistic intents to hunt humans.
One of the best slasher films outside of the US, Wolf Creek is a relentless and uncompromising vision of horror from Greg Maclean. While the title would go on to spawn a sequel and a subsequent television series, the first film showed the killer Mick Taylor as a monster whose only motivation seemed to be for the thrill of hunting "the most dangerous game".
Dead End Drive-In (1986)
In a dystopian future, drive-in theaters have become the battleground for gangs of juvenile delinquents and punks. Finding himself in the middle of the conflict, a young health-obsessed man and his timid girlfriend make the mistake of showing up just to catch the feature presentation. As a war breaks out among the deviants, the young man is forced to fight for his life.
A love letter to gritty film, horror, and the theater experience, Dead End Drive-in is considered a rare horror title that also carries the moniker of 'Ozploitation'. Under such a title, the film will best find intrigue with those who enjoy the grindhouse aesthetic, kept alive by modern filmmakers like Quinten Tarantino and Rob Zombie. Fun, gritty, and in a world of its own, the production is one of the more memorable to come out of the 80s' Australian cinema.
Rogue (2007)
Taking on an assignment in Australia, an American journalist comes face to face with a large man-eating crocodile. With the encounter taking place on a rapidly flooding mud island, the places to run start to disappear, forcing the journalist to fight for her life against the giant croc.
Following up on his popular debut film Wolf Creek, Greg Mclean's Rogue showed the director taking a different direction, focusing his talents onto a giant creature. Thankfully, this departure proved equally successful for the director, standing out among a plethora of killer animal films around the same time. Following the director's knack for unrelenting pace and gore, Rogue is an intense horror experience over a decade later.
The Loved Ones (2009)
After turning down the awkward Lola's request to go to prom, classmate Brent finds himself captive in Lola's family home. Aided by her father, the young girl shows her obsessive side as she transitions between admiration and violent hatred.
An uncomfortable tale of obsession, The Loved Ones contains one of the greatest performances of teenage delusion in Robin Mcleavy's portrayal of the disturbed Lola. As a result, the violent outbursts and actions become exponentially more disturbing coming through the broken mentality of the lovesick Lola. Graphic and uncomfortable, the film is certain to stick in the memory of viewers for some time.
Next of Kin (1982)
While staying with her mother at a care home for the elderly, a woman stumbles upon her mother's diary which contains some horrific scenarios. When the words in the diary begin to become true, the daughter must try to figure out the source behind the attacks against the residents and staff of the home.
Strong cinematography, a killer soundtrack, and some healthy doses of surrealism help make Next of Kin a standout among the plethora of 80s slasher films. Additionally, the film boasts some strong performances that help portray the mental breakdown of its protagonist.
Razorback (1984)
A vicious boar is terrorizing the outback, killing farmers and hunters alike. The deaths bring together a surviving widower, a hunter, and a farmer who team up to bring down the vicious beast.
It would be difficult to point to a horror film that reflects the West's view of the outback more than Razorback, as the landscape and wildlife are fully explored in the production. What really makes the film stand out though is the practical effects, making the giant bore a sight to behold and a pleasure to see in action (however bloody it may get).
The Tunnel (2011)
Investigating a government cover-up, a reporter and her crew head down to the train tunnels deep beneath Sydney. However, the group soon finds an evil force lives within the depths.
With the rise in found-footage horror, it seems that every country has been able to produce at least one standout production using the approach. Australia's response came via the small indie film The Tunnel, which wonderfully blended jump scares and a claustrophobic atmosphere. Fans of the mini-genre should take note not to miss this one.
Road Games (1981)
An American truck driver in Australia begins to suspect a fellow trucker of having murdered women on his route. This begins as a cat and mouse game, aided by a hitchhiker, in trying to catch the trucker in the act of murder.
It was not uncommon for Hollywood actors to appear in Australian productions, in this case, veteran actor Stacey Keach and horror icon/Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis leaned their skills to the sleek thriller from down under. Overall, the film is a competent drama with some great sequences of horror, coming from the visions that Keach's character has of a potential killer, keeping the viewer guessing until the very end.
The Babadook (2014)
Easily the most recognizable modern horror film to come out of Australia, The Babadook took horror cinema by storm with its harrowing portrayal of a mother's mental decline and the frightening creature (considered to be one of the best-designed monsters of the decade).
While you would be hard-pressed to find a horror fan not familiar with the production, it stands as one of the biggest and best horror films ever to come out of Australia.