Welcome back to The Cutting Room. This week we’re looking at a couple of releases that we hope will disprove the usual law of diminishing sequels.
The first Wolf Creek, released back in 2005, was a decent stab at outback horror and featured one of the most memorable bad guys of recent times, the diabolical, several shrimps short of a Barbie, Mick Taylor. With writer/director Greg Mclean and star John Jarratt both back for a second stab at the series, Mick Taylor’s long awaited return should be worthwhile.
This time around, an exchange student called Paul (Ryan Corr) has been lured to see the infamous Wolf Creek Crater but inevitably discovers the area’s less attractive tourist trap. After being pursued across the outback, then captured and taken to Taylor’s lair, Paul must use his wits to stay alive and outsmart the sadistic serial killer.
Why we’re looking forward to this: The first movie had an absolutely gorgeous look to it, reminiscent of Daniel Pearl’s stunning cinematography work on the original 1974 Texas Chain Saw Massacre and its 2003 remake, so we’re anticipating more panoramic Antipodean vistas. Looks aren’t everything, though, and those who have seen the original will remember a certain scene with a knife that even Crocodile Dundee would blanche. Well, word has it that the bar has been raised (or lowered, depending on your perspective) on that squeamish set piece so we’re sure to be satisfied by whatever sadistic shenanigans our favourite bloodthirsty bushwhacker gets up to this time.
Wolf Creek 2 is out on DVD and Blu-ray on 15th September.
A freak weather system hits New York City, bringing with it another Sharknado! Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering) and April Wexler (Tara Reid), survivors of the previous year’s attack on Los Angeles, must use their experience to save the Big Apple from, yes, sharks!
Wait, come back! We’re not joking.
Why we’re looking forward to this: Not every horror movie has to be serious, or well made, or even make sense to be entertaining and Sharknado was one of those films. Taken with a pinch of salt and a six pack of beer, we actually had fun with it, rejoicing in its complete absence of logic and sniggering at the plot holes you could drive a Star Destroyer through.
Sharknado 2: The Second One promises to be more of the same, and though you won’t often hear us say this, sometimes a second piece of the same pie is perfectly acceptable. Not every day is a steak day, some days you just want hamburger, and this particular shark burger is guaranteed to come fully loaded with cheese.
Sharknado 2: The Second One had its UK premier on the SyFy channel last month (what do you mean you missed it?!), but will be coming to a screen near you soon.