Wake in Fright (1971)

Hynes: "You don't like the Yabba?"
John: "No!"

A man gets stuck in a town that starts to drive him crazy.
Starring: Gary Bond, Donald Pleasence, Al Thomas, Sylvia Kay

Link to IMDB

John Grant is a schoolteacher in a remote region of Australia's desert, but now that his vacation time has come he's heading to the city to visit his girlfriend. When his train stops overnight in the small town of Bundanyabba (called the Yabba by the locals,) John decides to to get a beer at the local bar. Surrounded by loud and sweaty men, he is reluctantly pulled into a night of heavy drinking by the aggressive hospitality of the sheriff.

When John discovers a peculiar game-of-chance in a back room, he gets hooked into the gambling and starts winning big. As the night goes on, his luck changes and he loses all his money and his train ticket on a foolish bet. Now, with only one dollar in his pocket, John has effectively trapped himself in the unrefined civilization of the Yabba.

Doc

Hungover and upset, he wanders the town until he meets Mr. Hynes. Hynes takes pity on John and invites him to stay at his house for awhile, and they're soon drinking all through the day and night with Hynes' rowdy friends. John also befriends Doc, a more educated man than the common local, but he's still just as uninhibited and drunk as the rest of them.

We get the sense that John has no idea what he's doing. He's completely hopeless and lost, just letting himself be dragged along by these loud and crass men that want to include him in their drunken escapades. Without anywhere to go or any money of his own, he's resigned to just accept that his fate is in their hands.
Surviving on a steady stream of beer, John's week becomes a descent into self-destruction, as his morality and dignity disintegrate and he joins the men in their wanton chaos.

"All the little devils are proud of Hell." - Doc

This is a really great film; expertly shot, edited and acted, with a forceful originality to the story. There are times when you think the plot is going to take a turn into a traditional drama, but no, this movie doesn't follow convention, it simply places you in the discomfort of the oppressive desert heat and leaves you there to witness what happens to the psyche of an average man when he's caught in a trap.

Lots of this

The most memorable and shocking scene is when the men go hunting for kangaroos in the middle of the night. The director, Ted Kotcheff, filmed real licensed hunters at work and seamlessly edited it into the narrative. It's not exactly a gory massacre, but it's the type of disturbing violence that only reality can accurately portray.

The villain of the film becomes the setting itself, as it strips John's decency away and dares you to look at the dysfunctional masculinity on display. Insightful yet dark, intelligent yet gritty, this film is a realistic and visceral look at the deconstruction of man's nobility upon the balance of savagery and civilization.
Will John be the same again when the beer runs out? Or will he forever become a part of the Yabba, clinging to the edge of sanity in the middle of nowhere?



This concludes Ozploitation Appreciation month(s).
I learned a lot about Australia and could probably qualify as an ambassador now. There are a few movies I didn't get a chance to watch, so I'll have to visit Down Under again sometime.


Be sure not to miss:
- This move has an incredible beer-per-minute ratio. Non stop beers!

Internet review:
"A must-see classic that’s as captivating as it is hard-hitting." - Weird Apple

Should I watch it?
Absolutely.

Where can I find it?
Links here. (vidzi)

Wake in Fright gets...

Running on Empty (1982)

"I like cars." - Mike

aka: Fast Lane Fever
A young man gets caught up in the dangers of street racing.
Starring: Terry Serio, Deborah Conway, Max Cullen, Gerry Sont, Richard Moir

Link to IMDB

Mike

Illegal street racing is a dangerous and deadly game, but that's just how the Ace Club likes it. They're a gang of rowdy young adults with suped-up muscle cars, and they live for the thrill of recklessly driving in the city streets.

Mike is a local mechanic that dreams of becoming a professional racer, but when he starts dating Julie he finds himself in trouble with the Aces. Julie is the ex-girlfriend of Fox, the cruel leader of the gang, and he forces Mike into accepting the challenge of a street race.

Mike loses the first race, but since they're competing for best 2 out of 3 he's given a week to fix his car and try again. Desperately in need of new parts for his engine, Mike decides to go to the country and race some of the inexperienced kids to win their money. Julie and their pal Tony pile into the car and join Mike on this road trip.



At first things are going as planned, Mike's car is fast enough to earn him some money and they meet a cool old racer named Rebel that offers them advice and hospitality. But when they piss of the wrong rednecks, Mike's car gets destroyed and he barely escapes with his life!
Luckily, Rebel comes to his rescue, and with one car-fixing montage later he helps Mike get his car back on the road and faster than ever. He heads back into the city, now prepared to beat Fox in the next race... The third act goes where you least expect when tragedy strikes again!

"You're puttin' on the agony, mate, but you're missin' all the style!" - Rebel

Julie                                            Rebel                                                      Fox

The final half hour does get a bit needlessly convoluted and there's an unnecessary subplot about two wacky police officers, but it is refreshing to see Mike's story take some unexpected twists.
There's a certain desolation and brutal honesty that American films of the same genre rarely seem to have. The movie shows a realistic portrayal of growing up in the dangerous subculture of racing, instead of just glamorizing speeding. Yet it's still an energetic (and often humorous) adventure with beautiful cars getting the chance to shine in some satisfying racing scenes.

It may be a bumpy ride in a few places, but it remains a cult classic story about cars, rebels and the bonds of friendship.

Be sure not to miss:
- The philosophical musings of Rebel.
- Fox and the gang constantly call Mike "Piss Off" to the point where it becomes normal.
- The final moment is a bit bonkers, to say the least.

Internet review:
"sweet muscle car racing and pulpy eighties australian cool." - sly3

Should I watch it?
Yeah, the vibes here are good.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

Running on Empty gets...

Strike of the Panther (1988)

"Go away woman, I'm in the middle of a fight." - William

aka: Fists of Blood
Jason is back to kick more criminal butt!
Starring: Edward John Stazak, James Richards, Paris Jefferson, Rowena Wallace

Link to IMDB

Apparently, the Australians needed more Jason Blade asap, because the sequel to Day of the Panther was made the very same year!

After taking down the bad guys in the first movie, Jason now works with the police to help them combat crime. Not only does he train their task force with karate skills, he also acts as an undercover agent when the cops need a tough fighter to handle sensitive cases.
Jason's also balancing his relationship with Gemma. They're getting pretty serious but Jason's having a hard time committing, for fear that he'll only place his girlfriend in danger if she gets too close to him.

Guess what happens? If you guessed that Jason's old nemesis, Baxter, has escaped from prison and the first thing he does is kidnap Gemma, you'd be correct!
William, Jason's longtime mentor, was injured trying to protect Gemma, and he spends most of the movie hospitalized. More on him later.



Baxter has planned his revenge very carefully. He holds Gemma in an old factory warehouse that's built like a fortress, and he has the whole place rigged with explosives. Jason and the police can't risk a direct attack, but they need to do something soon because Baxter is demanding that Jason come fight him face to face. They call in Sgt. Lucy Andrews, a specialist in hostage situations.

Gemma                                          Sgt. Andrews                                             Baxter

Much of the movie becomes the police trying to negotiate with Baxter, which gives Jason time to search the city for Baxter's friends and beat information out of them. There's still the occasional action scene but they save all the really good stuff for when Jason and Sgt. Andrews finally make their move into the factory, because they'll have to fight through an army of ninjas protecting Baxter!

"He died from a sudden attack of Jason Blade." - Lambert

There's less direct humour than the first movie, although the general plot is just as ridiculous so it retains the same tone of off-beat nonsense. One really odd thing is that while William is stuck in the hospital he begins to have psychic premonitions and can telepathically help Jason fight bad guys with his mind! It's totally random and has no connection to anything else in the movie.
I loved it!

If you go in expecting 80's low-budget action, you'll mostly be satisfied, but compared to the first movie this is more of a typical action mess instead of a goofy action mess.


Be sure not to miss:
- Chicken Man.
- The epic opening credits return!
- Gemma gets another aerobic seduction dance scene.

Internet review:
"10 out of 10, what can I say, I gave Titanic a 1." - ComradCorner

Should I watch it?
Only if you really enjoyed the first one. (I know I did.)

Where can I find it?
The download link here actually leads to a streaming video.

Strike of the Panther gets...

Dark Age (1987)

"I don't know whose skull is thicker, yours or that crocodile." - Cathy

A park ranger tries to stop a killer crocodile.
Starring: John Jarratt, Nikki Coghill, Burnham Burnham, David Gulpilil, Max Phipps

Link to IMDB

For thousands of years, the Australian aborigines have respected the fearsome saltwater crocodile, which they name "Numunwari." But sometimes the violence of nature goes out of control...

Deep in the outback a group of hunters have been attacked by the biggest crocodile that anyone has seen in decades, so a park ranger named Steve Harris gets called in to assess the situation.
Arriving at a small village he meets up with two aboriginal men, Oondabund and Adjaral, and together they begin to track the crocodile. While Steve wants to simply kill the animal, the aborigines are very spiritual and believe that this Numunwari is immortal. Steve's a thoughtful guy, and soon finds himself in the grey area between respecting Oondabund's beliefs and doing his job.

The crocodile kills again, but this time it's an innocent child in the village where Steve's friend Cathy is doing her anthropology research. Steve feels the weight of his responsibility increasing, and as news spreads of a "killer croc" more park rangers are called in with bigger guns.


The Numunwari is nowhere to be found, and Steve feels powerless and angry as dozens of rangers and hunters blindly attack the swamps, but his boss is demanding results before anyone else dies.

Oondabund and Adjaral

With the media causing a panic, Steve heads into the wild with Oondabund and Adjaral for a serious attempt at luring the crocodile back to its proper home. A rival group of hunters are making their own plans, intent on killing the beast, and it becomes a tense race to find the croc.
Just when you think the resolution is in sight you notice there's still 20 minutes left, and the story takes a turn as Steve and Cathy decide they need to protect the Numunwari at all costs!

"No white man can kill Numunwari." - Oondabund

Cathy

Although it mostly just follows the Jaws premise, it has an added layer of originality by implementing the aborigine's mythology into the story. It wisely borrows similar pacing too, meaning that the crocodile is used sparingly, but effectively, until the climax. It also arguably looks better than the shark ever did.

Except for the occasional romance stuff, the plot moves fast and is very engaging. It's all kept realistic and practical instead of outrageous, and this makes the danger feel real, and the tension between Steve and the ignorant mentality of his peers makes perfect sense.
Definitely an above average monster adventure, relying on solid characters and story to keep you interested, instead of just gore and violence.

Be sure not to miss:
- How exactly do you mistake a beer can for a 30' croc?
- Once again, another enthusiastic synth laden score worth hearing.

Internet review:
"Don't write it off as just a Jaws knockoff, or you'll be missing out on a hell of a film." - JDFrew

Should I watch it?
Recommended.

Where can I find it?
Links here.

Dark Age gets...

Day of the Panther (1988)

"All this kung-fu crap!" - Det. Lambert

A martial arts expert goes against a criminal gang.
Starring: Edward John Stazak, Michael Carman, James Richards, Paris Jefferson

Link to IMDB

Jason Blade

The Panthers are a secret organization of ninjas in Hong Kong who act as vigilantes to take down criminals that the police are unable to. Jason Blade and his partner Linda are the newest agents that have been trained at the Panther school, and they are eager to see some action.

Now back home in Australia, Jason and Linda work on their first case to stop drug smugglers, but Linda gets into trouble during some solo reconnaissance and is killed by a vicious thug named Baxter!

Eager for revenge but unsure of what to do next, Jason goes to his karate mentor, William. Together they plan to get closer to the man that Linda was investigating, a respected businessman named Damien Zukor that is secretly a drug kingpin.
In attempt to infiltrate Damien's organization, Jason beats up all his bodyguards to prove his skill, and just as expected he gets offered a job to work alongside Damien's right hand man, who is none other than Baxter.


The police are also involved in the plot; they realize that Jason is trying to stop bad guys but since he's working outside of the law they're keeping an eye on him. Detectives Lambert and Colin are assigned to follow Jason, but these two are basically just here for comedic relief as they stumble their way in and out of danger.

"Don't appeal to my better nature... I have no better nature." - Damien

William                                                        Baxter                                              Damien

This is pure kung-fu action cheese with a bit of Miami Vice thrown in, so the plot is pretty much exactly what you expect. Jason starts learning about Damien's operations and uncovering secrets, all while trying to prevent the suspicious Baxter from discovering his true motives. Our hero still finds time for a love interest though, when he starts dating William's niece, Gemma.
The climax comes with a big brawl, of course, as Jason and William realize that Damien has the upper hand in this game!

Colin  &  Lambert
Goof Cop patrol

Although Edward John Stazak makes for a rather bland and expressionless lead, the rest of the cast are pretty good. The villains are appropriately sleazy and violent, and even the goofy cops keep the story moving. The movie has a good sense of humour about itself, but the focus is on low budget karate madness and sloppy extended fight scenes that I can't deny are very entertaining.

It does nothing that I haven't seen before, but it does it with charming 80's style and has some creative fun with the genre.

Be sure not to miss:
- What the skull masked goon has painted on his face under the mask.
- If the opening credits don't get you pumped for 80s cheese, than nothing will.
- Gemma's aerobic seduction scene. 9/10

Internet review:
"Beautifully stupid, this is just tremendous fun to watch." - CSalt

Should I watch it?
It's worth seeing when you crave some cheese.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

Day of the Panther gets...

Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds (1989)

"We flew today." - Felix

Three people dream of escaping a harsh wasteland.
Starring: Michael Lake, Melissa Davis, Norman Boyd

Link to IMDB

Smith

In the middle of a vast wasteland that covers a dying world there is one small house isolated from whatever might be beyond the horizon, and there lives Felix with his sister, Betty.
One day, a mysterious man stumbles across their land, and Felix takes him in to give him food and water. His name is Smith and he's desperately trying to get north, but Felix warns him that the mountains there are impassable.

Since Felix is bound to a wheelchair, he is attempting to build a Da Vinci styled flying machine in hopes of soaring over those mountains, and he convinces Smith to stay and help him build the machine.
Betty, who seems to be quite deranged, fears that Smith is a demon who has come to steal Felix away from her, and she desperately tries to convince her brother to end his foolish ideas of flight.

The plot is small, like a three-person play, but the movie remains ambitious...


Despite the bleak, harsh and ethereal setting, the characters (especially Felix and Betty) liven it up with their quirky personalities. At first they seem too eccentric and it's a bit jarring, but once the more Lynchian tone of the movie gets established and you settle into the story, the silliness fades into the background. Things remain bizarre, but I was glad this wasn't just trying to be nutty.

Betty                                                                     Felix

As they work together, Smith and Felix bond over their desire to escape to the north, but their progress is slow with many failed prototypes crashing to the ground. Betty, usually enraged and delusional that the "demonic" Smith is ruining their peace, constantly tries to impede them.
The day comes when the handmade flying machine is completed, and the dream of flight will be tested against the heavy and uncaring sky.

"North." - Smith

The beautiful and bizarre wasteland

What really makes this movie enjoyable is the haunting and surreal depiction of a post-apocalyptic world we learn nothing about. We are nowhere and no-when; lost in a tenuous myth where normalcy can barely survive. The main theme seems to focus on how hope can keep someone alive, but also that it's as fragile as a paper wing.

The excellent ambient score creates an atmosphere of the underlying sadness that permeates everything here. The visuals are often stunning; showcasing the beautiful and twisted sensibilities of this weird, dying world. This was the first film of Alex Proyas, who is known for his unique visual style.

It is deliberately slow and without much narrative, and will leave you wondering if you feverishly dreamed the whole thing. I recommend it to anyone interested in art-house film, and this is one of the few from Australia.

Be sure not to miss:
- Beans.
- I love that Felix's wheelchair is excessively squeaky.
- It's implied that someone is pursuing Smith across the desert, which gives the ending another theme to think about.

Internet review:
"I think this early [Alex Proyas] piece is the one that touches my heart the most." - drella3

Should I watch it?
Yes!

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

Spirits of the Air gets...

Night of Fear (1972)

A killer in the forest stalks his victims.
Starring: Norman Yemm, Carla Hoogeveen, Briony Behets, and a bunch of rats

Link to IMDB

I'll say this first; this is only 50 minutes long and there's no dialog, but damn it's an effective little horror.

Even before the opening credits we see a lady wandering around in the forest get attacked (and presumably murdered) by a Man when she stumbles upon his secluded shack.
Just with these few opening minutes the movie already establishes a tense and disturbing mood, with creepy, jarring music and a savage killer out of his mind.
It's only going to get weirder!

Next we see a young Woman as she meets her boyfriend in the countryside for a bit of afternoon love-making. As she's driving back into town she gets diverted down an unused dirt road, where her car crashes into a hole and has her stranded alone for the night. The Man comes along and instantly terrifies the Woman when he attacks her! She escapes into the woods, with the maniac intently following.



When the Woman finds her way to a shack, she hopes that she's found someone to help her or at least a place to hide. Her nightmare has just begun though, because she's wandered right into the bloody, rat infested home of the Man!

Wow, this movie sure does a lot with very little.
Without a plot, this is more of a psychological exploration of what happens when fear and madness collide, but it's so effective and stylish that it's a complete thrill to watch. There's an overall experimental quality to how the story is told, with the editing and camera work adding to the sensation that we are witnessing something twisted.
It's unnervingly fun, steeped in hysteria and a macabre atmosphere; and things only get crazier when we learn what the Man does with his victims!



This was an independent project originally intended as a television pilot, but was deemed too obscene for TV. Although tame by today's standards of R ratings, the filmmakers had to fight the Australian censors just to get a small run in theaters.
It's doubtful that Tobe Hooper saw this obscure project before he made The Texas Chainsaw Massacre a year later, but it definitely feels like a precursor to that classic.
Night of Fear is an outrageous and voyeuristic glimpse into madness that was ahead of its time. A hidden gem from the beginnings of modern horror worth seeing.

Be sure not to miss:
- The photo of butts made me laugh.
- With no dialog, the Man instead yells some wacky gobbledygook worth hearing.
- Rats enoooouuuugh!!

Internet review:
"It was like watching an actual nightmare unfold. This was fucking great!" - CropsyABC

Should I watch it?
Yes. Even on historical cred alone, this is worth a watch.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

Night of Fear gets...

Midnite Spares (1983)

"Ten hot dogs... Six with sauce and four with mustard." - Wimpy

A race car driver tries to stop a gang of car thieves.
Starring: James Laurie, Gia Carides, Bruce Spence, Max Cullen, David Argue

Link to IMDB

Steve Hall is a young guy trying to make a life as a race car diver, and now he's arriving home after a year on the road to his father's towing garage. He gets bad news from his uncle Tomas though, it seems that Steve's dad has gone missing after getting mixed up with some car thieves.
More importantly, hot dogs!!! Everyone likes eating hot dogs at the Grubb's Grub diner, and this is where Steve meets his love interest, Ruth.

Steve and Ruth

Ruth's family isn't too keen on Steve's career choice, but these two are quickly falling in love so he's working hard to impress them. In his free time, Steve searches the city for information on his dad but he finds that the car thieving organization is very secretive and no one is helping him.

Rabbit and Wimpy

Am I making it sound like there's a plot? Because there really isn't. Most of the movie is a chaotic mix of racing, hot dogs, garage antics, and people yelling incomprehensibly over the roar of engines.
The main mechanics at the garage are Wimpy and Rabbit, and these two goofballs are always up to some wackiness that is here just for laughs. It's all pretty dumb though, and will have you wondering what the hell is going on.

The car thieves continue to plague the city, so Steve decides it's time for him and his crew to put a stop to their crime spree, and at the same time he's still gotta concentrate on winning the big race tournament and impressing Ruth's parents.




All of the ingredients for a good time are here, but they're too aimless and incoherent to work together. The plot is so thin that I really had no idea what was happening most of the time. The movie has zesty energy and the characters are likeable enough, so it's hard to say that the movie fails at doing what it wanted; which is to simply be a fun drive-in flick.

There is a bit of this.

Overall, the movie focuses on the day-to-day life of the people hanging out at race tracks, junkyards and garages, instead of out in the streets smashing cars into each other. Besides the occasional race, all of the action is saved for the last 15 minutes, but it does deliver some wild stunts and crashes for the finale.
I'm not even sure if Steve finds his dad or not, but I do know that a lot of hot dogs get eaten along the way.

Be sure not to miss:
- I really want a Grubb's Grub t-shirt and a Team Rat jacket.
- I don't know exactly what "sauce" is, but Australians like it on hot dogs.
- Steve Hall sounds like Steve Holt, which kept me entertained.

Internet review:
"For a film about fast cars going fast, this is remarkably boring." - Cliff89

Should I watch it?
You're not missing much if you skip this one.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

Midnite Spares gets...

The Blood of Heroes (1989)

"Play hard, you'll forget the fear." - Sallow

aka: Salute of the Jugger
Survivors play a deadly game in the ruins of their world.
Starring: Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Hugh Keays-Byrne

Link to IMDB

In this Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic future, most humans live scattered across the desolate badlands in small villages where they farm and hunt to survive. The people have developed a crude and ferocious sport for entertainment, it's like football except that the small teams of players (known as juggers) are allowed to use weapons to fight each other during the game!

One such team is led by a gruff man named Sallow, and we meet them as they're traveling from village to village, competing against other juggers to win food, water and perhaps some respect.
Sallow's team is one of the best, and that's due in part to him being an ex member of the pro jugger league that competes in one of the remaining cities. (He's also got a young Vincent D'Onofrio on his team, so that's pretty cool.)
But since Sallow was exiled from the City, he's forced to wander the outskirts of society and make a living with his skills as a fighter.

Kidda

Kidda is a young woman that lives on a dirt farm, but when the juggers pass by competing for glory she decides to join their lifestyle and see what's beyond the horizon. Sallow is reluctant to let her join at first, but when she proves that she has a natural talent and isn't afraid of pain he agrees to give her a shot.
With a little bit of training, Kidda quickly proves that she's an important part of the team and gains victory alongside her fellow juggers.
As we learn more about Sallow we know he wants redemption for being exiled from the City, and this is what fuels his decision to take his team there and challenge the pro league. If they win they'll be given the luxury and safety of life in the City, but very few challengers have ever survived against the professional killers in the league.

Ma: "Kidda, they hurt you."

Kidda: "I don't care. I hurt them too."

Lord Vile

Stacking the odds against them is Lord Vile, the man in charge of the City league and also responsible for Sallow's exile. When Vile sees that an ex-league player has returned from the wasteland, he plans to do everything he can to make sure that Sallow and his team will never leave the arena alive!

This movie really surprised me, because there's more here than what you might think. Yes, the plot is simple and we spend a lot of time watching athletes battle, but the movie takes itself seriously and creates a believable world.
There's thoughtful depth to the main characters, as we learn about their hopes, fears and what drives them to seek so much violence.

Anytime is a good time for Jugger fighting

There's a lot of fighting, but it's not over-the-top and it actually serves the purpose of the story. The sport is kept realistic and gritty, with just as much sweat and tears as there is blood. Instead of chest-pounding heroics, the movie shows the struggle of every win they earn.
With an excellent cast and smart script, the quieter moments are what really build the story as we see how the characters find courage and hope in a brutal wasteland.
This was written and directed by David Peoples. I wish he worked more because he's very talented.

Be sure not to miss:
- Instead of a football, they use animal skulls. That's badass.
- Did that ear chomp inspire Mike Tyson?
- Delroy Lindo doesn't get much to do, but it's always cool to see him.
- Rats enough!

Internet review:
"The best directed low budget sci-fi action film ever." - Obistrike

Should I watch it?
Yeah, it's better than expected.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube. (quality kinda sucks)

Blood of Heroes gets...

Fair Game (1986)

"Let's go hunting!" - Ringo

A woman plans revenge after being terrorized by poachers.
Starring: Cassandra Delaney, Peter Ford, David Sanford, Garry Who

Link to IMDB

It looks like Ozploitation Appreciation month will be extending into some (or all) of March!
I've been finding lots of gems, because the Aussie film renaissance was huge while still avoiding the mainstream cinema.

Deep in the Australian outback, Jessica lives at her ranch situated on a wildlife sanctuary, and there she keeps a protective watch on the local animals. Driving into town one day, her peace is disturbed when she's harassed by a monstrous truck owned by three hunters. It seems these men have been the cause of the recent poaching on her land, but without any proof the local law can't help her.

A face to face encounter with the men in town shows us that Jessica is determined to stop these jerks, and she's not going to be intimidated by their nasty leering.

Knowing that Jessica is alone on her ranch, the men begin to creep around her place and continually harass her. Like wild dogs, they tear up the sanctuary and needlessly slaughter any animal that they see in their sights.


The men are Sunny, Ringo and Sparks. All three of them are repugnant pigs, but Sunny is also an intelligent man which makes him even more dangerous. Jessica becomes enraged at their poaching, so she sabotages their camp. This only angers the men further, and now Jessica's going to have to use her wits to protect her land and herself.

The entire movie is a tense and ominous game of cat and mouse, as the poachers hunt Jessica and she tries to fight back. After a shocking display of outrageous torture (see picture,) I thought Jessica's spirit would be broken, but no, she cleans herself up and prepares for revenge.
No men come to rescue her and she never seems helpless; this lady will be her own badass heroine!

It would have been easy to make this movie incredibly dark, sleazy and sexually exploitative; but instead it's a celebration of Jessica's bravery and determination to protect her home. That's not to say it isn't intense, because it often is, but it's more of a survival adventure instead of just a grim revenge movie.

Holy shit

The back-and-forth attacks do get a bit repetitive, but it establishes Jessica's progression from a peaceful animal lover into a vengeful fighter, so when it comes time for the adrenaline fueled final showdown we know why and how she's become an unstoppable force.

Be sure not to miss:
- Another great example of a skronky synth score that the Australians seem to love so much.
- Kangaroos can drive?

Internet review:
"It's a classic of genre cinema." - Quentin Tarantino

Should I watch it?
Yes, it's a fun and crazy revenge flick.

Where can I find it?
Links here.

Fair Games gets...