Based on the novel by Peter Brennan, and scripted by the then prolific Everett De Roche, the horror movie "Razorback" works well in terms of shocks yet also has an undeniable sense of humour to it as well. It doesn't always take itself too seriously, which is nice. Its single most fascinating and effective aspect is the way it shows off the Outback landscape, showing it as both a beautiful and scary place.
The story proper kicks off when Beth Winters (Judy Morris), an animal rights activist / reporter, travels to the Outback to cover a story about kangaroo slaughter. Instead she meets and becomes a meal for an enormous, ferocious wild boar - a boar that had already snacked on an infant and destroyed a house in the pre-credits sequence. Beths' husband Carl (TV veteran Gregory Harrison) goes to Australia himself to find out what had happened and ends up having to help the locals vanquish the beast.
As directed by Russell Mulcahy, who went on to helm "Highlander", "Razorback" is at its best when basking in the atmosphere inherent to this wilderness. When Carl is abandoned by trouble making jerks the Baker brothers (Chris Haywood, David Argue), and has to make a trek across the countryside, there are some truly great and surreal moments. The cinematography by Dean Semler, who had shot "The Road Warrior", and who went on to tremendous success in Hollywood, is truly impressive. Location work is excellent, as well, and Iva Davies' music is perfect accompaniment to the action. The makeup effects and rampaging razorback are the work of Bob McCarron (whose other credits include "The Road Warrior", "Howling III", "Dead Alive", and "The Matrix") and crew. This is an enjoyably grisly and visceral movie and doesn't skimp on thrills.
The acting is solid - Harrison is fine as an average guy & unlikely sort of hero, the lovely and appealing Arkie Whiteley, who sadly died way too young, is a joy as female lead Sarah, Bill Kerr solidly convincing as the vengeance minded old boar hunter, and Haywood and Argue appropriately repulsive as the human antagonists.
Overall, this is a good deal of fun that puts its own spin on the entire "nature strikes back" sub genre that was especially popular in the '70s after the success of "Jaws". For those who may scoff at the thought of a giant killer pig movie, it's more entertaining than one might think and as said is not playing everything 100% straight faced anyway. Horror fans are advised to give it a shot.
Seven out of 10.
The story proper kicks off when Beth Winters (Judy Morris), an animal rights activist / reporter, travels to the Outback to cover a story about kangaroo slaughter. Instead she meets and becomes a meal for an enormous, ferocious wild boar - a boar that had already snacked on an infant and destroyed a house in the pre-credits sequence. Beths' husband Carl (TV veteran Gregory Harrison) goes to Australia himself to find out what had happened and ends up having to help the locals vanquish the beast.
As directed by Russell Mulcahy, who went on to helm "Highlander", "Razorback" is at its best when basking in the atmosphere inherent to this wilderness. When Carl is abandoned by trouble making jerks the Baker brothers (Chris Haywood, David Argue), and has to make a trek across the countryside, there are some truly great and surreal moments. The cinematography by Dean Semler, who had shot "The Road Warrior", and who went on to tremendous success in Hollywood, is truly impressive. Location work is excellent, as well, and Iva Davies' music is perfect accompaniment to the action. The makeup effects and rampaging razorback are the work of Bob McCarron (whose other credits include "The Road Warrior", "Howling III", "Dead Alive", and "The Matrix") and crew. This is an enjoyably grisly and visceral movie and doesn't skimp on thrills.
The acting is solid - Harrison is fine as an average guy & unlikely sort of hero, the lovely and appealing Arkie Whiteley, who sadly died way too young, is a joy as female lead Sarah, Bill Kerr solidly convincing as the vengeance minded old boar hunter, and Haywood and Argue appropriately repulsive as the human antagonists.
Overall, this is a good deal of fun that puts its own spin on the entire "nature strikes back" sub genre that was especially popular in the '70s after the success of "Jaws". For those who may scoff at the thought of a giant killer pig movie, it's more entertaining than one might think and as said is not playing everything 100% straight faced anyway. Horror fans are advised to give it a shot.
Seven out of 10.