Wolf Creek 2

Wolf Creek 2

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2013
Founder	Greg McLean
Products	Horror film

Wolf Creek 2 is a 2013 Australian horror film co-written and directed by Greg McLean. Serving as the follow-up to the 2005 movie Wolf Creek, it features John Jarratt reprising his role as Mick Taylor. The film debuted on 30 August 2013 at the Venice Film Festival and was subsequently released in Australia on 20 February 2014.

The narrative centers on a young German pair and a British traveler who fall prey to Mick Taylor, a disturbed xenophobic murderer, while journeying through the Australian wilderness. The storyline is influenced by actual backpacker killings committed by Ivan Milat and Bradley John Murdoch. Critical reception was mixed, highlighting strong performances from Jarratt and Corr but drawing criticism for its graphic violence. The film earned over $4.7 million at the Australian box office. A third chapter in the series is currently underway.

Plot

In the North West Australia region, highway patrol officers Gary Bulmer (Shane Connor) and Brian O'Connor (Ben Gerrard) aim to meet speeding ticket quotas by targeting Mick Taylor (John Jarratt). After stopping Mick under dubious pretenses, he responds with lethal force, killing both officers and destroying their patrol car.

Simultaneously, German tourists Rutger and Katarina hitchhike toward Wolf Creek Crater, camping nearby. Mick offers them a ride to avoid fines; upon refusal, he stabs Rutger and abducts Katarina. After murdering Rutger, Mick prepares to assault Katarina, who manages to escape but is accidentally shot during Mick’s pursuit.

English traveler Paul Hammersmith (Ryan Corr) rescues Katarina but becomes the target of Mick’s chase, leading to a crash. Paul survives and seeks refuge at an outback homestead where Mick kills the elderly occupants. Captured by Mick, Paul undergoes both psychological torment and physical abuse, including a harsh quiz on Australian culture where incorrect answers result in finger amputations.

Paul eventually breaks free from Mick’s captivity but is betrayed by a gaunt woman he attempts to aid; she commits suicide in a trap intended for him. Mick recaptures Paul and leaves him injured in a small town alongside a note reading "LOSER." Despite reporting Mick to authorities, Paul is suspected of local murders, suffers a mental collapse, and is deported back to the UK for psychiatric treatment. The film closes with Mick vanishing into the outback armed with his rifle.

Cast

• John Jarratt as Mick Taylor
• Ryan Corr as Paul Hammersmith
• Shannon Ashlyn as Katarina Schmidt
• Philippe Klaus as Rutger Enqvist
• Shane Connor as Senior Sergeant Gary Bulmer Jr
• Ben Gerrard as Constable Brian O'Connor
• Gerard Kennedy as Jack
• Annie Byron as Lil
• Sarah Roberts as English girl
• Jordan Cowan as Young Woman

Production

Following the success of the original film, McLean initially opted to direct Rogue rather than immediately pursue a sequel, later expressing regret over this postponement. In 2010, he confirmed plans for a sequel with Jarratt returning as Taylor, emphasizing that the character was the most compelling element of the story. McLean reiterated that the plot was inspired by true events, a fact highlighted for audiences.

Investor Geoffrey Edelsten initially pledged financial backing for Wolf Creek 2 but withdrew his support, claiming he had been misled about his investment role. After funding deadlines passed, Emu Creek Pictures issued Edelsten's Millennium Management with a statutory demand for A$4.923 million. Edelsten pursued legal action to challenge this claim, while McLean and Emu Creek denied any deception, clarifying that Edelsten’s A$5 million stake was part of a broader A$5.2 million private investment pool supplemented by Screen Australia and the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC).

Production faced delays from 2011 due to Edelsten’s withdrawal and risked losing government funding without another private investor stepping in. The SAFC briefly pulled its support in early 2012 but reinstated A$400,000 in September of that year, enabling filming to proceed. Shooting commenced in 2012 and extended into early 2013.

Release

Wolf Creek 2 premiered in Australian cinemas on 20 February 2014 and later debuted in the United States on 17 April 2014.

Home media

In Australia, the movie became available on DVD, digital platforms, and Blu-ray Disc on 25 June 2014 via Roadshow Entertainment. Two editions were released: the original theatrical version and an extended director's cut. Included bonus materials featured an audio commentary by writer/director/producer Greg McLean, a fifty-minute behind-the-scenes documentary titled Creating a Monster: The Making of Wolf Creek 2, along with nine deleted scenes.

Box office

During its opening weekend, the film earned over $1.5 million, securing the top position at the Australian box office. Its overall domestic revenue reached $4.73 million.

Critical response

At its screening during the Venice Film Festival, early feedback was largely favorable. The Hollywood Reporter characterized it as "an edge-of-seat gorefest" consistent with its predecessor’s tone. Meanwhile, Variety commented that while it was "not as striking nor as fundamentally scary," it still catered well to genre enthusiasts. Norman Gator from The Sydney Morning Herald gave it four stars, describing it as "Perhaps the greatest Aussie flick ever made."

On review aggregation platforms, the movie holds a 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 52 critiques, with an average score of 5.7/10, summarizing it as an "unnecessary and disappointingly predictable sequel." On Metacritic, it received a score of 44 out of 100 from 13 reviewers, reflecting "mixed or average reviews."

Accolades

Award	Category	Recipient	Outcome
Australian Screen Sound Guild	Best Achievement in Mixing for a Feature Film	Paul Pirola	Template:Won
		Peter D. Smith	Template:Won
Nocturna Madrid International Fantastic Film Festival	Best Acting Award	Ryan Corr	Template:Won
		John Jarratt	Template:Won
	Best Directing Award	Greg McLean	Template:Won
	Best Script Award		Template:Won
		Aaron Sterns	Template:Won
Saturn Awards	Best DVD or Blu-ray Release		Template:Nom

TV series

The Wolf Creek web series premiered on Stan in 2016, followed by a second season in 2017. Plans for a third film are still underway.

Sequel

By April 2022, development had commenced on Wolf Creek 3, after delays influenced partly by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was focusing on scouting locations at that time. Directed by Rachele Wiggins with a script by Duncan Samarasinghe and produced by Greg McLean, the film sees John Jarratt returning as Mick Taylor. Initially slated for UK distribution by Altitude Film Distribution in 2021, those plans were eventually abandoned. The storyline revolves around an American family who become Mick Taylor’s targets in the Australian wilderness. The film’s tagline for its 2022 release was "There Will be Blood."

On 30 August 2024, it was announced that a franchise reboot entitled Wolf Creek: Legacy would begin filming in early 2025. John Jarratt is set to reprise his role as Mick Taylor, with Sean Lahiff attached as director.