DVD Pick of the Week: Wolf Creek

What a slow week. It's weeks like this that give me pause, should Ihave a pick of the week when there is so little to choose from? Being the consumate professional that I am, I have made a choice from the limited offerings this week.

This week's pick is none other than the horror from Down Under, Wolf Creek. I remember when they first started showing commercials for this, last December, I had no idea what it was. From the brief clips I saw, I assumed that it was some new werewolf film. I couldn't have been further from the truth.

I did a little searching and found that it was a real crime film. The filmmakers took the real life crimes of a number of "Outback killers" mixed them all up and came up with the villain for this piece. I was never aware of just how dangerous it was for hikers and tourists out there in them hills. Apparently, there some Australian redneck types that get their kicks out of kidnapping people and then torturing them, ultimately killing them. Horrible true stories that are perfectly suitable for the basis of a horror film.

The problem with Wolf Creek is that it takes a little too long to get going. The first half of the film introduces us to a touristy trio heading out into the Outback. We spend way too long getting to know these people. I never feel a connection with them, I just looked forward to them dying. Then we meet up with our villain, a deliciously evil individual who carries the film through the second half, while the survivors run screaming into the black of night.

All in all, a pretty good time.

Also out this week:

• Fun with Dick & Jane. Avoid this. No one did when it was in theaters, proving Jim Carrey as a draw. It's just too bad that the movie isn't that good.
• The Greatest Game Ever Played. I didn't see this, but it looks as if it falls in line with Disney's recent string of inspirational sports films.
• Judas Priest: Live Vengeance '82. Metal legends in one of their earlier taped performances. This originally aired on MTV, that's right, MTV. It was previously released as part of a Priest box set, now available on its own.
• Mission Impossible Collector's Set. New collector editions to cash in on the upcoming third film. The two movies are also available separately.
• An Unfinished Life. Jennifer Lopez and Robert Redford in a film that was pretty well regarded. I have not seen it yet, but have heard good things.

That's it for this week. What are you getting?

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