DYING BREED

Australia, 2008, 92 minutes, Colour.
Nathan Phillips, Leigh Whannell, Bille Brown, Murrah Foulkes, Ken Radley, Reg Evans, Elaine Hudson.
Directed by Jody Dwyer.

Dying Breed received some praise from filmgoers who enjoy horror. What makes it distinctive are the Tasmanian settings, the use of locations, the Tasmanian bush and wilderness.

With Tasmania, there is a tradition of the convict settlement, the escapes, the notoriety of Alexander Pearce, his escapes, cannibalism, execution. The screenplay suggests that there were descendants of Alexander Pearce and that they had lived in seclusion in a bush town, with the tradition of survival and cannibalism. In the same years, there are two films about Alexander Pearce: The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce and Van Diemens Land.

The film also draws on the traditions of the Tasmanian Devil and attempts to find it.

In many ways, the film models itself on so many of the American horror films in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre tradition, group of young people, going into unfamiliar territory, encountering strange locals, experiencing being chased, caught, killed.

One of the writers was Leigh Whannell, who also appears as Matt. He has had a successful career in writing horror films and appearing in them, especially with initiating the Saw series. Nathan Phillips has appeared in many Australian films as well as in overseas films.

1. Australian exploitation films? Horror?

2. Utilising Australian traditions, the conflict, Alexander Pearce, his journeys through the bush, cannibalism? The Tasmanian Devil, extinct or not?

3. The Tasmanian locations, the small village, the river, the forests, the atmosphere of the Tasmanian wilderness? Musical score?

4. The search for the Tasmanian Devil? Research? Rebecca and her search for her sister?

5. The group, reminiscent of the American films of groups going into dangerous territory? Interactions amongst themselves? Later, being the victims of terror? Deaths?

6. The group assembling, Matt and Rebecca, Jack and his girlfriend? The car? The plans?

7. Jack, joking, insensitive, his relationship with his girlfriend, the friendship with Matt, going on the trip? Matt, more serious, research? The two women, the girlfriend, the sister and her mission? Interactions, Jack and his flirting, jokes?

8. The driving, the landscapes, coming to the village, run down, the hotel, the types in the hotel, the suggestions of inbreeding? The explanations about Alexander Pearce, suggestions of his descendants, the tradition of cannibalism? The look of the people, grubby, the little girl and her presence amongst the adults?

9. The young men, the scratching of the car and Jack’s reaction? The lack of amenities?

10. On the lake, the exploration, the decision to climb the mountain, setting up camp? The cave? Needing to get through it, the local and his fears, the guide?

11. Seeing the animal, the glimpse, taking the photo, its disappearance? The eerie atmosphere?

12. Mysterious presence, the girlfriend, her fears, pursued, dead, hanging? Jack, the attempts at escape, his being caught in the trap? Even the locals being attacked? The woman and her shooting the men, herself? Her reasons?

13. Matt and Rebecca, her being taken, going onto the bridge, Matt and his attempts to save her?

14. The flashbacks, the sister, with the village people, their taking her, her pregnancy, the little girl, falling to her death?

15. The men on the bridge, sinister, sexual attacks, the cannibalism? The little girl and her wanting food?

16. Rebecca, taken, imprisoned, torture? Matt and his being taken? The drink, his being paralysed, watching with horror?

17. How effective an Australian horror story with Australian characters, overturns, traditions?