ROGUE

Australia, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Rhada Mitchell, Michael Vartan, Sam Worthington, John Jarratt, Heather Mitchell, Stephen Curry, Barry Otto.
Directed by Greg Mc Lean.

The end credits singing of ‘Never Smile at a Crocodile’ took something of the edge off the scary experience of imagining oneself with this group of tourists menaced by a giant rogue crocodile. Obviously, the film-makers wanted us not to take the film too, too seriously.

Well, maybe the film-makers did but the Northern Territory government certainly would not. After all, the tourism trade must have suffered something of a blow after Greg Mc Lean terrorised his characters and the audience with the dire torture and deaths at Wolf Creek. Come to think of it, it is amazing the government let him back into the territory to make Rogue after Wolf Creek. At least this time there is no compulsion for tourists to go on a river ride to see crocodiles. Having been on the Daly River some years ago and looking at the (rather small) crocodiles basking on the banks, I was ready to empathise with the characters and the dangers – and did.

We open with an American travel writer (Michael Vartan) who has strayed into Crocodile Dundee territory and finds himself with the Crocodile rather than the Dundee and in a Jaws situation. A motley group of tourists begin their ride under the guidance of the vigorous and engaging Rhada Mitchell. (Oh, and for a momentary scare, who should be one of the passengers but John Jarratt, late of Wolf Creek, with a sinister moustache and hat – but he is one of the good guys so we can relax, momentarily).

The film is brief. The territory landscapes and river are stunning – and inviting for the tourists. The crocodile does his expected thing, crunching a couple of the characters before an eventual battle of wits between the American and the rogue.

I suppose we expected a bit more this time from Greg Mc Lean but the film has its moments (and for those who don’t like crocs, there are quite a number of moments).

1.Expectations of the film? From Greg Mc Lean and Wolf Creek? From the animal menace genre? For Australian menace and the Northern Territory?

2.The Northern Territory locations, the rivers and mountains, the vast plains, the beauty, flora and fauna, the score?

3.The familiarity of the plot, the characters, the journey, the squabbles, the menace, danger, people taken by the crocodile, using wits for survival, conflict, victory?

4.The introduction of the American, arrival, no luggage, meeting the man in the bar, the poor coffee and the cockroach, the Aborigines in the background, the Northern Territory laidback atmosphere?

5.The excursion, Kate as leader, her assured manner, a Territorian, her spiel for the tourists, the jokes, flies and heat, the members of the group, Peter and his journalistic background, travel writer, contacting Chicago? Russell, his severity, his wanting to get his connection? Simon, casual? The English lady? The couple and their concern? The family?

6.The opening with the buffalo grazing, the crocodile, being taken? The indication of themes to come? Preparing the audience? Tension?

7.Neil and Colin, the boat, showing off, the argument with Kate, with the members of the tour? The upturning of their boat? Their return, the crocodile, Colin’s death, Neil, his help, using his wits, swimming across the river, the rope, his being taken?

8.The flares, going to the rescue, the disaster, the boat being overturned by the crocodile, everyone getting to shore, the crocodile, the attack, the rogue crocodile, the theories about territory, hoarding food?

9.The reactions: the woman wanting to go first, her fear, freezing on the rope? The father, his concern about his family, his getting them all on the rope, the weight, its breaking? Neil, his being taken? The wife and the daughter and the survival? Simon, his reactions, criticisms? The English lady, helping? Russell, his decision to help, his collaboration? Pete, help, with Kate, going onto the boat for the first aid, getting the hook?

10.Audience tension in identifying with the characters, the danger from the crocodile? Coping? Pete and the hook? The group swimming to safety? Kate and her dog, her control, her being taken? Pete getting across, safety, the group lost, his falling into the lair? The crocodile’s attack, taking his hand? The death of the dog? Finding Kate?

11.The confrontation with the crocodile, the stake and Pete’s killing it? Carrying Kate, the helicopter and the rescue?

12.A genre film – audiences familiar with the general lines of what will happen? But successful?