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Parents' Guide to

Wolf Creek

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Throwback to '70s slasher movies isn't for kids.

Movie R 2005 95 minutes
Wolf Creek Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Daniel M.
Daniel M. Parent of 10 and 12-year-old
May 27, 2023
age 17+

scary, gross movie

great movie, but very scary and gross. i love scary movies, but i had to fast forward many scenes. i say 16 or 17 y/o can watch it, but only bc kids these days need to know traveling comes with risks! lol seriously.

This title has:

Too much violence
James Owen
James Owen Parent of 15-year-old
September 6, 2018
age 15+

Like it says, "nerve shredding"

It is very gory, but I am 13 and watched it by myself and I was alright with it. A couple of the scenes made me cringe, but I am good with blood, and knowing of kids of 2018, it should be what they are used to be seeing, so I think they can handle it like me. NOT IF THEY ARE SENSITIVE.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on "actual events," WOLF CREEK follows the harrowing adventures of 20-somethings Ben (Nathan Phillips), Liz (Cassandra Magrath), and Kristy (Kestie Morassi), who drive for days to reach to Wolf Creek, a meteor crater and hiking area in the Australian Outback. When their car breaks down, Mick (John Jarratt) emerges from the pitch-black night and offers a tow to his garage where he says he can fix their engine. Uneasy, they go along and try not to make fun of their "colorful" host. After an evening spent chatting by a campfire, Liz wakes to find herself tied, gagged, and bloodied in a shed, having been drugged and dragged from her friends. Meanwhile, Mick is torturing Kristy in another building. Now free, Liz finds a collection of snapshots and video footage of Mick's previous victims and realizes he's a demented serial killer. Far from civilization, Liz and Kristy can only run and fall, scream and drive, crash and scream some more.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (5 ):

With a plot predictable by generic definition (it's a slasher movie), Wolf Creek's only context is other movies like it. The victims become monstrous to fight their abductor. The monster plods on, incessant, cruel, ordinary.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the random violence wreaked by an implacable, inexplicably cruel killer. This film takes up a "vintage" aesthetic, recalling low-budget, '70s horror films: what are the appeals of this look and associated class politics (middle class victims, underclass/demented/monstrous killers)? Families can also discuss what it means for a scary movie like this to be based on "actual" events. Do teens believe what they see really happened?

Movie Details

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