It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

A motley group of strangers are all forced to seek refuge at a remote outback roadhouse due to severe flooding caused by a fierce torrential downpour. However, one of these people proves to be every bit as dangerous as the savage storm that's raging outside. Director Kevin James Dobson, working from a compact script by John and Cody Jarratt, keeps the absorbing story moving along at a brisk pace, creates and sustains a substantial amount of claustrophobic suspense, maintains a hard gritty tone throughout, and makes good use of the isolated outback setting. Moreover, Dobson's taut and economical style doesn't waste a single minute and thus ensures that there's never a dull moment. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps the movie humming: John Jarratt as high-strung ex-con Phil, Craig McLachlan as the rugged Mory (McLachlan also composed the effectively shuddery score and contributed a few songs to the soundtrack), Jessica Napier as perky barmaid Kate, Rebecca Smart as the sassy Mickey, Chris Haywood as brutish cop Chris, Sacha Horler as the brash Shae, Angela Punch-McGregor as the nervous Sue, and Charlie Jarratt as Sue's loyal and protective son Damien. Geoff Cox's agile cinematography takes neat advantage of a constantly mobile prowling camera. A tidy little thriller.

Obviously Jarratt is wanting to cash in on Wolf Creek, bringing another psycho loser to the screen, and relishing in it. He is a good actor, and the acting here isn't the problem. It's the movie, written by the Jarratt's who should have never been allowed to put pen to paper. I couldn't believe how horribly bad this movie was. I know I wasn't in for Oscar viewing, and I expected B grade fare, but in two words it's incredibly or pathetically bad. Jarratt's wife, Angela Punch Macgregor, at first unrecognizable, in a splendid performance, and real life Jarratt son, (yes another Jarratt contribute) flee from their house in the wake of an approaching storm/flood. This take refuge in this gas, station run by nonetheless Craig Mclachlan, another one of the top performers in this. Of course the acting prize does go to Chris Haywood, as a shady guy, who shows up at the gas station, to take out the deranged Jarratt who's such fun to watch, in a film so bad, you appreciate it. There's no thriller elements in this. The characters motivations are obvious. Jessica Napier is nice scenery as the gas/convenience store hand who shares a strong kiss with her savior Maclachlan, amidst the raging waters of the wild Wonga river, as falling prey earlier to the maniacal Jarrett. And looking much older is Bec Smart, and lesbian friend, may'be, the terrific Horler. Actors can only do their best when faced with incredibly bad scripts as this. One line had me laughing, as to Maclachlan, correcting Jarratt's first and last character's name, with one of insult, as trying to cross an untamed ford in his fancy car, then having to be towed by Maclachlan's truck. The film even ends on a stupid line, and Macgregor and son, who are kept hidden in a bed shed at the good will of Maclachlan, looks very much like the one used in Wolf Creek, where Mick Taylor had his fun. Just out of curiosity, just watch this to see how bad a movie can be, but there's a few worse floating around, not a lot, about a few. Just don't blame the actors.

I liked this film and no I don't have any connection whatsoever to it OK? I've lived in the tropics and been through cyclones and tropical storms and this movie really captured the feel of that. It really felt like an isolated roadhouse which people in the city cannot fathom but they do exist in the Territory and up on Cape York.It had a good soundtrack and score and a great performance from the cast in general.As far as John Jarratts character goes you have to remember that he was drunk virtually the whole time and was a nut case so some of the things he said and did were ridiculous of course.All in all nowhere near as bad as people say it is!

My expectations weren't very high for this film... and quite rightly so. John Jarratt (from Wolf Creek, Django Unchained... and Play School... you heard me) writes and stars in this little independent Aussie flick about a man who immediately after being released from prison (or rehab... it's never really made clear) heads straight home to visit his wife and son so he can demand either his half of their house or $5,000,000 (yet again it's not really made clear... and the house is probably worth about $500,000 at the most). The wife and son head to the holiday home of a family friend where they believe they'll be safe and can hideout until the coast is clear. Halfway to their destination they find themselves stranded at a roadhouse in the middle of nowhere due to the flooding caused by a storm that has conveniently just begun. Even more conveniently, they left their address book open and the psycho patriarch figures out where they're heading just in time to find himself stranded halfway there at the very same roadhouse. On the surface it would seem that he wants half the house or $5,000,000, otherwise he'll kill his wife and his son AND anyone who gets in his way, including the other poor unfortunates who are also stranded at the roadhouse. There is a mild twist at the end, but you'll still be left thinking, "Really? Is that it?". The acting is of the same calibre you'd expect from an episode of Neighbours or Home and Away on a bad day. Judging by the cover you'd be expecting a brutal horror movie and you'll wind up sitting through a lame thriller with a very low kill count and very little tension. Craig McLachlan plays the hero of the piece... and with all due respect Craig... enough said!I apologise for the fact that my carefully worded and relatively well thought out review is essentially just one massive paragraph :DCheck out my IMDb List for some better suggestions. "HORROR/THRILLER: Obscure, Overlooked & Underrated" http://www.imdb.com/list/8QFZ78e4Ar8/ :)