This film is currently unavailable
Wake in Fright
In this classic, broiling Australian thriller, an exasperated schoolteacher finds himself stranded in the dusty outback town of Bundanyabba, where the growing isolation and unhinged locals begin to eat away at his sanity.
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Overview
Schoolteacher John Grant (Gary Bond) is journeying to visit his girlfriend in Sydney when a series of unfortunate events leave him stranded in ‘the Yabba’, a sinister town filled with a myriad of eccentric characters. Featuring a chilling yet charismatic performance from Donald Pleasence, Ted Kotcheff’s film, once thought “lost”, is now considered a crowning achievement of the Australian New Wave.
Simmering with tension and a heat that feels as though it is emanating from the screen itself, Kotcheff’s violent indictment of the divisions in Australian society is a disturbing, destructive film imbued with an anger and intensity rarely seen since. Visceral in its depiction of outback life, Wake in Fright is not easily forgotten. Please note this film contains strong scenes of kangaroo hunting and slaughter. More context is provided by the following Producers' Note: "The hunting scenes depicted in this film were taken during an actual kangaroo hunt by professional licensed hunters. For this reason and because the survival of the Australian kangaroo is seriously threatened, these scenes were shown uncut after consultation with the leading animal welfare organisations in Australia and the United Kingdom."
Related
Lost in the Night Lost in the Night
Drama 2023 123 mins Director: Amat Escalante
A young man seeks those responsible for his social activist mother’s disappearance, in this intense thriller from Amat Escalante (Heli, The Untamed).
Irreversible Irreversible
Drama 2002 93 mins Director: Gaspar Noé
Gaspar Noé's retina-searing shocker about an assault and its revenge, told in reverse chronology and starring Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel.
Climax Climax
Drama 2018 96 mins Director: Gaspar Noé
Gaspar Noé's visually dazzling feast of music and mayhem reveals a director at the height of his provocative filmmaking powers.
Along Came Love Along Came Love
Drama 2023 124 mins Director: Katell Quillévéré
Two lovers become entwined while both harbouring deep secrets and shame, in this epic postwar romance.
Craig's Wife Craig's Wife
Drama 1936 74 mins Director: Dorothy Arzner
Rosalind Russell’s breakout performance is a tour de force in Dorothy Arzner's high melodrama.
Shoplifters Shoplifters
Drama 2018 121 mins Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Hirokazu Koreeda's modern masterpiece is a dark yet touching account of an unorthodox family that relies on shoplifting to make ends meet.
Dogtooth Dogtooth
Drama 2009 93 mins Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Yorgos Lanthimos' scary, witty tale of a dysfunctional Greek family is original, ingenious and sadly relevant as a study of parent-child relationships
Prevenge Prevenge
Comedy 2017 88 mins Director: Alice Lowe
Alice Lowe directs and stars in this riotous tale of a pregnant serial killer, hellbent on revenge.
Wild Tales Wild Tales
Comedy 2014 122 mins Director: Damian Szifron
This Oscar-nominated, Almodóvar-produced anthology of six tales of ordinary madness is the most riotously enjoyable portmanteau film since Pulp Fiction.
Force Majeure Force Majeure
Drama 2014 120 mins Director: Ruben Östlund
A gutless moment comes to define a man in this glorious comedy of unease from the creator of Triangle of Sadness.
Archipelago Archipelago
Drama 2011 109 mins Director: Joanna Hogg
Starring Tom Hiddleston, a family holiday to the Isles of Scilly sees fractures emerge in this sun-filled drama from Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir).
The Square The Square
Comedy 2017 151 mins Director: Ruben Östlund
From director Ruben Östlund (Force Majeure) comes a satire on the hypocrisy of the art world, starring Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West. Winner of the Palme d'Or.
Lost in the Night Lost in the Night
Drama 2023 123 mins Director: Amat Escalante
A young man seeks those responsible for his social activist mother’s disappearance, in this intense thriller from Amat Escalante (Heli, The Untamed).
Irreversible Irreversible
Drama 2002 93 mins Director: Gaspar Noé
Gaspar Noé's retina-searing shocker about an assault and its revenge, told in reverse chronology and starring Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel.
Climax Climax
Drama 2018 96 mins Director: Gaspar Noé
Gaspar Noé's visually dazzling feast of music and mayhem reveals a director at the height of his provocative filmmaking powers.
Along Came Love Along Came Love
Drama 2023 124 mins Director: Katell Quillévéré
Two lovers become entwined while both harbouring deep secrets and shame, in this epic postwar romance.
Mother Mother
Thriller 2009 129 mins Director: Bong Joon-ho
Acclaimed Korean actor Kim Hye-ja is outstanding as a mother who will do anything to protect her son, in Bong Joon Ho’s fourth feature.
Craig's Wife Craig's Wife
Drama 1936 74 mins Director: Dorothy Arzner
Rosalind Russell’s breakout performance is a tour de force in Dorothy Arzner's high melodrama.