Macabre Daily's Top 13 Must See Australian Horror Movies
G’Day!
Whenever most people think of Australian horror movies the main visuals are the wide-open spaces of the outback and killer animals like crocodiles or sharks. But there’s more than killer critters and the outback to the sunburnt land down under.
So, pack your bags and remember to keep all limbs in the vehicle. It’s time to hit the road and check out these incredible 13 Australian horror films.
13: Wolf Creek (2005)
I know, I know. How dare I put this film so far down on the list. The movie that catapulted Australian horror back onto the international audience radar deserves better placement. But there is a method to my madness.
The reason Wolf Creek lands at number 13 on this list is because of its popularity. Introducing Australia’s answer to Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers, Wolf Creek focuses on outback serial killer, Mick Taylor, and his hatred of tourists to the region. Following three tourists, two British women and one Aussie male from Sydney, the movie documents their journey across the outback. But when their car breaks down, it’s seemingly helpful Mick to the rescue. Only when they arrive at his lair do they realize how much trouble they’re in.
If you haven’t seen Wolf Creek by now, what are you waiting for? Get on it. And while you’re at it, check out the sequel, Wolf Creek 2, and both seasons of the miniseries. Consider it preparation for Mick’s impending return in Wolf Creek 3…
12: Patrick (1978)
I have such a soft spot for this film. The premise alone is unnerving but when it’s teamed with the incredible talents of writer Everett De Roche, you know there’s going to be scares aplenty.
Patrick is a comatose patient who, through the use of his psychokinetic powers, begins communicating with his nurse with the aid of an electric typewriter. He falls in love with her and begins controlling her life, even defending himself against those who wish him dead.
Underrated, understated, and often overlooked, Patrick is one hell of an Australian movie that shows even if we’re not fully awake, us Aussie know how to fight back.
11: The Babadook (2014)
A single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children’s book titled “Mister Babadook” manifests in their home. But it’s not just the book they need to be wary of. Something else has appeared in the shadows. And its presence has a profound affect on both Amelia and her son, Samuel.
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that The Babadook left an impression. The story from Jennifer Kent dealt with trauma and grief, demonstrating the emotions as a physical threat. The casting of Essie Davis (seriously needed an Oscar nomination for this role) and Noah Wiseman as Amelia and Samuel were excellent choices while the score helped deliver the right amount of tension.
The Babadook just shows you that you should fear all of Australia, including our children’s books. “If it’s in a word, or it’s in a look. You can’t get rid of the Babadook.”
10: Snowtown (2011)
Also known as The Snowtown Murders, this film is based on true events. One of the most outstanding Australian horror movies, Snowtown holds its own, delivering thrills and chills. The scares are genuine and only seem more horrific when you realize the story was one of the worst crimes that shook Australia.
Rotten Tomatoes said, “It’s a bleak and brutal endurance test, but for the viewers with the strength and patience to make it to the end, Snowtown will prove an uncommonly powerful viewing experience.”
Snowtown is a horrific story set in Adelaide, South Australia in the 1990s and follows Jamie and his half brothers who live with their mother, Elizabeth. The various dark, twisted, and often misguided relationships are the center of the story which results in a murder spree.
If you haven’t seen Snowtown, do yourselves a favour and grab a copy today.
9: Scare Campaign (2016)
When a television show renown for its practical jokes and pranks all captured on hidden camera suddenly faces cancelation, it’s time to up the ante. But the team goes too far when they seemingly prank the wrong guy and the tables turn, with them becoming the stooges.
A little gruesome and gory mixed with typical Aussie humor, Scare Campaign reminds us that with all practical jokes, there is always a victim. Starring Ian Meadows, Meegan Warner, Olivia DeJonge (The Visit, Better Watch Out), Patrick Harvey, and Cassandra Magrath (Wolf Creek), Scare Campaign was an impressive combination of typical slasher movie and hidden camera show. With more twists than M. Night Shyamalan would know what to do with, this film provides enough action, along with character development, to win over even the most cynical of audiences.
8: The Possessed (2021)
Jacob Chandler is an ordinary man with an extraordinary gift. The epitome of the accidental exorcist, Jacob and his nephew Liam have forged a career clearing demons from the bodies of their clients. However, lately something has changed as possessions increase and Jacob fights to keep those he loves safe. So, when he’s summoned to a hauntingly beautiful homestead with a tragic past, Jacob must call upon all his experience to uncover the layers of demonic deception at play.
Inspired by actual events, The Possessed is the most recently released film to appear on this list. Written and directed by Chris Sun and starring John Jarratt (Wolf Creek), as well as Lincoln Lewis (Bait 3D), it delivers on supernatural scares, providing an atmosphere ripe with intense dread.
I’m a big fan of Chris Sun as both a writer and director. I also adore John Jarratt. This latest collaboration between them is one of the most chilling entries on this list. Add it to your collection today.
7: The Tunnel (2011)
The story follows a TV journalist and her crew looking into the state’s government initial idea of using the abandoned train tunnels under Sydney as a water recycle plant. However, the homeless use the tunnels as shelter, although officials released reports stating otherwise. But when the plans are suddenly scraped, and the government shuts down all comments regarding the water recycle plant, seemingly refusing to acknowledge its existence. And it seems it has something to do with the constant disappearances of the homeless. The crew decides to investigate the cover-up and head down to the tunnels to things out for themselves. And that’s where the story they’re hunting flips the tables and begins hunting them…
I’m not usually a fan of found footage/shaky-cam films but I am a fan of independent movies. The tension is high throughout this 2011 feature. Bel Deliá delivers an incredible performance as Natasha, the journalist in charge of the investigation. The slow burn build-up gives the film good structure will balancing out both intrigue, suspense, fear, and the occasional jolt. Of course there are some questionable details within the plot (something that could be said about all films on some level), but it doesn’t distract away from the rollercoaster of emotions the characters find themselves going through.
The dank setting is unique as the vast underground tunnel system, which is real by the way, makes for a winding labyrinth of darkness and claustrophobia. And it’s not just the pitch blackness that causes uneasiness. The unsettling echoing sounds, or lack thereof, causes fear to build.
The Tunnel is a solid, chilling Indie feature that will leave you questioning what truly lurks in the shadows.
6: Road Games (1981)
A laid-back American truck driver in Australia starts to suspect a man driving a green van of killing young women along his route, and proceeds to play a game of cat-and-mouse to catch him red-handed.
The vast landscape of the wide-open plains of Australia are the focal point of this feature. The open road has never been more terrifying. And having non-Australians as the leading characters, while at the time was frowned upon (with reports that the crew weren’t exactly extending the Aussie hospitality to the stars), is a stroke of genius as it shone the spotlight onto the land down under.
Director Richard Franklin teams up with writer Everett De Roche to bring this thrilling cross-country chase to the big screen. Starring Stacy Keach as the truck driver, Pat Quid, and Jamie Lee Curtis as the main female protagonist, Hitch, this film will have you on the edge of your seat as you realize just how vast the landscape of this great nation is, and how easy it would be to play a dangerous game of kill-or-be-killed.
5: Wyrmwood (2016)
Barry is a talented mechanic and family man whose life is torn apart on the eve of a zombie apocalypse. His sister, Brooke, is kidnapped by a sinister team of gasmask wearing soldiers and is experimented on by a psychotic doctor. While Brook plans her escape, Barry hits the road in a desperate attempt to find her, teaming up along the way with Benny, a fellow survivor. Together they must arm themselves and prepare to battle the hordes of flesh-eating monsters emerging from the harsh Australian bushland.
The big hit from 2014, Wyrmwood finally got a sequel in 2021 with Wyrmwood: Apocalypse. And while the sequel is something to behold, I couldn’t escape the wildly inventive rollercoaster that was the original film. Living up to the Ozploitation films of old, Wyrmwood didn’t shy away from being a blood filled, over the top zombie infestation that was very obviously a labor of love for two aspiring filmmakers. An impressive home-grown production that knew what it was and didn’t shy away from delivering on that with gusto. If you want a zombie film that has copious amounts of blood, violence, and some handy DIY solutions to how to handle a zombie apocalypse, then Wyrmwood is the film for you.
4: Storm Warning (2007)
On a weekend boating excursion, husband and wife, Rob and Pia, become lost and end up in the most unlikely place; a thick brush filled marsh on an island in the middle of nowhere. With their boat in disarray and with night fast approaching as well as an impending thunderstorm, their only solution is to seek help, or at least shelter.
Coming across a decrepit house, the couple seek shelter, only to realize it’s not the place they want to be when they stumble across the large crop of marijuana in the barn. The night gets worse when the deranged homeowners, consisting of brothers Brett and Jimmy, and their sadistic father, Poppy, return to the property.
Did you really think I was going to go through a list of Australian horror movies and not mention a Jamie Blanks production on here? Teaming up with writer Everett De Roche (yes, again – seriously he writes some exceptional screenplays), the film stars Robert Taylor and Nadia Farès as Rob and Pia, while David Lyons, Mathew Wilkins, and John Brumpton bring the sadistic, tortuous family to life.
A gripping often overlooked film; Storm Warning is developing a cult classic status. Gritty and gruesome, this movie cemented my love of Blanks as a director. His vision is on full display in this Ozploitation feature.
You thought Mick Taylor tortured his victims? He’s nothing compared to Poppy and his sons.
3: Black Water (2007)
The story of Black Water is based on true events. When a tour boat is capsized by a large crocodile in the remote mangroves of North Queensland (my home state), three tourists manage to climb a tree. For the next two days, they cling to the branches in a desperate attempt to hide from the crocodile’s watchful eye.
We can’t talk about Australian horror movies without mentioning a killer animal movie. And let’s face it, we have a lot to choose from because EVERYTHING wants to kill you down here. And believe me, it was hard to pinpoint just one killer creature feature. Did I want to include a giant pig (Razorback, Boar), or a shark (Bait 3D, The Reef)? No. When it comes to Australia, and Queensland in general, crocs rule. In fact, two killer crocodile films were released in 2007, with the other being Rogue, directed by Greg Mclean. While I enjoy the cinematic experience of Rogue, it’s the gritty realism of Black Water that is the reason it lands on this list.
Tension and suspense are paramount in this feature. With superb acting from all three leads, it’s the crocodile that really stands out. No fake CGI here. Instead, filmmakers opted to use real life footage of a crocodile, giving the movie realism, and enhancing the story. And what a story it is. “Three cheeky monkeys sitting in a tree. Teasing Mr. Crocodile ‘You can’t catch me.’ Up swims Mr. Crocodile, quiet as quiet can be. Snap. Two cheeky monkeys sitting in a tree.”
2: The Loved Ones (2009)
Brent Mitchell has been through a lot in his short life. In order to avoid a ghostly figure in the road, he wraps his car around a tree, killing his father. Constantly haunted by his past actions in the form of his mother’s emotional collapse, he escapes into a marijuana-fueled world of loud music to block the pain and guilt. Dejected and out of sorts, he has a shot at happiness with his girlfriend, Holly, when he plans their dream date for the upcoming prom. His plans take a backseat when he finds himself in a disturbing series of events that test his willpower. He has become prom king at a macabre, sadistic event where he is the entertainment.
Lola Stone is the antagonist of this film. Superbly portrayed by Robin McLeavy, Lola makes Annie Wilkes from Misery look like a teddy bear. Along with her Daddy, who refers to her a ‘Princess’, Lola’s demented, and sadistic torture of Brent (Xavier Samuel) is simply because he rejected her as his date to the prom.
This film has everything a horror fan could want. Blood, guts, gore, suspense, and genuine terror as Lola and her Daddy wreak havoc, all the while Kasey Chambers’ Not Pretty Enough plays as Lola’s anthem. Not bad for a number one smash hit of 2001 (and the bane of my high school existence). The Loved Ones is sure to leave you cowering behind a couch cushion as a warm sensation flows down your leg…
1: Lake Mungo (2008)
Sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer drowns while swimming in a local dam. When her body is recovered, the autopsy reveals her cause of death was accidental drowning. Her family, bereaved over their loss, bury her. But not all secrets want to stay buried. The family begins to experience a series of strange and inexplicable events centered in and around their home. Profoundly unsettled, the Palmers seek the help of a psychic and parapsychologist, Ray Kemeny. It is then discovered that Alice led a secret double life. A series of clues lead the family to Lake Mungo where Alice’s secret past emerges.
This ghost story is truly inspiring, while the casting choices helped sell the believability of the story. While not entirely classed as a horror movie, there are enough horrific elements to keep the most fanatic horror-hounds intrigued. Shot in a mockumentary style, Lake Mungo is a movie that likes to creep audiences out over time. A slow burn suspenseful mystery, it shows that just because someone has left our world, they’re not always truly gone. Alice is more than a mere specter. She’s a living memory, driving her family to uncover the truth at all costs.
Ever since I first saw it upon its release, I was captivated by it. I have always thought highly of films that stand out by going against the grain of what’s popular at the time of release. Lake Mungo, while not for everyone, it is an interesting film that suckers you into a gripping story. A story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned off the television. And for that reason alone, it takes out top spot in this Top 13.
That’s my list. Did you favorite Australian horror movie make it? If not, sound off in the comments below and tell me which Aussie horror ranks as your number one.
Honorable Mentions:
100 Bloody Acres (2012)
The Reef (2010)
Razorback (1984)
Boar (2017)
Wake In Fright (1971)
Charlie’s Farm (2014)
Long Weekend (1978)
Daddy’s Little Girl (2014)
Rogue (2007)
Killing Ground (2017)
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