The Brutality of Australian Horror

The thing about saw tho is that it was originally a short film that had Australian director Paul Moder in it who I know believe is making a horror conspiracy film and a documentary

I think Aussie horror is brutal because it usually focuses on pretty believable characters. When Jason starts cutting up Co-ed’s it’s hard to feel too invested in them as people. In Wolf Creek you really get to know the victims. They seem real. If they hadn’t met Mick Taylor the film could have gone to be a different kind of film.

As an Aussie who loves horror I think you did such a wonderful and nuanced job at illustrating why we tend to make such dark films. It must have been a lot of work so thank you! Also thank you for putting shine on 'The Loved Ones'. It's one of my favourite movies (I even have a tattoo of a bloodspattered drill and prom crown because of it) and I think Robin McLeavy's and John Brumpton's performances in it are criminally underrated. Have you considered down something like this but for horror comedy in NZ? I find it really interesting that somewhere with such a small population has made such phenomenal horror comedies. What we do in Shadows, DeathGasm, Come to Daddy, Braindead, The Frighteners, Housebound, Black Sheep. It has to be cultural. Thanks for making great content!

A very refreshing video love the change of rooms every scene/chapter, keeps me interested! I will say you forgot Snowtown is a true story and that’s what makes it scary

Because we're all brutal c**ts 🤠

I respect nature without fearing it, but the Nullabor? Pure terror. I would pack double my body weight in water and fuel if I ever have to cross it by car.

I love the wolf creek franchise and quote it so much

It's always fascinating to hear a visitors perspective on Australia and I'm stoked that you did such an in-depth examination on our horror films.

Scariest thing about Wolf Creek being based off Ivan Milat is my hometown isn't far from where Milat operated (Southern Tablelands).

An interesting note that despite 90% of the population living within 100km of the coast, 25% of Australians can't swim, which might also explain why aquatic creature features are so popular here. The rate of non-swimmers was much higher before the 70s when the government funded many public pools and big learn to swim campaigns.

Fun fact: This is also why we have laws requiring fences around home pools.

someone's finally talking about Australian cinema

Why is Australian horror so brutal?

First thing that popped into my head was that if you grew up with our TAC ads or PSA's you'd understand. 😂

I really liked this video. Cheers.

i got jumpscared by the mention of charles sturt lmao

God is Brisbane the new Hobart? Says "gold coast" like its among the capitals 💀

Based

Just as food for thought, but one thing I found really interesting was how although my opinions were different due to my experiences and environment it still draws to the same conclusions that these movies are still terrifying. As someone who has grown up in Australia and has done a decent amount of travel to these more rural areas the things i find most terrifying is how familiar these films feel. I think the reason that many people find these films terrifying weather familiar or unfamiliar is that it feels real, like this really could be happening somewhere. This is then enhanced by the isolation of the country which was mentioned in the video, compounding the fear that not only could this be real but it can go completely unnoticed. I think this is why aussie horror has been so successful in both national and international audiences as it can illicit such emotions from a broad variety of audiences. It was honestly so insightful watching this video in such an unexpected way so thank you for creating such a well thoughtout and insightful video. I think you provided such great points of view. Particularly loved the inclusion of the indigenous perspectives and how colonisation has shaped our media.

You’re kidding about only being in Australia for a month right? or you adopted the accent just to fit in?

Just want ot also shout out Sweet River, a more recent Aussie horror movie. That leans into the 'scary' small town mentality.

Snowtown, Van Diemen's Land, The Loved Ones... there's a short list of horror films that really hollowed me out after watching.
Australian and Korean horror films seem to get the most out of their casts. You feel like you shouldn't be watching what's happening.
Just found this channel, and the inclusion of subjects like this is much appreciated!

You draw the line at sexism but can excuse animal brutality bcoz it's a different culture? Guess what else is normalised in other cultures?

What movie was the one with Julia Garner?

I remember seeing a street from my suburb in south Perth in a movie and It was the talk around my school for months

Yea, Saw would have been an Australian franchise, but we have morons for investors who can't see a good thing if it hits them in the face. So like usual we lost two great film makers.

I live in Western Australia, the same state Wolf Creek is set in, I was at a Comicon event in Perth one year when I was trying to weave my way through the crowd, I bumped right into someone and looked up to apologise, it was the actor who played the killer in wolf creek. I nearly shat meself.

Just jumping in here today on devils night...hoping you come out with a video for Halloween....any thing coming out?

My claim to fame is that I went to the same university as James Wan, of course I went about 15 years later 😂

Australian here. A possible contributing factor is that by and large Australians make films about who they are, and are not so wedded to drama. The cliche' of Australian sensibility is that of people who are kind of understated and taciturn. This isn't entirely accurate across the board, but many are. This makes things feel a bit more real and a bit like they could actually happen.

You forgot about the 1985 movie called Fortress. Based on a true story. Bloody good flick.

Watched the loved ones with my daughter a bit ago, amazing underrated Oz horror

Undead is a fantastic ausie sci-fi horror

Australia is best country!!!!!!!

Watch bad boy bubby.

goosebump on the shelves of our primary school library yum

the online comment you made. needs to be said to everyone.

would have been good if this was made by an Australian but this was kind of interesting

is bc the state was founded on hectic genocide

You lost me at mispronouncing Milat as "Millet"

Ivan Millat's surname is pronounced "Mil-LAT", btw, not "Millit" 😊

My perspective on allot of these wide open shots of the outback isnt creepy to me, growing up out bush thats just normal way of life. I grew up in a small town of like 900 people (used to be around 10,000 until tobacco was made illegal) and i was often on my nana and grandads farm so being in the quiet bush is calming. The only time have i felt scared bush is when you are alone with no noise, no wind no animals, silence is fucking scary... before the cyclone hit close to the city im living in now last year i remember waking up one morning to silence. I was getting clothes from the washing line and hearing pure silence in a city fucking unsettles me, and when the wind came by shaking up trees it was so much more louder to me, thats horror for me, my fight or flight responce genuinly kicked in i remember my hands were gittery as fuck for a while driving to work

every time you mention your audio i'm confused because i hear no issue

Love aussie horror and immediately followed for content of vid and channel name. Your voice is great for narration!

"why is Aussie horror so brutal" gonna go with how far apart and deadly everything is from everything else

Jennifer Kent is the best Australian director, horror or otherwise. I wish American filmmakers could be as honest about our history as Kent's The Nightingale.

I saw Snowtown and I was like “damn… they didn’t give a fuck, huh”. I mean I know there are some American horror films that are pretty gruesome, but the thing about this movie is that it’s based on real events and we essentially saw how it more than likely went down. Phenomenal movie, though.

Killing Grounds was so stressful!

Hi! a couple of corrections:
Firstly, Razorback is from 1984 and Long Weekend from 1978.

Secondly, I said Steven Irwin instead of Steve. Sorry!

Third, Salisbury is a suburb of Adelaide, not a separate town.

And finally, I used the term 'native Australians/people' in this video and have been alerted that this isn't an appropriate term in Australia. Sorry for this mistake and I hope it hasn't caused any offence.

That aside, thank u so much for all ur lovely comments, insights and recommendations 🌹