**Spoilers**
Australian movies appeal to me, and have done ever since I watched the original Mad Max movie all those years ago. There is an appealing aspect to their ruggard and isolated life styles (the outback), and their plain speaking. With that in mind I was excited to watch Razorback, a movie I will admit to having been completely unaware of. Having watched it, I can confirm it was everything I hoped for and more.
The plot of Razorback of course revolves around razorbacks, or perhaps more accuraretely one huge bad ass razorback. A razorback is basically a wild pig, they are found in Australia, America and the UK. The movie begins with an elderly Grandfather looking after his grandson. Shortly after putting him to bed a giant razorback rampages through the house, taking the child with it as it leaves. The authorities do not believe the old mans claims that a razorback was responsible for the death of the child but due to insufficient evidence they are uable to convict him. Fast forward, a female reporter and animal rights activist, travels to Australia to investigate the killing of kangeroos to make pet food. She finds the factory and encounters two crazy thugs called Benny and Dicko. They track her down, and attempt to rape her, but the razorback that kiled the young child interupts them and kills her. The rest of the movie concentrates on her husband and his attempt to get to the truth of what happened.
Razorback is a well made horror movie, no doubt about it. The movie is like some sort of surreal blend of Mad Max meets Jaws, only this time the shark is a giant pig with tusks. Like Jaws the creature is kept out of view until later in the film, with only fleeting shots of the creature before that happens, There is plenty of action in the film, there is even a Mad Max style vehicle and car chase. The setting of remote Australian outback works perfectly. There is violence, there is gore, and there is that great Australian sense of humour also.
From a technical point of view the film is also quite competent. The acting is generally speaking good, and all characters were believable. The dialogue was as I would expect for a movie set in Australia, perhaps that is a stereotype but it works for me. The special effects for a movie made in 1984 are good enough not to spoil the entertainment. The plot is simple, but who cares, it's a horror movie about a giant pig not a Shakespearean epic.
8 out of 10
Summary: if you like "monster" movies, and like me love Australian movies. you will love this movie.