I am utterly perplexed by the high praise lavished on the re-issue of this film in 2014. The cinematography is not bad at times - the bar scenes, the gambling and the kangaroo hunt are all quite well done; and the music is effective. Otherwise this film is marred by bad acting, unconvincing episodes, overlong and repetitive scenes and, above all, the lack of interesting or engaging characters. Do we really care what happens to John Grant? Are we allowed any insights into his character, or any of the other stereotypes he meets? Most puzzling is the lack of tension or threat. Wake in fright? - fright of what? At no time is John Grant in any real jeopardy. In sum: of interest as a portrayal of boorish and drunken male culture in 1970s Australia, but of very little value otherwise.
Review of Wake in Fright
