“Uncle Mick won’t hurt you…”

While I had seen the original Wolf Creek movie back in 2005, I somehow missed out on the rest of the franchise and I decided to binge-watch it all to catch up with our old pal, Mick Taylor. When it comes to horror villains, we naturally think about Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers and more, but Mick Taylor may be one of the best villains I have ever watched in a horror franchise.

Part of what makes the franchise so terrifying is that it is loosely based on real events. I already have issues with watching tourists get lost into the void and Mick Taylor welcomes you to the Outback with a smile and “rain water from the top end.” John Jarratt’s portrayal of Mick is out of this world. Mick is ruthless, sadistic, and terrifying, but he also manages to charm us with his fantastic laugh and quirky humor, which almost makes you root more for the villain as the characters in each film are just along for crazy Mick’s ride.

After watching the entire franchise, I can tell you that I absolutely love every film and season and there isn’t one that I would say is lacking. For today, I am going to be ranking the Wolf Creek franchise, but this mostly comes down to preference and I am anxiously waiting for Wolf Creek 3 to be released, which seems to already be in the works for 2022. Yay!

Please note some spoilers are ahead.

Without any further delay, let’s find out exactly how I ranked the Wolf Creek films/seasons and why.

1

Wolf Creek 2 (2013)

It’s rare for me to like a sequel more than an original film, but I think that Wolf Creek truly found its way in the second movie. Mick is back and better than ever and I think everyone realized it’s better to let Mick just be Mick, as he faces off against Ryan Corr in this edge-of-your-seat film.

While the first film took a while to get going, this one starts off with a bang. I thought that Mick was even funnier in this one and there was no fluff in the way. Everything happens at a fast pace and was really brutal.

I thought that Ryan Corr was really good in the film as well and a worthy opponent, but you can’t beat Mick at his own game…

Standout Death: 

Spoiler alert. Do not read if you have not seen this movie!

Poor Katarina. She just wanted to go camping with her boyfriend and witnessed a lot of horrific things before Ryan Corr’s character picked her up on the side of the road. After screaming hysterically about her circumstances, Mick ends up shooting her…accidentally. There goes Mick’s play thing for the next few months and he is not happy about it.

2

Wolf Creek: Season 2 (2017)

Whoever came up with the idea to have Mick driving a bus full of tourists through the Australian Outback is a genius. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get with the second season of the series and wow did it deliver. I was completely addicted to this show and there were explosions, twists, and more terrifying fun with Mick Taylor.

More please!

Standout Death: 

Spoiler alert. Do not read if you have not seen this season!

I can’t think of anything more terrifying than poor Ritchie having his tongue cut out only to be buried alive with a termite mound on top of him…

I am still cringing over this.

Season 2 did not hold back at all…

3

Wolf Creek (2005)

The original movie is really frightening, but it takes a while to get going. We follow Liz and her friends while they explore Wolf Creek and we are then first introduced to Mick’s character after their car won’t start.

Once Mick revealed his true sinister intentions, things really get going, but I think this film took a little while to find its footing and that’s not necessarily a bad thing at all. I just think it adjusted better with the later film and series.

Standout Death: 

Spoiler alert. Do not read if you have not seen this movie!

I really think Liz deserved better. I was rooting for her during the entire movie and I thought that she had Final Girl potential. She kept a clear head and made smart decisions, but it still wasn’t enough to defeat Mick in the end as he tried out his “head on a stick” impression, stabbing her to death.

I think this is also the moment that truly made me realize how good this franchise is. I thought Liz was going to be the survivor and then I realized that the film wasn’t about the good guy winning or saving the day. It was more about Mick and what he was getting away with and how easy it can be to make someone disappear…

Either way, I kind of wished we got some Easter Eggs about Liz in the later film and series. I still don’t know how Mick knew exactly what car she would get into…

4

Wolf Creek: Season 1 (2016)

I really liked season one of the series as well, but when I look back at the entire franchise, it feels different from the rest. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because the series should have a different vibe to make it stand out on its own and I think it accomplished that here. It was just really more of a revenge story for Eve and there was a lot of drama and romance sprinkled in, but I did really love the dog!

Standout Death: 

Spoiler alert. Do not read if you have not seen season 1!

Well, we know that Mick doesn’t actually die, but Eve does defeat him and this was the huge moment on the show. Well done, Eve!

So, what’s next for Mick Taylor?

We know that a new film is already in the works and season 3 is not off the table either so it looks like we will be seeing more Mick Taylor in the future. In the meantime, you might want to re-consider those vacation plans…

Which Wolf Creek films/seasons did YOU enjoy most?

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on the Wolf Creek franchise in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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