For an Aussie film this is pretty cheesy, BUT not half bad for the low budget. A cat and mouse game between a serial killer and army vet. Supposedly set in the bush but had my doubts of where it was filmed. It was entertaining with the scenery and the chase. Not great BY any means but workth a 4 out of 10.
The Backpacker
2011
Action / Horror / Thriller
The Backpacker
2011
Action / Horror / Thriller
Keywords: australian outbackoutbackbackpacker
Plot summary
On the lonely back roads of rural Australia a deadly secret from the past awaits returned soldier Sergeant Ben Cross. Vincent Malek, a cruel and uncompromising killer forces Ben to play his deadly game. Relentlessly hunted through unforgiving terrain, Ben must draw on all his strength to survive, and unravel the truth along the way. The ultimate psychological chase film with revenge at its core, The Backpacker is a thriller in the same chilling vein as the late 60's box office sensation 'Deliverance'. As Malek hunts Ben relentlessly through his forest hunting ground in a gruesome game of cat and mouse, the action revolves around one crucial question: how far would you go for revenge...
Uploaded by: OTTO
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Very Low budget thriller
Stay off the back roads
Military veteran Ben Cross (Nathan Waring) and his girlfriend Nina (Laura Andersen) decide to hitchhike/ backpack across rural Australia, visiting small rural bars that play death metal music. There are posters of missing people in the area. "Stay off the back roads" is written on a restroom mirror.
In spite of the warnings our couple decide to break up and hitchhike as Nina claims "Hitchhiking is a girl's game," so Ben takes her on her challenge. Eventually this turns into a human hunting game with a guy named Vincent (Vincent Stone) who has a French accent and camouflage make-up.
This is not the best in genre. Ben is a minor league Rambo, which makes him more believable. Most of the action takes place off screen. When a person is head butted with a rifle, we never see the blow to the head. Even simple face slapping to done facing away from the camera.
A film likes this appeals to people who want to see the violence, not just the results. If you decide you are not going to show the violence, then we need an "A" plan with better stars and plot.
Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity. Off screen rape?
must have lost his way....
This is a very odd movie.
Technically it is near perfect - beautifully lit, well shot, sound is great, very well edited, and yet.....
While the filming is so good you can practically smell the Australian bush, the scenery spectacular, the script is, well, rubbish.
The lines are delivered in a monologue style, dull and expressionless, weakly spoken and at a strange, high pitch.
Knowing one of the actors personally, I can attest to the fact his voice is nowhere near as weak and high-pitched as it sounded on screen.
The film comes across as a project for a film school, one that should attract high marks for technical ability and direction, but not for mainstream or commercial release.
With a good script and strong acting, this film would have been a gem.