DVR Catch-up -- Rogue (2008)

Finally sat down to watch this one, after months of reading lavish online praise. Another one of these sad cases where a small yet scrappy and well-polished horror flick is dropped in like seven theaters nationwide for only two weeks, before hitting DVD racks with little media attention outside of the niche horror community. (See, Eden Lake. No, really...see it. It's great)

A damn shame, because Rogue is a pretty fun little ride. Shot like a pristine travel video for the Australian outback and acted commendably all around, its a simple survival yarn about boat-ride tourists trapped on a small island that's right smack in the middle of a mammoth crocodile's "territory." One by one, the unlucky "blokes" become croc chow, in the midst of in-crew squabbling and bickering.

And it's, safe to say, the best killer crocodile movie ever made. Not that there's tons of competition out there, or anything. But I feel confident in calling it such. Fuck a Primeval; that ish was wack juice packaged.



Written, produced, and directed by Greg McLean, a nicely-chopped filmmaker who's definitely one to keep peepers on. He was behind the homicidal-Aussie-abducts-and-picks-off-three-travelers film Wolf Creek, which my friends hated and blamed me for their having watched it, but has improved gradually with repeat viewings to become a miniscule dose brutality that I'm quite fond of. Here in Rogue, McLean exhibits similar minimalism with the scares that he showed in Wolf Creek, and it's just as effective, if not more. Very few crocodile attacks are seen, but when they do come, they're out of nowhere and pack a bone-cracking force. Especially one bit involving an irrational father who thinks he's just survived a botched escape plan. Naturally, he's bloody wrong, and the croc chomps down, rips his arm off, throws the man across the river, and proceeds to enjoy a juicy tourist snack. Yummy.

Speaking of the crocodile, it's fuckin' badass. Clearly CGI-made, but used sparingly enough that the computer-animation-usage doesn't look like a video game monster.



As the film gets in its groove, we're led to believe that, in standard horror practice, the bodycount will be staggering. The tourist group has about ten or so people tallied, so there's nothing foolish in thinking at least eight of them will flatline, violently, by film's end. Shockingly, McLean keeps the corpse-pile lean (no Mc); only four meet the croc's machete-like teeth, three of which meeting their makers off-screen. Normally, slim-pickins in the death registry is something to frown upon (greet, don't fear, the reaper), but for some odd reason it feels comfy in Rogue. Reasonable and smartly-plotted. This is more a survival action thing than a full-on monster mash, really.

It feels like a whatever nitpick, but I could've used some more character development here, considering that the kills were miniscule. Not caring about those on screen is tolerable when they're simply present to provide a glorious murder scene; when they're being used as foils for internal conflict and plan-making-kinks, however, I'd prefer to know them a smidge better. And aside from the heroic travel writer and tour guide Kate (short-haired fox Radha Mitchell), I can't recall any ditsinguishing character features from the boat's occupants.

Rogue isn't anything ground-breaking, or even exceptional, and may only appeal to the small faction of heads who love themselves some oversized-creature features. But even if you're just a straightforward fan of suspenseful thrillers, it's a good way to kill 90 minutes of your life. And it's on cable now, so it won't even cost you a nickel. Always welcome.

Plus, like I said earlier, it's the best killer crocodile movie ever. Much better than, say, this:


Though, that does look like something I'd totally watch. Voluntarily, without shame. Smiling, giggling, enjoying.