Review -- Outback (2019)

                               

In the grand cinematic tradition of couples doing stupid things while on vacation and based on an urban legend, this 2019 offering from director and co-writer Mike Green takes us on a couple's ill-fated Australia getaway. Tense and frightening in its ruthless pragmatism, the screenplay also acts as a detailed manual on what not to do and how not to act while visiting an unfamiliar location.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Lisa (Lauren Lofberg) and Wade (Taylor Wiese) are in the land down under, while also coping with a bump in their relationship - he proposed on the plane and she refused. On a whim, they decide to explore the Outback, but make a wrong turn and lose their way in the unforgiving wilderness. Now the question is if they can survive the snakes, dingoes and other hazards lurking around...

As far as survival movies go, Outback is gripping. We empathize with the young couple who are just starting their lives together and are already in disagreement. The love that they share is palpable, with Lofberg and Wiese relatable and sympathetic as the two, which only makes their later torture more grueling to watch. Their last scenes, particularly Lisa filming her video, are exceptionally moving. Justin Bell's ominous music and Tim Nagle's gorgeous cinematography contribute to the sense of dread and loneliness when the two get lost; there are some beautiful shots of a place that should only be visited in an online image search. Just like 2008's The Strangers, the movie depicts an especially frightening situation because it can actually happen in real life. One does not need Jason or Michael when there are creatures that can kill you at the drop of a hat.

However, what riles me up is how ignorant these two people are about going to see a country that is third on the list of countries with the most venomous animals in the world (Mexico and Brazil are #1 and #2, respectively, in case you are wondering). They do not know much about Australia's flora and fauna, which is pretty much the first thing that one needs to be aware of when traveling there. They jump into the ocean willy-nilly and do not seek medical assistance when Wade gets stung by what is likely one of the most dangerous species of jellyfish on the planet. They decide to visit one of the wildest and most remote places on Earth without a guide or any kind of plan. They leave their car and do not even have flares, not to mention that they obviously have not brought enough food and water for this type of excursion. One has to wonder what the two are thinking; it is no surprise that nature quickly crashes them down to a brutal reality. This is where the movie cannot seem to be able to make up its mind - is its intention to purposefully show the couple's naivete or are the plot holes really this big? Are we supposed to believe that these two apparently experienced travelers know so little? It is difficult to tell.

Outback is a good way to spend two hours distracted by others' plight, yelling at the screen and shaking your head in disbelief. Its unique location is a merciless predator, toying with two unsuspecting humans in its midst. An engaging and suspenseful movie, it demonstrates how beautiful places can also be perilous and is a good warning for any wannabe travelers to always do their research.  

7/10