Wake in Fright is the story of John Grant, a bonded teacher who arrives in the rough outback-mining town of Bundanyabba planning to stay overnight before catching the plane to Sydney. But his one night stretches to five and he plunges headlong toward his own destruction. When the alcohol-induced mist lifts, the educated John Grant is no more. Instead there is a self-loathing man in a desolate wasteland, dirty, red-eyed, sitting against a tree and looking at a rifle with one bullet left.
I'm amazed that I haven't heard about this movie before, it's a forgotten 1971 classic! It's a jaw dropping experience, with unforgettable performances from the late Donald Pleasence and Gary Bond. The movie starts off with John Grant played by Gary Bond, a school teacher who grades his last paper before the holiday break and plans on flying to Sydney, Australia to see his love interest. He decides to stay overnight in the mining town of Bundanyabba before catching the plane the next day. From that point on you witness the shocking downward spiral into depravity, self-destructive behavior that brings you head on into alcohol abuse and its shattering toll. It's a crazy world we live in and Wake In Fright throws it in our face. A character study with powerful, impact results.
The performances in this film are Oscar worthy and left me speechless. Why this film never got any awards and pretty much deserted until now is beyond me. Gary Bond, which believe it or not middle name is James, gives his all to this role and goes to pretty dark places with it that will leave you stunned! Gary sadly died in 1995 from AIDS at 55; it's disappointing that he didn't shoot to more great roles after this one. Donald Pleasence, from the Halloween fame plays 'Doc' Tydon and gives a staggering performance unlike anything I've seen from him. Donald oddly also died in 1995 at age 75. Their performance in this film will definitely live on.
Director, Ted Kotcheff who went on to film Fun With Dick And Jane (1977), First Blood and Weekend At Bernie's, creates a twisted and brilliant film and pays close attention to detail. He films with such depth and brings real horror to the viewer in an unsuspecting manner, psychologically mystifying and terrifying. The raw atmosphere reminds me of such films as Deliverance, Duel and The Grey. It's a shame he didn't do more striking movies as this one.
Overall, influential filmmaking, powerful acting and a disturbingly real execution reminds us why the 1970's were one of the best and most inspiring decades for this genre. It's not a movie I will want to watch again, but it's a movie you should at least watch once. 6.6 out of 10
I'm amazed that I haven't heard about this movie before, it's a forgotten 1971 classic! It's a jaw dropping experience, with unforgettable performances from the late Donald Pleasence and Gary Bond. The movie starts off with John Grant played by Gary Bond, a school teacher who grades his last paper before the holiday break and plans on flying to Sydney, Australia to see his love interest. He decides to stay overnight in the mining town of Bundanyabba before catching the plane the next day. From that point on you witness the shocking downward spiral into depravity, self-destructive behavior that brings you head on into alcohol abuse and its shattering toll. It's a crazy world we live in and Wake In Fright throws it in our face. A character study with powerful, impact results.
The performances in this film are Oscar worthy and left me speechless. Why this film never got any awards and pretty much deserted until now is beyond me. Gary Bond, which believe it or not middle name is James, gives his all to this role and goes to pretty dark places with it that will leave you stunned! Gary sadly died in 1995 from AIDS at 55; it's disappointing that he didn't shoot to more great roles after this one. Donald Pleasence, from the Halloween fame plays 'Doc' Tydon and gives a staggering performance unlike anything I've seen from him. Donald oddly also died in 1995 at age 75. Their performance in this film will definitely live on.
Director, Ted Kotcheff who went on to film Fun With Dick And Jane (1977), First Blood and Weekend At Bernie's, creates a twisted and brilliant film and pays close attention to detail. He films with such depth and brings real horror to the viewer in an unsuspecting manner, psychologically mystifying and terrifying. The raw atmosphere reminds me of such films as Deliverance, Duel and The Grey. It's a shame he didn't do more striking movies as this one.
Overall, influential filmmaking, powerful acting and a disturbingly real execution reminds us why the 1970's were one of the best and most inspiring decades for this genre. It's not a movie I will want to watch again, but it's a movie you should at least watch once. 6.6 out of 10