Wake in Fright (1971)

Name: Wake in Fright (1971)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: October 5, 2012
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 85

2012

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

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Wake In Fright

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Movie Details & Credits

Drafthouse Films | Release Date: October 5, 2012 | Not Rated

Summary: The film tells the story of a British schoolteacher’s descent into personal demoralization at the hands of drunken, deranged derelicts while stranded in a small town in outback Australia. (Drafthouse Films)

Director: Ted Kotcheff

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 114 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

May 15, 2020

It comes from the age of Straw Dogs and A Clockwork Orange, but none of those movies can match the sheer hardcore shock of the Australian New Wave nightmare Wake in Fright from 1971. Read full review

100

Rex Reed

Oct 2, 2012

Wake in Fright is the closest a movie can get to a primal scream. Read full review

Marc Mohan

Oct 18, 2012

As unpleasant as so many of its going-on are, Wake in Fright works both as an early instance of "Ozploitation" cinema and as a harsh critique of Australian colonialism and the absurdity of trying to bring so-called civilization to this vast arid wilderness. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Oct 31, 2012

It's not dated. It is powerful, genuinely shocking and rather amazing. Read full review

Drew Hunt

May 15, 2020

A Conradian parable of a man succumbing to the wild, the film is remarkable for its raw, pointed depiction of human behavior. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Nathan Southern

May 15, 2020

The film’s only flaw is a minor one: Some of the stylistic devices, such as the rapid-fire montages of vile and depraved images, have aged poorly. But that in no way detracts from the visceral power of the backslide into the abyss that we experience along with the central character. Read full review

Karina Longworth

Oct 2, 2012

A road movie using undeveloped land as a blank screen on which to project a dark deconstruction of masculinity and manifest destiny. Read full review

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User Reviews

TheDude-

Aug 6, 2015

Wake in fright is a mesmerizing film that takes you on a journey with a man who is stuck in an outback town as he slowly descends into madness. it loses one point for the actual animal cruelty that happens in a scene

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PlanByHero

Apr 25, 2014

A solid film about Aussie rednecks, alcoholism, and the terrible decision making skills of one teacher (who's actually a bit of an arrogant prick).

Its got a very slow pace, its not scary, and it isn't nearly as grim or tense as more recent Aussie films (Snowtown for example). However, ifA solid film about Aussie rednecks, alcoholism, and the terrible decision making skills of one teacher (who's actually a bit of an arrogant prick).

Its got a very slow pace, its not scary, and it isn't nearly as grim or tense as more recent Aussie films (Snowtown for example). However, if you're a fan of the old Australian "new wave" of cinema then its worth a gander.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Broyax

Dec 29, 2016

Vraiment à chier ce "Réveil"...?! hein que quoi où comment ?... où ça ?

Putain ouais, faudrait vraiment veiller à se réveiller messieurs le réal' et le scribouillard du script, parce que là ça craint sévère. A part boire de la bière, apparemment une bière locale qu'elle est bonne et qu'onVraiment à chier ce "Réveil"...?! hein que quoi où comment ?... où ça ?

Putain ouais, faudrait vraiment veiller à se réveiller messieurs le réal' et le scribouillard du script, parce que là ça craint sévère. A part boire de la bière, apparemment une bière locale qu'elle est bonne et qu'on en boit beaucoup dans le coin et dans toute l'Australie, à part se torcher la tronche donc avec cette "West End" et aller chasser le kangourou en bagnole, puis reboire de la bière, vomir, se suicider et recommencer, je vois pas ce que "raconte" ce film de merde.

Non, vraiment pas. Mais ça m'a donné soif.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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