Look man, Australia is hot as all fuck, and full of animals that doubtless would enjoy eating your freakin’ face off.
Into that paradise strides Americans Lisa (Lauren Lofsberg) and Wade (Tyler Wiese), two lovebirds on the skids to partake on what was supposed to be a romantic getaway, but is instead a strained mess thanks to Lisa turning down Wade’s marriage proposal at the airport at journey’s start.
Speaking of personal problems, soon our in-way-over-their-heads heroes are stranded in the vastness of the Outback (home to venomous snakes, scorpions, and some sky-high temperatures… all of which the duo must face) where the survival of their asses supersedes the survival of their relationship… which is hard to maintain once you are dead.
Co-writer (along with Brien Kelly)/director Mike Green deliver a taut, suspenseful narrative (based on an urban legend no less) with Outback that’s impressive both in it’s presentation of the Outback as a malevolent character in and of itself… a living, breathing, many faceted organism ready to absolutely devour these fuckin’ noobs that have so boldly entered it’s territory.
Speaking of characters, the human ones are pretty damn solid as well… which is a fortunate thing as Lofsberg and Wiese are mostly it when it comes to actor’s featured in this flick. That being said both are engaging and generate an ass-load of audience sympathy, especially since they react as normal people would when faced with both an unknown and hostile environment as well as a relationship gone sour.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the grimy realism on display, the expertly crafted tension, and excellent cinematography (courtesy of Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead‘s Tim Nagle).
Bottom line: Outback is a very simple story incredibly well told… it’s modern man (and woman) versus nature, and all the horror that comes with that, done to on-edge perfection!
