Back in 1971 Time Out called this psychological thriller “sadly confused” and “crudely exploitative”. This week, the magazine gave the re-release four stars. Now recognised as a bona-fide cult classic, the film is about a teacher’s dark week of the soul and offers a jolting study of two evils: machismo and snobbery. It’s set in the Australian outback but actually applies to any culture where a) hard drinking is encouraged and b) bitter wage slaves drown their sorrows in dreams of escape.
To create his feverish fable, Canadian/Macedonian director Ted Kotcheff borrows a few tricks from David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia. So it may not be a coincidence that the leading man — British actor Gary Bond — looks a bit like Peter O’Toole. Still, while Bond is pretty and intense, he doesn’t allow his glamour to overwhelm us.
John Drake, the aforementioned teacher, wants to make an impression on the world, but can’t. Bond, with great subtlety, makes that weakness come alive.
One Christmas, Drake finds himself stranded in a mining town and wonders if a cynical doctor called Tydon (Donald Pleasence), might be a kindred spirit. The tension between the two men is spectacular and two incidents — both involving violence — make the viewer reel. You will never forget the for-real footage of kangaroos being slaughtered at night, or Tydon’s sad but dazzling smile.
There’s one duff (over-explanatory) line and some of the atmospheric music has dated. Otherwise, this is fetid perfection.
