I know I am a little late on this one, but I could not help it, I was busy celebrating Easter yesterday 🙂 I agree with a lot of the things that Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox says about this 1984 Australian monster flick (read here). Contrary to Cox though, I am a huge fan of the “rock video school of film-making” (in his own words) that he details in that link above. The plot of this horror film revolves around the hunt for a vicious boar in Australia. What makes it fascinating lies not so much in the premise as it does in how it is executed. In this case, it is told through it’s use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights, “neo-noir” lighting, windblown drapery, and fans. All of these are trademarks of Australian director Russell Mulcahy according to wikipedia’s entry on him (read here). Though more well-known for directing music videos for singers like Elton John or bands like Duran Duran to name just two examples of each, Mulcahy would go on to direct the 1986 cult classic Highlander (he would also direct Highlander II: The Quickening five years later in 1991). If I were to single out two highlights of Razorback, it would be Dean Semler’s dreamy cinematography and (as Cox mentions in the link above) a surrealistic dream sequence somewhere during the middle of the film.
Since I could not find a video link to Alex Cox’s introduction, here is a link to the transcript of the Moviedrome episode that originally premiered on May 29, 1988.
Here is a youtube link to two trailers below. This one may be for the Australian market:
This youtube link is one for the American market:
cinematiccoffee 
Fun movie and very pleasantly surprised to see you cover it,John. I saw this at the theater and only remember that Gregory Harrison was in and some blonde Australian actress with a quirky name. It was a lot of and of course it got compared to “Jaws”.
Does this mean that we’ll be seeing more creature features coming from you?
This is another of my favourites from Moviedrome. I saw it on the BBC back in 1988 and was rather taken with “blonde Australian actress” Arkie Whiteley. Sad to say she passed away in December 2001.
I enjoyed this film, and agree with you that the technique worked well. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Actually, I was just referencing what director Alex Cox said about the film when he was hosting the show Moviedrome in the UK (I am an American citizen btw) via those links I posted. I first discovered that old program earlier in the decade via youtube. I was searching stuff about director Alex Cox and Moviedrome popped up as one of the searches. The Australian actress in it was Arkie Whiteley – she died back in late 2001. She also played The Captain’s Girl in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. I will cover more creature features sometime in the future as well. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Arkie Whiteley’s passing was undoubtedly sad 😦 Did you know that she played The Captain’s Girl in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior? Interesting isn’t it? 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Did you know that the cinematography was done by the same guy who photographed Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, which in this case would be Dean Semler. Interesting isn’t it? 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is another film Moviedrome introduced me too. I do remember Arkie Whiteley’s character, and what a ride that film was. Like Alex Cox I to lament the demise of the Australian film industry.