lost-in-limbo You want a good crocodile flick which gives you the carnage but also well-meaning in its context, then you can't look any further than the 1987 Aussie exploitation ecological monster fare "Dark Age" starring a very young John Jarrett (who would be best remembered for his unnerving performance in 2005 horror feature "Wolf Creek") playing a Northern Territory park ranger Steve who's in-charge of conserving the disappearing crocodile population. But things go bad to worse, when locals start becoming a target for one very large crocodile and the hunters of the area (who always seem to a beer can in their hand) go about trying to wipe out the species. But Steve has a plan, but needs the help of an aboriginal elder who believes the crocodile to be sacred. You could probably say this was Australia's answer to "Jaws" and it would do a good job of scaring you out of the water. The material doesn't go into a lot depth with the character dramas (though they are there), but it effectively draws upon its conservational message but never letting it get in the way of a good jolt. Sonia Borg's smartly penned screenplay gels all elements rather well. Director Arch Nicholson (who also did the excellent 1986 made-for-TV survival hostage flick "Fortress") crafts out an exciting outback adventure, using conventional genre staples with unsparing force and the atmospherics of the terrain provided some arresting sequences of beauty and chills. Even the characters interactions draw up intensity, but it's the attack scenes which will stay with you. Watching the croc prey on its victims, then in a matter of seconds have them in a vice grip as we hear their bones crunching under the pressure with blood engulfing the water is an unnerving sight. But just seeing this creation in its glory is scary enough and the effects are outstanding, despite that it might seem a bit stiff in its movements. It's well shot and the camera uses different angles, which also helps. The performances are all game with some memorable turns by Max Phipps as gun-happy hunter John Besser, Nikki Goghill (whose blue eyes really stand out) as Steve's girlfriend Cathy, Burnam Burnam as the native elder Oonadabund and David Gulpill as his fellow tracker Adjaral. It had been awhile seen I last saw it and it surprised how well it actually stood up. Great nature-runs-amok outing which would make a perfect double bill with "Razorback"."We born. We die. Spirit lives."

HumanoidOfFlesh A giant crocodile is killing and eating river poachers and small kids from the river banks.John Jarratt of "Wolf Creek" fame plays park ranger who is a big protector of crocodiles as well.The local aborigines see this bloodthirsty crocodile as a sacred reptile called "Numunwari" and they want to transfer the beast to its proper upriver.Arch Nicholson's "Dark Age" is a well-made and suspenseful animal attack flick which owes a lot to "Jaws".The killing of small aboriginal kid is quite shocking with its unexpected brutality.The croc itself looks realistic and menacing enough and the attack scenes are surprisingly vicious.The film is also rich in aboriginal myths and symbolism as it poses few important environmental questions.Can't wait to see Arch Nicholson's "Fortress".8 crocs out of 10.

morrison-dylan-fan Since watching Mark Hartley's tremendous documentary Not Quite Hollywood,I've been keeping my eyes open for any "lost" Ozploitation films.My search eventually led to me finding this film,and with having heard in Hartley's film,that due to the film having spent the past few decades in legal troubles, and the chance of it ever getting a "legit" release being very low,I decided that this was an Ozploitation film that I had to snap up right away... The plot:Travelling up a river,that is near by a small town,where a community of indigenous Australians live,a group of hunters cant believe their eyes,when they catch a glimpse of the largest crocodile that any of them have seen in their lives!.Realiseing that cacheting the huge croc would bring in a huge amount of cash,the hunters rush to get hold of their guns.Suddenly,from out of nowhere,the crocodile appears from behind their small boat,and completely tears the boat,and the hunters apart.As the crocodile starts to make a list of victims, (with a young child being the latest one to join the list) local police officer Steve Harris is called in to stop the crocs murderous rampage.Visiting the near-by indigenous community,Harris is told that they will not allow the crocodile to be killed,due to it being a "dreaming" crocodile,which has been in the river for as long as anyone can remember.With all of the newspaper headlines,that the croc has grabbed,a group of publicity hungry hunters decide that they will be the ones to bring the beast to shore.With Steve realising that he is running out of time,and that his boss and on/off girlfriend are telling him that he must kill the crocodile right now,Harris chooses to ignore their ideas,and instead do his own thing,which he hopes will keep the beast safe for the indigenous people,whilst also stopping its rampage dead in the water.View on the film:Whilst it is very easy to see the problems that the cast and crew had with the fake Croc in the film, (which in Not Quite Hollywood,is reported to have constantly broken down during the shoot!)director Arch Nicholson never lets these disadvantages come in the way of him creating a wild log flume ride of a film.For the scenes in the river,where everyone is looking for the murdering Croc,Nicholson gives them an excellent swamp feeling,that makes the moments when the crocodile appears to grab its next victims to be something very special.Along with the river action,Nicholson keeps the action on land moving at a rapid pace,with the scenes where Sam is meeting the indigenous people being a terrific clash of cultures.due to Sam looking stunned,when the tribe start to tell tales about the wonderful "dreaming croc,who is only going around eating people because it just wants to be filled with tucker!)Looking at the constantly entertaining screenplay by Sonia Borg and Stephen Cross,(adapted from a novel by Graham Webb)I was initially disappointed that the film was taking its time,and not just jumping straight to the action.But as the film went on,I realised the this was actually a good move by Borg and Webb,since it got the stunning action/chase scenes to fit smoothly into the rest of this fantastic film,and made sure that they weren't a separate entity.Final view on the film:A fantastic "genre" film,packed with a terrific mix of action/adventure,comedy and a good amount of "Creature-Horror",which ends up making this film,a sadly forgotten,must see Ozploitation.

oli42 I might be one of only a handful of people, to have seen this movie in Australia. I had read about 'Dark Age' in Fango, many years ago, and had knowledge of the production.(it was shot in my home town- Darwin) So I waited patiently, time pass, but nothing! Then one fateful day, a friend came back from East Timor with a bunch of bootleg DVDs. Amongest them was 'Dark Age', with the alternative title- 'Lake Placid 3: Dark Age'. It was a really dodgy copy, that fell apart towards the end, but it was enough to get an idea of what I had been missing. Hopefully with the release of 'Rogue', someone might dig up the rights to this gem and get it out there.