There's Something in the Pilliga

There's Something in the Pilliga is a 2014 Australian horror movie that hinges on thrill and suspense by piercing the calm depths of mysterious wilderness. This film is brought to life by the skilled performances of Brendan Byrne, Leoni Leaver, and Rebecca Callander, under the polished direction of Dane Millerd.

The story is centered on three resident characters who take us on an eerie trek through the Pilliga, a vast semi-arid woodland in Eastern Australia—haunted by chilling tales and known widely as an area of high strangeness. Brendan Byrne plays the character of Jay, a tough, uncompromising, and free-spirited ex-highway patrol officer. Leoni Leaver stars as Bec, an independent, strong, and determined single mother. And Rebecca Callander portrays Sophie, a carefree, friendly, yet initially apprehensive city girl from Sydney. As the plot unfolds, their paths collide in the foreboding Pilliga forest, gearing us for a thrilling ride.

Jay invites Sophie and Bec for a weekend of camping, promising a getaway far from the city’s chaos. Naturally, the allure of a relaxing respite in the dense serenity of the Pilliga proves too tempting to resist. The initial part of the film takes viewers on a laid-back journey through the picturesque landscapes of the Australian outback. It masterfully captures the beauty of the lonely and remote wilderness while also subtly underscoring its hidden dangers.

The journey starts off as idyllic, filled with bonfires, local beer, tall tales, and quite a few laughs. It soon, however, takes a haunting twist when they encounter inexplicable phenomena, suggestive of an ominous presence lurking in the forest. The rustic cheer morphs into a grim unease as the campers begin to sense that they are not alone in the wilderness. As tranquil stillness gives way to creeping dread, fear begins to eat away at the trio's bravado.

As the trio ventures deeper into the Pilliga, a series of strange and horrifying incidents unfold. From unusual sounds echoing through the trees to creepy, unexplained sightings, the Pilliga forest transforms from a serene refuge to a living nightmare. These chilling instances hint at the possible presence of Yowie - the Australian Bigfoot, often associated with the Pilliga.

The film brilliantly plays with the psychological terror of the unknown, alluding to the beast lurking in the shadows but maintaining a tangible ambiguity about its true nature. As the lines between reality and nightmare blur, the trio’s struggle for survival becomes increasingly desperate and intense. Their camaraderie gets tested, and their psychological endurance stretched to the limit, as they grapple with the unknown terror that awaits around every corner.

As much a character study as a horror film, There's Something in the Pilliga delves into the human psyche and brings to the fore our primal fears of the unknown. The movie serves as a reminder that sometimes the scariest things are not those seen but rather the unseen ones that lurk in the shadows.

There's Something in the Pilliga is magnificently shot, capturing the raw beauty of the Australian wilderness and intertwining it with the creeping dread of the unknown. The eerie natural backdrop creates an atmosphere that is both engaging and ominous—perfect for the mysterious and suspenseful narrative. The film's dominant use of natural light and dark shadows creates an ambiance that heightens the sense of dread and further augments the unsettling narrative.

The performances of Byrne, Leaver, and Callander are solid throughout, creating authentic characters that invoke sympathy. Millerd's directorial finesse, Johannes Mulder's cinematographic prowess, and Pete Diggens's coherent editing meld this movie into a narrative masterpiece that straddles the line between tense thriller and terrifying horror.

All in all, There's Something in the Pilliga is a refreshing addition to the horror genre. It ropes in viewers with its compelling narrative, believable portrayals, moody cinematography, and an eerie sense of place. It's an intriguing, thrilling, and hair-raising experience that makes us question what truly could be lurking in the wilderness when city lights fade away.