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2024

Wake in Fright

Wake in Fright, now in stunning 4K, follows a young teachers spiral into terror when he’s stranded in a brutal mining town. Lost in a nightmarish world of gambling, violence, and survival, this gripping Australian classic remains as haunting as ever.

Director

Ted Kotcheff

Runtime

109 Minutes

Country

Australia, United Kingdom, United States

Classification

M

A young teacher's descent into madness is vividly restored in stunning 4K.

Wake in Fright is a cornerstone of Australian cinema, and we're thrilled to present the stunning new 4K restoration of this nearly lost classic. Originally premiering on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival in 1971, Ted Kotcheff's Wake in Fright is a visceral, unflinching exploration of a man’s descent into madness in the unforgiving Australian outback.

The story follows John Grant, a young schoolteacher whose plans for a holiday in Sydney take a nightmarish detour when he becomes trapped in a remote mining town. As he loses everything in a brutal game of two-up, John is drawn into a harrowing spiral of excessive drinking, disturbing friendships, and a savage kangaroo hunt. The film’s tension is relentless, and Kotcheff’s direction masterfully captures the stark, oppressive atmosphere that defines this pivotal film of the Australian New Wave.

This 4K restoration breathes new life into its haunting visuals, making the film's raw power and unsettling themes even more impactful. As Martin Scorsese said, Wake in Fright "left me speechless." Don’t miss this chance to experience one of the most important films in Australian cinema history as it was meant to be seen.

“It comes from the age of Straw Dogs and A Clockwork Orange, but none of those movies can match the sheer hardcore shock of the Australian New Wave nightmare Wake in Fright from 1971."

The Guardian

Wake in Fright is true horror.”

Los Angeles Times

“An Outback horror story, Kotcheff’s film is raw and uncompromised, well-acted, brilliantly photographed and edited.”

RogerEbert.com

Film Credits

Director

Ted Kotcheff

Year

1971

Country

AustraliaUnited Kingdom & United States

Language

English

Type

Feature & Fiction

Program Strand

Horror & World Cinema

Producer

George Willoughby

Writer

Evan Jones

Cinematographer

Brian West

Editor

Anthony Buckley Buckley

Cast

Donald PleasenceGary BondChips Rafferty & Sylvia Kay

Music

John Scott

Film Source

Umbrella Entertainment

Genre

DramaHorror & Thriller

Purchase Tickets

Friday 25 Oct 2024

07:00 pm

Wake in Fright

The Piccadilly:

The Piccadilly: Cinema 1

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