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.
Wake in Fright
Director
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
Australia, United 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 Pleasence, Gary Bond, Chips Rafferty & Sylvia Kay
Music
John Scott
Film Source
Umbrella Entertainment
Genre
Drama, Horror & Thriller
Purchase Tickets
Friday 25 Oct 2024
07:00 pm
Wake in Fright
The Piccadilly:
The Piccadilly: Cinema 1
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