Outback (2019) Review – A Pointless Exercise in Tourist Stupidity
Outback: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A frustratingly illogical and poorly paced survival thriller that struggles to justify its feature runtime. Outback fails to build any genuine tension, primarily because the protagonists’ predicament is a direct result of almost supernatural levels of stupidity. While the Australian landscape offers a naturally hostile backdrop, the film squanders this potential by relying on tired survival tropes and a bizarrely aggressive focus on the couple’s awkward relationship drama. The constant on-screen claims that the film is based on a true story feel disingenuous, as the narrative is clearly a fictionalised amalgamation of urban legends and tourist cautionary tales. This 2 star effort suffers from significant continuity errors and a lack of narrative momentum, eventually descending into a final act that is more comical than harrowing. Unless you have a specific craving for survival cinema and can tolerate characters who seem determined to sabotage their own rescue, Outback is a journey that is best avoided.
Details: Director: Mike Green | Cast: Lauren Lofberg, Tayler Wiese | Runtime: 1h 26m | Release Date: 2019
Best for: Viewers who enjoy “low-stakes” survival movies and those who find entertainment in watching characters make the worst possible decisions in every scenario.
Worth noting: Despite the film’s insistence on being a true account, the events are fictional. The lead actors are actually Australian but were directed to perform with American accents, which occasionally slip during more emotional scenes.
Where to Watch: Tubi (Free), Amazon🛒
Rating: 2/5 Stars
(A slow and logic-defying survival movie let down by unlikable characters, numerous plot holes, and a complete lack of genuine suspense.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at Australian horror survival movie Outback.
Highlights
Dumb tourists being dumb tourists
Directed by Mike Green, this movie follows American couple Lisa and Wade who are on a trip to Australia to see the sights. Wade made the rather stupid decision to propose to Lisa on the way over and now things are very awkward. But that will be the least of their concerns when a trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock) leaves them stranded in the middle of nowhere.
“The couple head off on a multi-thousand mile journey packing only a bottle of water, half a tank of gas, and some kangaroo jerky. The very idea that anyone would be so under-prepared is fairly ridiculous.”
This is a bit of a silly movie with a bunch of ridiculous plot holes which make absolutely no sense. If you are wanting to know more about this story or just need an explanation for the ending, you are in luck. We have put together an Outback Ending Explained article. It’s full of spoilers so stay here if you haven’t watched the movie yet.
This one really starts off on the wrong foot demanding that the viewer buy into some, frankly, ridiculous ideas. The couple head off on a multi-thousand mile journey packing only a bottle of water, half a tank of gas, a can of gas just in case that half tank isn’t enough, and some kangaroo jerky. Apparently, that is plenty for the 36 hour journey through remote, Australian nothingness. The very idea that anyone would undertake this task so under-prepared is fairly ridiculous. It gets worse, though.
Ridiculous survival aspect
When the survival aspect kicks in, it mainly focuses on a ridiculously dumb character, slowly leading another character to their inevitable doom. The landscape is barren, it is very hot because.. Australia! There are snakes and scorpions everywhere because, again, Australia, and the two characters are incredibly dehydrated.
It would be hard to imagine a worse situation but the potential for drama and suspense ala Walkabout is totally wasted. Instead, we have a bunch of ridiculous survival movie tropes and a dude that really wants his girlfriend to drink his pee. Little note here, that whole pee drinking thing is a myth perpetuated by posh boy faux-survivalist Bear Gryls… Don’t do it in a survival situation.
The makers boldly claim that Outback is interchangeably based on both a true story and an urban legend. The viewer is constantly hounded with onscreen notes about the characters in the movie as if they were real people who genuinely existed. The reality is, Outback is not based on a true story. You won’t be able to find the specific case this movie relates to because it is fiction. It is based on the arrogance and stupidity of foreign tourists in general.
“The makers boldly claim that Outback is based on both a true story and an urban legend. The reality is that Outback is fiction based on the arrogance and stupidity of foreign tourists in general.”
This speaks to the greater issue with Outback. It wants to be so much more than it is. Simple research could have generated a real life story to base this on. This would have afforded the creators at least a modicum of realism. It might have made the story a bit more interesting rather than dull and repetitive.
Plot holes and continuity issues
It’s hard to say whether the movie features a ton of plot holes, or not. I can’t tell if it is that or just the characters being stupid. Still, there are a few things that stick out a mile. For example, Wade is apparently halfway through his basic training. How the hell did he get a few weeks off for a vacation? I didn’t even think people doing basic got weekends off. For every military person I knew it was long days training, evenings spent sorting kit and night time spent recovering. Maybe the occasional half day if they were lucky. I mean, those people are tough for a reason and I imagine America is even more strict.
Another crucial plot hole involving the car really sticks out. It undermines the entire events of the movie. Continuity issues are a real problem here. Characters will be wearing bright white sneakers halfway through the film, despite having been walking in dirt for hours.
Clothes are spotless and our characters both look rather clean and fresh. There is some okay makeup work at one point. That mysteriously disappears after a while, though. It feels very low rent and painfully low effort.
Acting and cinematography are okay
Both Lauren Lofberg and Taylor Wiese’s accents slip on a few occasions; they are Australian, not American. Lofberg is fine in dramatic scenes but her delivery is a little childlike, at times. I put that down to the script more than anything. This is very much a case of men writing women and doing a poor job. Wiese’s character is so unlikeable it is hard to comment on his performance. He is fine in some of the more visceral, dramatic moments, I suppose.
“Outback is worth a watch if you are just dying for a survival movie and do not care about plot holes and absolutely boneheaded characters. It simply delivers on none of its potential.”
Cinematography is okay. I don’t think the outback is what you would call stunning scenery. More of a barren wasteland, really. The decision to film the touristy parts of Australia on an overcast day was strange. It looked like the UK with how bloody grey it was. Lofberg looks absolutely freezing when the pair visit the beach. Did they film in Aussie winter? I absolutely love Australia; it’s a beautiful place and I would have enjoyed seeing some more of the scenery.
Pacing is lacking. The majority of the movie is awkward interactions between the couple. The rest of it is two people walking in circles while being a bit thirsty and a bit warm. The hilarious final 20 minutes of the movie might be some of the silliest I have ever seen. Designed to, once again, remind women that their partner’s would do anything for them, hence why they should just acquiesce to their every demand, however unreasonable and publicly embarrassing. It’s just awful stuff. Utterly devoid of suspense and almost impossible to invest in.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Decent Practical Makeup: There are brief moments where the makeup work effectively captures the brutal physical toll of the elements, though it is inconsistently applied.
- Lead Commitment: Both Lauren Lofberg and Tayler Wiese give physically demanding performances, clearly enduring a lot of “mud and dirt” acting for the sake of the shoot.
- Setting Potential: The inherent danger of the Australian interior is a classic horror setting that always provides a built-in sense of isolation.
The Bad
- Nonsensical Plotting: The inciting incident is so avoidable and the lack of preparation so extreme that it makes the characters impossible to sympathise with.
- Continuity Gaps: Spotless sneakers and fresh-looking clothes in the middle of a multi-day survival ordeal severely undermine the film’s attempt at realism.
- Boring Narrative: The majority of the runtime is spent watching two unlikable people bicker while walking in circles, offering very little in the way of actual thrills.
The Ugly: The “Grylls” Factor. The film perpetuates the dangerous survival myth that drinking urine is a viable option in a dehydration crisis; it is not, and it only hastens kidney failure.
Should You Watch Outback?
No. It is a 2 star film that fails to capitalise on its setting. While survival horror can be incredibly effective, Outback is let down by poor writing and a lack of tension. If you want to see a proper Australian survival film, watch Walkabout or Wolf Creek instead. This one is better left in the rearview mirror.
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