John Grant’s Holiday Plans
John Grant (Gary Bond) is a schoolteacher in the small Australian town of Tiboonda. With the school term finally over, he is eager to escape and begin his holiday, planning on travelling to Sydney to reunite with his girlfriend. To get there, he must first take a train and spend the night in the mining town of Bundanyabba, also known as ‘The Yabba’. It seems like a simple plan: enjoy a meal, stay overnight, and catch a plane the next morning. Yet nothing in Wake in Fright is ever that simple. From the moment John steps into The Yabba, the disgusting heat and a different kind of atmosphere and community weigh down on him.
Life in The Yabba
While in The Yabba, John begins to interact with various locals and even shares several beers, including with the town’s Police Officer Jock Crawford (Chips Rafferty) and later a man named Doc Tydon (Donald Pleasence). John is also introduced to a popular game, in which the locals gamble their hard-earned cash, known as Two-up. Given that John is currently sick of his job and feels like a slave in the education system, he believes that playing a few rounds of Two-up could change everything. While John’s luck appears to be in his favour at first, he ends up making choices that come with disastrous consequences. With one toss, John loses all his funds. Now with no penny to his name and unable to leave The Yabba, John is stuck in a nightmare surrounded by The Yabba locals, whose only offer of support is to buy him another drink.
Drama with a Horror Edge
Wake in Fright is a drama film that is also filled with tragedy and uncomfortable moments. At the same time, while the film is best described as a drama, it also feels like a horror film, and I often felt uneasy at various moments. For those unaware, Wake in Fright is also an Ozploitation film, directed by Ted Kotcheff, whose other work behind the camera includes First Blood (1982) and Weekend at Bernie’s (1989).
A Town of Dread and Despair
Wake in Fright thrives on the oppressive atmosphere and striking scenery, particularly once John becomes trapped in The Yabba. On the surface, the town may seem carefree and friendly, but it is, in reality, a grim and unsettling place. John’s situation quickly spirals out of control, and the locals pull him deeper into a world of dread and personal misery. With no way to escape, the film takes on the feel of a psychological horror, as John gradually transforms into a different, almost unrecognisable character. The acts he participates in are often disturbing, most notably joining a group of men on a roo hunt while completely intoxicated, a sequence that is as thrilling as it is sickening.
Ted Kotcheff’s Direction
Ted Kotcheff’s work as a director is impressive and direct, with nothing held back in the film. Scenes filled with tension and suspense are handled wonderfully. Although The Yabba is a dreadful place, it is presented in a way that makes you simultaneously horrified and curious, almost wishing to see the outback for yourself. Visually, the landscape is stunning. The major standouts performances are undoubtedly from Chips Rafferty and Donald Pleasence, who deliver memorable lines and bring unexpected, unforgettable energy to the film.
A Disturbing Australian Classic
Wake in Fright (1971) is now available on 4K UHD thanks to Umbrella!
Published: 26th August 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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