Exclusive Q&A with Wolf Creek 2’s John Jarratt

Mick Taylor is back to his tourist-killing ways in Wolf Creek 2 and, with the movie hitting US VOD services next week, we caught up with John Jarratt for the latest segment in our Q&A series. In this feature, John Jarratt talks about who inspired his portrayal of Mick Taylor, what he's working on next, and he shares one of his favorite on-set moments from Wolf Creek 2:

In both Wolf Creek films you do a wonderful job of balancing between a kind, happy-go-lucky guy and a menacing, maniacal guy. How do you prepare for a character like Mick? How do you find that balance?

John Jarratt: The happy go lucky guy is an impersonation of my father who was a fun loving outback, knock about, guy. Just add menacing and maniacal and you’ve made Mick.

Wolf Creek 2 was shot in South Australia. For our readers who have not visited, can you tell us a little bit about how filming in Australia compares to films you've worked on elsewhere?

John Jarratt: I’ve made a film called Shiver in Portland and a film called Django Unchained in the hills above LA. Filming is the same process worldwide. On a film like Django you just have more toys to play with.

Towards the back end of Wolf Creek 2, we find out why Mick Taylor specifically targets tourists. Do you think Mick embodies the dark side of the Australian male stereotype?

John Jarratt: Yeah, he’s often described as the Anti-Mick Dundee (Crocodile Dundee). I think that’s a fair description.

Do you have a memorable or interesting story from the set that you can share with our readers?

John Jarratt: I was talking with a journalist on set. He asked me if I stayed in character when not in front of the camera. So I slapped him around and threatened to hit him with my rifle butt. He almost shat himself. Made for good reading when his article came out.

How did the final version compare to the scenes you filmed? Were there any alternate scenes or kills that you were a part of but didn't make it into the final cut?

John Jarratt: Not much, we worked the script very thoroughly. The film was story boarded. It was virtually all there.

Do you have projects coming up that our readers should look out for?

John Jarratt: I’m editing a film I acted/directed called StalkHer. It’s a kinda cross between Misery and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wo0lf. Should be released in Oz later this year and Internationally in 2015.

Where can you be found on social media at all?

John Jarratt: I’m on Twitter and Facebook. My PA runs it. She gets it up occasionally and I reply sometimes. I don’t like it much. I call it all Facetube.

Since the first Wolf Creek was released you've appeared in a number of Horror films (Needle, 100 Bloody Acres). Why is Horror a genre you enjoying working in?

John Jarratt: I like working in any genre as long as the scripts good. I enjoy working in every film. I love my job man. Cool ,groovy, sick, spew.

I can talk American by the way.

‘I’m good, you’re good, it’s good, all good…Duuuude!” or…
“Heeey, yer lookin’ good…you been workin out?”

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murderous bushman. The outback once more becomes a place of horror as another unwitting tourist becomes the prey for crazed, serial-killing pig-shooter Mick Taylor (John Jarratt).

WOLF CREEK 2 is co-written by Greg Mclean and Aaron Sterns and produced by Helen Leake, Steve Topic and Mclean."

Directed by Greg Mclean, Wolf Creek 2 stars John Jarratt, Shannon Ashlyn, Ryan Corr, and Philippe Klaus. The movie will hit VOD services first on April 17th, before its limited theatrical engagement that starts on May 16th. Be on the lookout for our Wolf Creek 2 review and interviews later this month.