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Ex-LA police officer Joseph Wambaugh was definitely one hot selling author in the early 1970's (and he still is today !). Many of Wambaugh's sharply written, incisive and confronting novels about the lives of Los Angeles police officers were made into first rate telemovies or major theatrical releases ( "The Onion Field", "The Choir Boys", "The New Centurions", "The Blue Knight" etc ).

"Police Story" was also created by Wambaugh and is arguably one of the finest police drama series ever made for television. It really was the first TV series to develop intense stories about previously untouched issues confronting police officers such as job related stress, marriage break ups, alcoholism, retirement, partner conflicts etc. So many other police drama series in later years such as "Hill St Blues", "Cagney & Lacey", & "NYPD Blue" owe their roots to the ground breaking plots and solid scripts that were the backbone of "Police Story".

Many dynamic actors appeared in this wonderful TV series over its 5 year run including Darren McGavin, Tony Lo Bianco, John Forsythe, Ralph Meeker, Mike Conners & Ricardo Montalban. For those of us who so fondly remember the series, we just have one question.....just when is it coming out on DVD ?? A multi DVD box set covering all five seasons would be warmly welcomed by many TV fans who crave to re-visit this unique and captivating TV series.

This unnerving, tightly scripted and well acted film draw's its inspiration from two key events in Australian crime. Firstly, from the notorious case of convicted serial killer, Ivan Milat (now serving life for the murder of seven back packers in the NSW southern highlands during the early 1990's) and, secondly the case of the alleged murder of UK tourist Peter Falconio, and the abduction of his girlfriend Joanne Lees on a lonely road in the Northern Territory around October 2001 (case still currently before the courts).

In "Wolf Creek", three twenty something friends (one Aussie guy and two British girls) buy a second hand station wagon, and decide to make a cross country trip from Broome, Western Australia to Cairns, Queensland. With typical youthful enthusiasm, they set out on a remarkable adventure that unexpectedly spirals into them into a back packers worse nightmare. The three relatively unknown young leads (Cassandra Macgrath, Nathan Phillips & Kestie Morassi) all give eye catching, intelligent performances and seasoned Aussie actor, John Jarratt (usually playing a character on the right side of the law) excels himself as evil and sadistic predator with only torture and murder on his mind.

The tone and feel of "Wolf Creek" is remarkably similar to either Wes Craven's gripping "The Hills Have Eyes" or Tobe Hooper's infamous classic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"....both similar tales of lost tourists falling prey to gruesome hunters. Full credit must be given to Greg Mclean who wrote, produced and directed this nail biting and sometimes stomach turning thriller....lets hope he has more like this to come. "Wolf Creek" has been nominated for 7 AFI awards, and is receiving rave reviews from Australian media and film critics. It's easily the best Australian thriller in quite a few years.

Well worth your viewing time....