Razorback (film)
Encyclopedia
Razorback is a 1984 Australian film, based on Peter Brennan's novel, written by Everett De Roche, and directed by Russell Mulcahy
who would later make the first two of the Highlander trilogy. The film revolves around the exploits of a gigantic wild Boar terrorizing the Australian outback, killing and devouring people.
) lives with his grandson in the Australian outback when a massive razorback
boar attacks him, destroying his house and killing his grandson. He is accused of murder and his dignity is destroyed.
Two years later, a wildlife reporter, Beth Winters, journeys to the outback to document the hunting of Australian wildlife to be used as animal food, processed in a large factory
, but she is attacked by two deranged locals, Benny and Dicko, who leave her to be killed by the beast. Her husband, Carl, goes in search of her, and aids Jake Cullen and his young associate, Sarah Cameron, in hunting for the razorback responsible for her death.
As they search for the creature, Benny and Dicko worry that they may be associated with the murder of Beth Winters, so they attack Cullen and leave him to be killed by the boar. Vowing revenge for his wife and his friend, Carl finds Benny and lowers him into a mineshaft, presumably killing him, and finds Dicko in the factory. Before he can kill him, the razorback surges and mauls Dicko to death before chasing after Carl and Sarah, where they face off inside the processing factory. Carl lures the Boar (having speared it with a pole) into pursuing him down a conveyor belt
, at the end of which is a large industrial fan
. Not able to stop itself, the boar falls to its demise onto the blade
/fins
killing it, while Carl rescues Sarah.
The film was given a limited release
theatrically in the United States
by Warner Bros in November 1984. It gross $150,140 at the box office.
The film was released in Australia by Umbrella Entertainment
on 21 September 2005. It was presented in 2.40:1 Widescreen, and included a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack and the original 2.0 Soundtrack. Special Features include a 70 minute featurette "Jaws On Trotters", an audio featurette interview with actor Gregory Harrison
, 4 deleted scenes from the VHS Release with extra gore, a gallery, an original theatrical trailer, plus two extra trailers for Roadgames
and The Chain Reaction
.
The UK release contains a 5.1 DTS track, biographies, a still gallery and a 25 minute featurette that contains interviews with several production crew.
Razorback was released in the United States by Warner Home Video
in 2009 as part of the Warner Archive Collection
.
Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
who would later make the first two of the Highlander trilogy. The film revolves around the exploits of a gigantic wild Boar terrorizing the Australian outback, killing and devouring people.
Plot
Jake Cullen (Bill KerrBill Kerr
William 'Bill' Kerr is an Australian film and television actor. He was born into a performing arts family in Cape Town, South Africa, but grew up in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia....
) lives with his grandson in the Australian outback when a massive razorback
Razorback
Razorback is an Americanism, loosely applied to any type of feral pig or wild boar in North America. The term has also appeared in Australia, to describe said animals in that country.-Introduction to the Americas:...
boar attacks him, destroying his house and killing his grandson. He is accused of murder and his dignity is destroyed.
Two years later, a wildlife reporter, Beth Winters, journeys to the outback to document the hunting of Australian wildlife to be used as animal food, processed in a large factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
, but she is attacked by two deranged locals, Benny and Dicko, who leave her to be killed by the beast. Her husband, Carl, goes in search of her, and aids Jake Cullen and his young associate, Sarah Cameron, in hunting for the razorback responsible for her death.
As they search for the creature, Benny and Dicko worry that they may be associated with the murder of Beth Winters, so they attack Cullen and leave him to be killed by the boar. Vowing revenge for his wife and his friend, Carl finds Benny and lowers him into a mineshaft, presumably killing him, and finds Dicko in the factory. Before he can kill him, the razorback surges and mauls Dicko to death before chasing after Carl and Sarah, where they face off inside the processing factory. Carl lures the Boar (having speared it with a pole) into pursuing him down a conveyor belt
Conveyor belt
A conveyor belt consists of two or more pulleys, with a continuous loop of material - the conveyor belt - that rotates about them. One or both of the pulleys are powered, moving the belt and the material on the belt forward. The powered pulley is called the drive pulley while the unpowered pulley...
, at the end of which is a large industrial fan
Industrial fans
Industrial fans and blowers are machines whose primary function is to provide a large flow of air or gas to various processes of many industries. This is achieved by rotating a number of blades, connected to a hub and shaft, and driven by a motor or turbine. The flow rates of these fans range from...
. Not able to stop itself, the boar falls to its demise onto the blade
Blade
A blade is that portion of a tool, weapon, or machine with a cutting edge and/or a pointed tip that is designed to cut and/or puncture, stab, slash, chop, slice, thrust, or scrape animate or inanimate surfaces or materials...
/fins
FINS
FINS is a network protocol used by Omron PLCs, over different physical networks like Ethernet, Controller Link, DeviceNet and RS-232C....
killing it, while Carl rescues Sarah.
Cast
- Gregory HarrisonGregory HarrisonGregory Neale Harrison is an American actor. He is probably best known for his role as Chandler in the 1987 cult favorite North Shore and as Trapper John MacIntyre's young surgeon, Dr. George Alonzo 'Gonzo' Gates, on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D....
as Carl Winters - Arkie WhiteleyArkie WhiteleyArkie Deya Whiteley was an Australian actress who appeared in television and films.Arkie Whiteley's parents were the renowned artist Brett Whiteley and his wife Wendy Whiteley...
as Sarah Cameron - Bill KerrBill KerrWilliam 'Bill' Kerr is an Australian film and television actor. He was born into a performing arts family in Cape Town, South Africa, but grew up in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia....
as Jake Cullen - Chris HaywoodChris HaywoodChris Haywood is an English-born, Australian-based film and television actor/producer.-Early life:Haywood was born in Billericay, Essex, England. He spent his early childhood in Chelmsford before moving to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire where he attended High Wycombe Royal Grammar School from...
as Benny Baker - David ArgueDavid ArgueDavid Argue is an Australian actor. He is most known for his role in the 1993 film Hercules Returns.-Television:*The Restless Years *Winners *Raw Silk *Pirates Island *Cluedo...
as Dicko Baker - Judy MorrisJudy MorrisJudy Morris is an Australian actress, film director and screenwriter, well known for the variety of roles she played in 54 different television shows and films, but most recently for co-writing a musical epic about the life of penguins in Antarctica which became Happy Feet, Australia's largest...
as Beth Winters - John HowardJohn HowardJohn Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
as Danny - John EwartJohn EwartJohn Ewart was an Australian Film Institute award winning actor.-Career:Ewart was born in Melbourne. He began his acting career when he was cast at the age of four in a radio production of Snow White...
as Turner - Don SmithDon SmithDonald John Smith was a Canadian professional hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Shamrocks, Montreal Wanderers and the Renfrew Creamery Kings.-Playing career:...
as Wallace - Mervyn Drake as Andy
- Redmond PhillipsRedmond PhillipsRedmond Bernard Phillips was a New Zealand born actor and writer.Phillips was born in Reefton, New Zealand and began acting in the theatre while a student at Victoria University of Wellington...
as the Magistrate - Alan Becher as Counsel (as Alan Beecher)
- Peter SchwarzPeter SchwarzPeter Schwarz is a retired German football player. He spent 10 seasons in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Bayer Uerdingen.-Honours:* DFB-Pokal finalist: 1976.* Bundesliga 3rd place: 1979, 1980....
as Lawyer (as Peter Schwartz) - Beth Child as Louise Cullen
- Rick KennedyRick KennedyRick Kennedy is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray in the VFL during the 1980s.Kennedy played most of his career as a fullback and captained Footscray from 1986 to 1988. He represented Victoria at a State of Origin game in 1986. A tough and physical player, he was...
as Farmer
Release
Razorback grossed $801,000 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $2,034,540 in 2009 dollars.The film was given a limited release
Limited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
theatrically in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Warner Bros in November 1984. It gross $150,140 at the box office.
The film was released in Australia by Umbrella Entertainment
Umbrella entertainment
Umbrella Entertainment is an Australian owned, independent all-rights feature film, documentary and television program distribution company that was set up in 2001 by Jeff Harrison...
on 21 September 2005. It was presented in 2.40:1 Widescreen, and included a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack and the original 2.0 Soundtrack. Special Features include a 70 minute featurette "Jaws On Trotters", an audio featurette interview with actor Gregory Harrison
Gregory Harrison
Gregory Neale Harrison is an American actor. He is probably best known for his role as Chandler in the 1987 cult favorite North Shore and as Trapper John MacIntyre's young surgeon, Dr. George Alonzo 'Gonzo' Gates, on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D....
, 4 deleted scenes from the VHS Release with extra gore, a gallery, an original theatrical trailer, plus two extra trailers for Roadgames
Roadgames
Roadgames is a 1981 Australian film directed by Richard Franklin. The film stars Stacy Keach as a truck driver, and Jamie Lee Curtis as a hitchhiker.-Synopsis:...
and The Chain Reaction
The Chain Reaction
The Chain Reaction is a 1980 Australian independent action/disaster/thriller film directed and written by Ian Barry. The film stars Steve Bisley, also starring in the film Mad Max and Arna-Maria Winchester. The film's plot is about an engineer badly injured in an accident caused by an earthquake...
.
The UK release contains a 5.1 DTS track, biographies, a still gallery and a 25 minute featurette that contains interviews with several production crew.
Razorback was released in the United States by Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
in 2009 as part of the Warner Archive Collection
Warner Archive Collection
The Warner Archive Collection is a manufactured-on-demand DVD series. It was started by Warner Home Video on March 23, 2009 with the intention of putting previously unreleased back catalog films on DVD for the first time ever. Using recordable DVDs, they custom burn discs for each order rather than...
.