Dying Breed

Dying Breed is a 2008 Australian horror film directed by Jody Dwyer and starring Nathan Phillips, Leigh Whannell, and Bille Brown. The movie takes place in Tasmania, where a group of friends (including Phillips and Whannell) go on a search for a supposedly extinct thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger.

The film opens on a haunting series of images, including newspaper clippings, photographs, and black-and-white footage of the thylacine, all building up the mystique surrounding the endangered sub-species. It’s clear that while there’s an element of excitement and adventure, the expedition is also fueled by a desire to prove the existence of a creature that has long been thought extinct.

As the friends make their way deeper into the Tasmanian wilderness, they encounter a number of strange and unsettling characters. They cross paths with a group of hunters who are tracking the same animal, but who are also wary and even hostile towards the outsiders. They meet a local woman who provides them with tantalizing information about the thylacine’s possible whereabouts, but who also seems to know more than she’s letting on.

As the group gets closer and closer to their goal, strange things begin to happen. They stumble upon a rundown farmhouse that appears to be abandoned, but soon realize that they are not alone. It quickly becomes apparent that they have stumbled into the territory of a family of cannibals, known as the Pieman family. The Pieman clan has a long history of inbreeding and violence, and they are not about to let a group of outsiders spoil their way of life.

The tension and suspense build steadily as the friends are forced to fight for their survival against the Piemans, who are skilled hunters and ruthless killers. The film alternates between moments of gore and violence with quieter scenes that explore the characters’ backstories and motivations. Nathan Phillips’ character, Jack, is haunted by past trauma that has left him struggling with addiction and PTSD. Leigh Whannell’s character, Matt, is on a personal mission to find out what happened to his ancestor, Alexander Pearce, a notorious convict and cannibal who was known as the Pieman due to his habit of baking his victims into pies.

The performances by the three leads are strong, with Nathan Phillips in particular delivering a nuanced portrayal of a man who is simultaneously brave and vulnerable. Bille Brown is also solid as the ruthless patriarch of the Pieman clan, who is driven by a twisted sense of loyalty to his family. The film’s score, composed by Rafael May, is a highlight, evoking the bleak, haunted landscape of Tasmania and heightening the tension during the more action-packed scenes.

One aspect of the film that stands out is its use of actual archival footage of the thylacine, which adds to the sense of authenticity and creates a striking visual contrast with the fictionalized horror elements. The filmmakers clearly did their research on the thylacine, and the creature’s plight becomes a recurring motif throughout the story. The film’s title itself is a nod to the fact that the thylacine is a species that is on the brink of extinction, and that there is a real sense of tragedy in the idea of losing such a unique and fascinating animal forever.

Overall, Dying Breed is a well-crafted horror film that offers a unique twist on the classic “cabin in the woods” formula. Its setting is distinctive and lends itself well to the story, and the performances and music are top-notch. The film is not for the faint of heart, with plenty of gory violence and tense chase scenes, but it also has something to say about the human impact on the environment and the delicate balance between preservation and progress.