Dark Age

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When we think about B-grade movies, in particular B-grade horror movies, we often think about those hokey black and white films of the 1930s made on a shoestring budget with party-plate UFOs on fishing rods. I adore these types of movies because while there is a sincerity and a love behind them, the budget often didn’t support it and it’s really adorable to watch a film where everyone gives it a red-hot go with whatever gear they’ve got.

In the 1980’s Australian cinema added a solid number of horror flicks into the B-grade galaxy thanks to the 10BA Era. For those who don’t know, the 10BA Era refers to movies made during a boom in Australia’s film industry that was fueled by Section 10BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act, which basically offered insane tax deductions for investors of Australian cinema. Basically, Australia was making ridiculous films because we bloody could and while a lot of them became global hits like Crocodile Dundee and Mad Max, most were relegated to the realm of B-movie cult classics. Films such as Dark Age: Australia’s answer to Jaws with a giant croc.

The film follows protagonist Steve Harris (John Jarratt) a park ranger working to protect and maintain the crocodile population. When an unfeasibly huge croc appears and kills a number of people, the pressure is put on Steve by his boss to rid the waters of the beast once and for all. However, the local Aboriginal tribe have a spiritual connection with the croc and with Steve’s help they try to persuade the authorities to let them capture it and bring it back to its original home. But as Steve and his higher ups butt heads, a group of irate poachers are out for the croc’s blood, as a few of their number were among those it killed.

In a nutshell the film is more or less Jaws but set in the outback with a giant saltwater croc. The same frustrating authority figures are more concerned with overseas investors and tourism rather than the at-home cultural degradation that their actions cause, and the same amount of testosterone-fueled idiots (albeit more violent and drunk) are set on decimating an entire species in the hopes of bagging the right beast for the bounty. Running alongside the central narrative of man vs beast, we have the spiritual and far more interesting glimpse into Aboriginal culture and their relationship to the native fauna. While this depiction of indigenous culture is a little dated and culturally appropriated/stereotyped, it nevertheless brings a breath of fresh air to the bloody and beer-stained boat ride that is this film.

Image credit: Morbidly Beautiful

While the last two eco-horror movies I watched had characters that lacked any personality, it’s very easy to immediately hate a bunch of the characters in this film and thus get a sick enjoyment from the crunching sound their bones make when they get snapped in half. The performances are all solid, inspiring you to root for the good guys and really look forward to the villains getting chomped.

Filled with drama, romance, suspense, and action, Dark Age is a sturdy b-grade horror film from Australia’s cinematic repertoire.

Director: Arch Nicholson, 1987

Cast: John Jarratt, Nikki Coghill, Max Phipps, Burnham Burnham, Ray Meagher, Jeff Ashby, Paul Bertram, Ron Blanchard, Gerry Duggan & David Gulpilil