Dying Breed (2008)

After Dark Horrorfest III – Dying Breed

Rating:  

Aussie horror film Dying Breed, part of the 3rd After Dark Horrorfest, is the story of a couple different Tasmanian legends.  When a group of friends, led by wildlife researcher Nina, venture into the Tasmanian wilderness in search of the long extinct Tasmanian tiger, they quickly learn that they may have stumbled upon a far more dangerous legend: ‘The Pieman’ (based upon the factual story of Alexander Pearce, an infamous cannibal and escaped convict).

The plot is predictable, but certainly entertaining and the legend of ‘The Pieman’ makes a very interesting base.  Aussie filmmakers have long exploited their own culture, topography, and legends, which is why we have the entire sub-genre of ‘ozploitation’.  The last attempt at reviving this tradition (in my recent memory, at least) was with 2005′s Wolf Creek, which was loosely based on the ‘backpacker murders’ of Ivan Milat.  Dying Breed seems to attempt to continue in that vein, and succeeds.

Undoubtedly the best aspect of Dying Breed is the brutal and unforgiving gore effects.  There are a very small amount of digital effects, and the rest appear to be ‘real’ effects (latex, makeup and loads of fake blood).  Though the few digital effects are mediocre and cheesy, they don’t take away from the film.  The remainder of the effects are excellent, from an arrow through the cheek to all sorts of nasty cannibalistic acts.

Overall, Dying Breed is definitely rewatchable.  This is one of the better of the After Dark Horrorfest films that I’ve seen thus far, and a great cannibal flick.  I highly recommend it to fans of cannibal films and ozploitation alike.