Welcome to Woop Woop (1997)

Director:

Stephan Elliott

Writers:

Douglas Kennedy (novel)
Michael Thomas (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The hills are alive...

Plot:

A con artist escapes a deal gone wrong in New York and winds up in the Aussie outback in a strange town...

Plot Keywords:

Con Artist | Wedding | Kangaroo | Funeral Pyre | Shower Scene

Cast

Johnathon Schaech	...	Teddy
Rod Taylor	...	Daddy-O
Susie Porter	...	Angie
Dee Smart	...	Krystal
Richard Moir	...	Reggie
Maggie Kirkpatrick	...	Ginger
Barry Humphries	...	Blind Wally
Mark Wilson	...	Duffy
Paul Mercurio	...	Midget
Stan Yarramunua	...	Young Lionel
Bob Oxenbould	...	Moose
Daniel Rigney	...	Small Kenny
David Hoey	...	Dirty Dean
Sarah Osmo	...	Laverne
Con Demetriou	...	Darren

Also Known As:

The Big Red (Australia) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language, and for some drug content.

Runtime:

Argentina:97 min | France:106 min (Cannes Film Festival) | UK:97 min

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Trivia:

One of the few times in movies when an actor or actress makes their first appearance in the movie after their name is listed in the end credits. Shane Paxton as Sonny and Bindi Paxton as Cher don't appear in the movie until a scene after the credits are done rolling, which takes place 15 years later.

Quotes:

Reggie: Happy as a bastard on Father's Day.

Movie Connections:

References Razorback (1984)

Soundtrack:

I got you babe

Brilliant Black Comedy

Welcome to Woop Woop amounts to a farce with a very unique (and appalling) storyline. The town Woop Woop is literally 'off the map' and its inhabitants interact in a surreal and disturbing fashion.

Fleeing from danger in New York, the lead character (Johnathon Schaech) makes it to Australia, only to walk into a much bleaker situation – a kind of time-warp - where Daddy-O is the law, the judge, and the executioner. Rule number one: no-one escapes from Woop Woop.

Unfairly criticized as vulgar and offensive, many have missed what this film is all about. Properly understood, however, this makes for highly entertaining (if somewhat foreboding) viewing. Great stuff!