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Killing Ground

Play trailer 2:08 Poster for Killing Ground Released Jul 21, 2017 1h 28m Mystery & Thriller Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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74% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Sam and Ian take off on what they believe will be a peaceful camping trip. Their break turns into a battle for survival when they discover a bloody toddler wandering around in the bush and find that an incredibly disturbing crime has been committed.
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Killing Ground

Killing Ground

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Critics Consensus

Killing Ground unnerves and compels in equal measure with a grimly intense story that may be too disturbing for some but delivers a white-knuckle experience for fans of brutally realistic thrillers.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Structured with a cruel precision, written and acted with a persuasive naturalism, this disturbing Australian survival thriller won't appeal to everyone. Rated: 4/5 Oct 1, 2017 Full Review Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Crikey! We've barely forgotten the recent Australian serial-killer drama Wolf Creek and now here we are again. Rated: 2/5 Sep 29, 2017 Full Review Stephen Romei The Australian This horror-thriller set in a national park is one of the more brutal films I have seen. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 25, 2017 Full Review Paul Lê Bloody Disgusting Killing Ground is a thoroughly uncomfortable watch. Rated: 3/5 Jul 23, 2023 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Recycles a number of backwoods-slasher tropes that will only really satiate devotees of the subgenre. Rated: 2/5 Feb 6, 2021 Full Review Leigh Monson Substream Magazine To be great, the film needed to either explore greater psychological depths or reach for more violent extremes. Rated: 3/5 Sep 25, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Erin C Never underestimate an Australian horror film. This one is gritty and visceral. Maybe just short of Wolf Creek but not by much. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/10/25 Full Review Claudio C Great, But Without Conclusion (11,745 – 04 Jun 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) The young medical doctor Ian Smith (Ian Meadows) and his girlfriend Samantha “Sam” Shaw (Harriet Dyer) travel to the wilderness of Australia to camp nearby a waterfall during the holidays. He stops his car and asks Sam to buy champagne in a shop on the road to celebrate the New Year while he checks the map. He asks the local Scotty “German” Shepard (Aaron Pedersen), who arrived at his truck with his dog Banjo, the location of the waterfall and he suggests another nearby place since his car is not 4x4. On arrival, Ian and Sam see another car and an empty tent, but they decide to stay since the place is wide enough for two tents. Meanwhile, in flashback, it is shown what happened with the other family. On the other day, Ian and Sam see the mess inside the other tent and decide to leave the place and seek out the rangers. However, Ian has a flat tire and is not able to change it. Meanwhile, Sam stumbles upon the baby Ollie Baker (Liam Parkes) from the other family, wounded and dehydrated, and Ian gives first aid to Ollie. Out of the blue, Chuck arrives in his car and suggests Ian to go with him to seek out the family. When they reach the upper part of the path, Ian sees what happened to the family. Meanwhile, Sam is waiting for Ian and Chuck in her car when German arrives. What will happen to the couple? “Killing Ground” (2016) is a great Australian movie in the style of “Deliverance” (1972) but without conclusion. The story and the screenplay are engaging, disclosing in flashbacks what happened to the Baker family. The actors and actresses have top-notch performances and the effects and make up are also great. Unfortunately, the film fails in addition to the lack of conclusion. Further, there is one of the most obnoxious characters ever, Dr. Ian Smith. The guy is a coward, uncapable to change a flat tire, to protect his girlfriend or save the baby. He is certainly one of the worst characters ever made. In exchange, the beautiful Samantha “Sam” Shaw is a great character, capable to sacrifice herself to save the baby and to try to save her boyfriend, showing dignity. The director may have believed that the movie has an open ending, what usually European directors are, in general, masters. However, he made a film without ending, forgetting the fate of the baby Ollie and a final conversation between Sam and Ian. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): “O Acampamento” (“The Camping”) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/27/25 Full Review Rich C Wow! Put this one on to pass some time thinking it would be cool to just have it on in the background. Ended up loving this film. Very well done. Well worth the watch. Thought the acting from everyone was great. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/02/25 Full Review Michael P It's a tough but a very compelling watch it's definitely not a Hollywood type film as the film makers had a bit of nerve for once. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/25 Full Review Gail H Spoiler alert!! Disgusting evil but I was hooked due to the beginning mystery of the plot. Then, a baby was involved and I had to find out that it would end well for him only to be left not knowing and finding out the “hero” was NOT a hero. Wish now I’d never suffered through the horrific evil acts to find a “non- silver” lining. Good acting so gave 2.5 stars. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/26/24 Full Review richard m Remind me never to go to Australia? Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/25/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Killing Ground

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sam and Ian take off on what they believe will be a peaceful camping trip. Their break turns into a battle for survival when they discover a bloody toddler wandering around in the bush and find that an incredibly disturbing crime has been committed.
Director
Damien Power
Producer
Joanne Weatherstone, Lisa Shaunessy
Screenwriter
Damien Power
Distributor
IFC Midnight
Production Co
Arcadia
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language
Australian English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 21, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 21, 2017
Runtime
1h 28m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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