Dark Age (1987) Horror Crocodile

Dark Age (1987) - Stretching back into the ozploitation era we have this entry about a very large crocodile who gets a taste for human blood. The best and worst Australian stereotypes are on display with outback crocodile poachers who do everything possible to be unlikable.  John Besser (Max Phipps) has a strong dislike for crocodiles when not poaching them for cash he will likely be found by the river with his mates drinking beer and shooting things. He is a great bad guy in this film, a menace who doesn't like aboriginal people, crocodile lore or any government agency like a park ranger. The film could have been more interesting if they had spent more time on this angry, unruly and generally mean individual building him into an antagonist he deserves to be. Unfortunately he is a secondary character. This film is all about the Crocodile, a large but stealthy beast who appears and feasts on humans before they know it is coming.
  In contrast to them is Steve Harris (John Jarrett) an upstanding park ranger watching out for the crocodiles and more likely to trap and move a man eater than he is to kill it. So for the 80's the message of a eco-friendly park ranger is good work. Contrasting against the Besser character is genius and really make this film stand out as a eco-friendly film.  When this giant of a crocodile starts feeding on people in the river Steve patrols he is keen to try to capture it and move it to a sanctuary with the help of Oonadabund (Burnam Burnam) and Adjaral (David Gulpilil). The political ramifications abound where district managers just want the harm to stop. He does not care if the animal is killed or moved. Steve sees it different he knows if there is a crocodile hunt dozens of crocodiles will be killed in pursuit of the killer. He is a good guy who talks and takes advice from the local aboriginal tribe. Those tribes see the crocodile as a God and this gets expressed through their interaction with Steve. They see the giant crocodile as a sacred beast and he respects that. (Not a bad message, respecting the native people) One who protects them his people as long as the proper respect is observed.
  There is a lot to like in this film but mostly the very sudden attacks are frightening. There is a great building of suspense in the attacks and as I image a sudden ferocity. The Cinematography is very good with a wide variety of shots with differing angles and lighting that enhances the viewing. Overall this is a great entry and a lot of fun to watch.