Never smile at a crocodile. Don't let its friendly appearance fool you. Rogue is a collaboration, written and directed by Greg Mclean (of Wolf Creek), and stars Michael Vartan, Radha Mitchell, Sam Worthington & John Jarratt. The film draws inspiration from the true story of "Sweetheart," a giant Australian crocodile that caused trouble for boats over a five-year period between 1974 and 1979. The plot follows travel journalist Pete McKell (Vartan) as he wraps up an assignment in Australia’s Northern Territory. He joins a river boat cruise led by the energetic local, Kate Ryan (Mitchell), along with other tourists. After encountering some troublemakers, they spot distress flares further upstream. As captain of the boat, Kate feels obligated to investigate, leading them into what turns out to be a crocodile's hunting ground. The massive reptile then attacks the boat, forcing the group onto a small island that’s being overtaken by the tide. It seems Rogue might be one of the most unfortunate horror releases ever. It received very little theatrical distribution outside of Australia, playing in only a handful of cinemas in America and Europe for about a week, and it arrived during a period when killer-croc movies were appearing frequently; Primeval, Black Water and Lake Placid 2 all came out in 2007, competing for audiences. This was after the aquatic reptile horror subgenre had already been well-served by Steve Miner's Lake Placid (1999) & Lewis Teague's Alligator (1980), both of which have dedicated fan bases. It’s all relevant because Rogue happens to be the best film in that group—a quick, scary, fun, and skillfully made Australian movie. It’s frustrating that lesser horror remakes get wide releases while something deserving like this was overlooked. The Weinstein Brothers should feel bad about how they treated Mclean's film. Right away, it’s important to note that Rogue isn't particularly gory. Those seeking constant scenes of a crocodile tearing people apart won't find them here. While it doesn't aim for intentional humor like Lake Placid, viewers looking for comedy should approach cautiously. What Rogue does offer is a film with tight pacing and structure. It’s full of suspense, and Mclean gives the characters enough time to make an impact on the story. The first half hour is technically impressive, as we get to know the people on board, accompanied by a beautiful orchestral score (François Tetaz), that pays homage to Jaws. All of this builds anticipation for what’s coming, and Mclean follows Jaws' example by initially keeping the crocodile out of sight, creating tension through suggestion rather than direct exposure. From here, a series of tense sequences unfold as the stranded group tries to avoid becoming crocodile food. Typically in films like this, characters act foolishly, but Mclean shows respect for both the genre and its fans by having them make understandable mistakes, making the scares feel believable. The situation also brings out the best and worst qualities in each person. It's worth noting that Mclean portrays the crocodile as a hungry animal protecting its territory, rather than a monster. Earlier dialogue hinted that hunters might have been responsible for firing the flares, which adds another layer to the story. The cast delivers solid performances, especially Vartan, Mitchell (who was gaining popularity at the time), and Jarratt, who demonstrates his versatility beyond his role as Mick Taylor in Wolf Creek. The film has few flaws. Some viewers might be disappointed with the crocodile's appearance; Mclean could have done better there. Also, one unexpected plot twist isn’t fully explored, unlike what he did in Wolf Creek. However, these are minor issues. As you hold your breath during the suspenseful and nearly silent finale, which culminates in a wonderfully over-the-top moment, it's clear that the film's effectiveness comes from its suspense and sense of dread. Mclean seemed to be frustrated with his own country; his first two films didn’t exactly encourage tourism in Australia! Whatever his reasons, he should continue making movies like this. Hopefully, his future projects won’t be ignored as this one was because there is a very talented director here, and it would be a shame if that talent were wasted due to how the film was handled. Evocative beauty combines with "B" movie thrills for a devilishly good time. 8/10

Source on TMDB