‘A nasty, horrible human being': Wolf Creek's John Jarratt on Bradley John Murdoch
'It could be his last little 'up yours' to cash out without telling anyone where the body is,' says Jarratt, 73, of the convicted murder who has died in custody, aged 67. 'He was a really nasty, horrible human being from all accounts.'
But the actor, who portrayed Taylor in two Wolf Creek movies in 2005 and 2013, and in two seasons of a spin-off TV series in 2016-17 for streaming platform Stan*, also conceded it was possible that Murdoch simply didn't know the exact location of Falconio's remains.
'Maybe he just went off track somewhere and dug a bit of a hole and threw him in and he didn't know where the hell it was,' Jarratt speculated. 'I mean, it would have all been a bit frantic.'
What Jarratt does know for a fact is that, contrary to popular belief, the character of Mick Taylor – whom he will again portray in Wolf Creek 3, due to start shooting early next year – was not based on Murdoch.
Nor was he based on Ivan Milat, though the actor did read a biography of the so-called backpacker murderer in an attempt to understand something of the mindset of a psychopath – 'how they operate because they've got no empathy and all that sort of stuff'.
Jarratt was first given a screenplay by the film's writer and director Greg McLean sometime in 2003, the same year Murdoch was arrested (in November) and charged with the 2001 murder of British backpacker Falconio and the assault and attempted kidnapping of his girlfriend Joanne Lees in the Northern Territory. But the idea had been kicking around long before that.
'Greg had this in mind about 1998 or '99,' says Jarratt, whose latest film as writer-director, What About Sal – about a young man with Down syndrome who tries to track down his birth father – currently sits at number 6 in Netflix's top 10 movies in Australia.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Bad Bunny 'cried' when he met Adam Sandler
Bad Bunny "cried" the first time he met Adam Sandler. The 31-year-old rapper - whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio - has a cameo appearance in Netflix sequel Happy Gilmore 2, and the two stars has recalled the first time they encountered each other as an Los Angeles Lakers basketball game. Appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the musician said: "I would say we met through text message... The first time that I saw him, it was at a Lakers game." Sandler, 58, revealed his daughter had recognised Bad Bunny across the court and got excited. He revealed: "And then we locked eyes. And then I gave you some love from across the court." The Me Porto Monito hitmaker - who had waited a long time to meet the comedy actor and was a "little tipsy" at the game - admitted: "When he [made] eye contact with me, I was like, 'Bro!' I cried. "[I told myself] 'I can't cry at courtside... He knows who I am!' "I was waiting for that moment. I'd been to a lot of Lakers game. I saw every celebrity, big never Adam Sandler." Bad Bunny recently revealed he is hoping to 'explore different genres' in film after appearing in Happy Gilmore 2. Speaking to E! News, he said: 'I hope to keep doing comedy, but also, I am hoping to explore different genres, like drama … keep doing action, like Bullet Train.' He was showered with praise by co-star Sandler, who led the Netflix movie as the titular golfer. He gushed: '[Bad Bunny] is just in it. They call 'action' and Benito is ready to go, and stays focused and was the guy he wanted to be the whole time.' Happy Gilmore 2 - which is the sequel to the beloved 1996 comedy movie Happy Gilmore - follows the retired hockey player-turned-golf legend as he returns to the green to mentor a hot-headed new prodigy. When an old rival resurfaces, Happy must reclaim his swing and his spirit to save the game he loves.
Sky News AU
6 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Funeral held for backpacker killer Bradley John Murdoch who murdered Peter Falconio
The family of outback killer Bradley John Murdoch has held a private funeral service to farewell the man responsible for one of Australia's most notorious crimes. Murdoch, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, died on July 15. He had been diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019. The 67-year-old never revealed where Mr Falconio had been buried. In a private ceremony for family and friends, Murdoch was cremated and his ashes scattered at an 'undisclosed location', 7News reported on Thursday. After his death, his family remembered him as a devoted family man. 'To many, Bradley Murdoch is known only for the events that led to his conviction in 2005 for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, a crime for which he has always denied responsibility from his arrest until his death,' their statement to the media said. 'But to those who truly knew him, he was much more than the headlines. 'Brad was a devoted father, father-in-law, and proud Poppy who never missed a chance to brag about his grandchildren. He was a beloved brother, uncle, and friends.' Mr Falconio's parents Joan and Luciano said they still held out hope their son's remains would be found. 'Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted. 'We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him ruin our lives more than he already has. 'The awful thing is our family's future with Peter was cruelly taken away. 'Today we instead focus on the three children we have left and our grandchildren.' Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio on July 14, 2001. Mr Falconio had been travelling with his girlfriend Joanne Lees in a Kombi van along the Sturt Highway, north of Barrow Creek between Darwin and Alice Springs, when another car stopped alongside them and motioned to them to pull over. When the Kombi van pulled over, Murdoch shot Mr Falconio in the head. Murdoch then tried to kidnap Ms Lees, pulling her out of the van and binding her wrists with cable ties before forcing her in the back of his vehicle. While Murdoch went back to his vehicle, Ms Lees managed to escape and hid in the bushes for several hours before she flagged down another driver. Murdoch was found guilty of murder in December 2005 and was sentenced to life in jail with a non-parole period of 28 years. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial and twice tried to overturn the convictions, but both attempts were unsuccessful. Murdoch would have been eligible for parole in 2032, but the NT's introduction of 'no body, no parole' laws in 2016 meant he would only have been released if he revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body. In a statement released after his death, the NT Police Force said it remained committed to 'resolving this final piece of the investigation'. 'It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains,' the statement read. 'His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved. 'We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio's remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem.' Originally published as Family of outback killer Bradley John Murdoch hold private funeral service
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Funeral held for backpacker killer
The family of outback killer Bradley John Murdoch has held a private funeral service to farewell the man responsible for one of Australia's most notorious crimes. Murdoch, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, died on July 15. He had been diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019. The 67-year-old never revealed where Mr Falconio had been buried. In a private ceremony for family and friends, Murdoch was cremated and his ashes scattered at an 'undisclosed location', 7News reported on Thursday. After his death, his family remembered him as a devoted family man. 'To many, Bradley Murdoch is known only for the events that led to his conviction in 2005 for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, a crime for which he has always denied responsibility from his arrest until his death,' their statement to the media said. 'But to those who truly knew him, he was much more than the headlines. 'Brad was a devoted father, father-in-law, and proud Poppy who never missed a chance to brag about his grandchildren. He was a beloved brother, uncle, and friends.' Bradley John Murdoch was serving a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio. Credit: News Limited Peter Falconio and his girlfriend Joanne Lees were travelling through the remote Northern Territory when Murdoch attacked them. Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Falconio's parents Joan and Luciano said they still held out hope their son's remains would be found. 'Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted. 'We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him ruin our lives more than he already has. 'The awful thing is our family's future with Peter was cruelly taken away. 'Today we instead focus on the three children we have left and our grandchildren.' Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio on July 14, 2001. Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio had been travelling through the outback in a Kombi van. (AP Photo/Northern Territory Police, HO) Credit: Supplied Mr Falconio had been travelling with his girlfriend Joanne Lees in a Kombi van along the Sturt Highway, north of Barrow Creek between Darwin and Alice Springs, when another car stopped alongside them and motioned to them to pull over. When the Kombi van pulled over, Murdoch shot Mr Falconio in the head. Murdoch then tried to kidnap Ms Lees, pulling her out of the van and binding her wrists with cable ties before forcing her in the back of his vehicle. While Murdoch went back to his vehicle, Ms Lees managed to escape and hid in the bushes for several hours before she flagged down another driver. Murdoch was found guilty of murder in December 2005 and was sentenced to life in jail with a non-parole period of 28 years. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial and twice tried to overturn the convictions, but both attempts were unsuccessful. The parents of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio are skeptical that his killer, Bradley John Murdoch, is dying of throat cancer. Murdoch would have been eligible for parole in 2032, but the NT's introduction of 'no body, no parole' laws in 2016 meant he would only have been released if he revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body. In a statement released after his death, the NT Police Force said it remained committed to 'resolving this final piece of the investigation'. 'It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains,' the statement read. 'His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved. 'We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio's remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem.'
