The “Wolf Creek” film and TV franchise has all the earmarks of second-rate horror schlock — it’s got a cliched premise, a slightly campy villain, and a redundant story.  It just happens to be exceptionally well made, though — I’d rate Season 2 of the television series a 9 out of 10.

I still love the “Wolf Creek” series.  Much of the credit should go to John Jarratt, who portrays the plot-driving serial killer.  In addition to being physically intimidating, he brings tons of menace and unnerving personality to what would otherwise be a gratingly cartoonish role.  He appears to be a superb character actor.  His voice and his face are so damned frightening here that I wonder what it would be like to meet him in real life.

Like the two feature films and Season 1 of the show, this six-episode arc also benefits from capable acting, directing and screenwriting, and beautiful cinematography.  Series creator Greg McLean once again wisely allows rural Australia to sporadically steal the scene.

With all of that said, I do suspect that the formula here will soon begin wearing thin.  I know that there is a “Wolf Creek 3” planned, but I don’t know if it will be a third film or a third TV season.  If it’s going to continue to excel, it eventually needs to do something new and different with its story.  Only then can it continue to rise so well above its B-movie components.