The phrase “Killer Kangaroo” rolls off the tongue quite well, so it’s nice to finally put it to use. A rampaging ‘roo is indeed the star of Ryan Coonan’s debut, which is based on his previous short Waterborne. However, there is a twist to why the marsupial star of Rippy (originally called The Red) is so steamed up; a mysterious ailment has turned him into a boxing zombie. That kind of logline is prime for hilarity. As it turns out though, this movie does the opposite and ends up playing things straight. Perhaps too much so.
Australia is home to many dangerous creatures: crocodiles, spiders, sharks, and handfuls of lethal snakes. Do kangaroos count as one of those fearsome fauna? Yes and no. The sheer size of a red buck would be intimidating to just about anyone. And if they chose to, a properly aggressive ‘roo could do some real damage with its kicks and punches. So Rippy has genuine inspiration when turning one of Australia’s national animals into a vicious monster. A generic contagion does most of the heavy lifting here, but a stiffly grave tone is also used to push plausibility.
Director/writer Coonan and co-writer Richard Barcaricchio waive the chance for levity in their script, which on paper sounds like a horror comedy. Yet Rippy is intent on staying the course as a serious movie. The choice is baffling and maybe also disappointing, given the antagonist. On the other hand, similar Ozploitation flicks — Razorback, Rogue, The Reef — didn’t exactly joke around. And if we can immerse ourselves in the story more than originally expected, the movie almost feels convincing as a straightforward creature-feature. Almost.
A lot of shorts turned into movies have a hard time filling up all that extra space, and Rippy won’t be the exception. It can’t be all about a rogue ‘roo, can it? Padding things out is now a personal arc for the protagonist; Maddy (Tess Haubrich) fears she won’t live up to her father’s legacy. Lucky for her though, she now has the unique opportunity to prove herself as the sheriff around these parts.
Rippy plays out as anticipated; the characters (including Michael Biehn as Maddy’s uncle) follow the trail of carnage to find the movie’s namesake. And the road to this undead jack is paved with a fair amount of blood and gore. Slashed-up corpses and one wonderfully destroyed cow showcase the commendable makeup and practical effects. At the same time, the handmade gore and mutilation make the CGI used for Rippy all that more obvious, not to mention eye-searing. The quality of the digital imagery is egregious and does the movie absolutely no favors.
Rippy never makes the leap from bad to good, but it’s not a complete loss. Coonan pays careful attention to setting and mood, and he brings out the natural beauty of the story’s rural setting. The characters aren’t too hastily drawn or disposable either. Ultimately, the appalling creature visuals are the biggest letdown in an already boilerplate movie with no distinct personality to call its own, but maybe those factors will draw audiences who enjoy schlocky material. For everyone else, they’ll have to wait until a better killer kangaroo movie hops along.
Before coming to DVD/Blu-ray on December 3, Rippy is in select theaters and on VOD starting on October 18.
Image: Rippy (2024) courtesy of Capelight Pictures.