‘Rippy’ Review – Killer Kangaroo Movie Is Neither Fun Nor Thrilling

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.