John Grant, played by Gary Bond, is a young schoolteacher who is filled with disdain for the remote Outback town he is stranded in, where he is treated to an endless barrage of beer, gambling, and violence. He quickly becomes ensnared in the town's relentless cycle of drinking and gambling, losing all his money and becoming increasingly isolated and desperate.
As Grant's mental and physical state deteriorates, he falls in with a group of locals who introduce him to the brutal world of kangaroo hunting. In a shocking and brutal climax, Grant is forced to confront the darkest aspects of his own nature and his place in the harsh landscape of the Outback.
The film is a visceral exploration of masculinity, violence, and colonialism, and is often considered a classic of Australian cinema. Its unflinching portrayal of the brutal reality of life in the Outback has earned Wake in Fright a reputation as a powerful and unsettling film.
