Dying Breed

Four hikers push into the remote wilds of Tasmania in search of two myths that may share the same hidden ground. One is the Tasmanian tiger, long thought extinct, whose very possibility stirs a fear of what humans might one day uncover. The other is the Pieman, a legendary convict reputed to have survived by cannibal means in 1824, a spectral memory-mix of crime and wilderness. The quartet carries separate motives and fears, each hoping the legends turn out to be real enough to justify the risk. As the landscape tightens, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, without promising an easy answer.

Directed by Jody Dwyer, Dying Breed is an Australian thriller released in 2008, written by Dwyer, Michael Boughen and Rod Morris. Shot in Tasmanian locations, the film blends regional atmosphere with supernatural undercurrents to stage a compact fright fest.

The movie sits on the fringes of Australian genre cinema with a modest footprint. It speaks to fans who enjoy local folklore and wilderness based horror, but there are few lines or moments widely cited outside its circle.

Critics describe a taut atmosphere and a setting that amplifies the fear of the unknown. Themes of survival, myth versus reality, and the unpredictable power of nature run through the suspense, helped along by solid performances from Nathan Phillips, Leigh Whannell, and Bille Brown.