Dropbear
2025
A group of US tourists on a cheap Aussie outback tour discover the scam's fake dropbear attack has led them into the lair of a real, flesh-hungry koala king and his rabid army.
A group of unsuspecting US tourists signs up for a low-budget Aussie outback tour run by a pair of incompetent grifters.
But when their fake “dropbear attack” stunt goes horribly wrong, they stumble into the hunting grounds of a real, flesh-hungry koala king and his rabid army of chlamydia-rage-fueled dropbears.
What starts as a ridiculous scam turns into a blood-drenched battle for survival against tree-dwelling, eucalyptus-addicted nightmare creatures.
Directors statement
DROPBEAR began as a simple idea: what if Australia’s most ridiculous tourist myth was treated with the same commitment and energy as a full-scale creature feature? I’ve always loved the blend of horror, comedy and folklore, and the Dropbear legend sits right at the intersection of all three. It’s a joke every Australian knows, yet there’s something uniquely cinematic about the image of a predator waiting in the canopy. The fun of this film came from taking that joke seriously enough that it loops back into comedy again.
What truly drove this project, though, was the opportunity to make a feature film from South Australia, using local crew, local talent and local landscapes. We wanted to prove that you can make bold, entertaining genre films outside the traditional studio hubs, and that our region has both the capability and the creativity to deliver films for an international market.
Working with ITN Distribution gave us the chance to lean into the B-movie spirit fully the practical creature work, the over-the-top mythology, and the wild tonal shifts that make these films so fun. But beneath the humour and chaos, there’s real affection: affection for Australian culture, for the outback, and for the scrappy, get-it-done filmmaking community we’ve built around us.
DROPBEAR is a film made by people who love films like this. It’s messy, ambitious, creature-driven and proudly Australian. It’s a reminder that we can take our own myths, however absurd, and turn them into something audiences around the world can enjoy.
I’m incredibly proud of what our team created with limited time and resources, and even prouder that our next creature feature is already underway. DROPBEAR is the first step in a larger slate of Australian genre stories we’re excited to bring to life.
John deCaux
Writer / Director, DROPBEAR
Creative Team
Cast and Crew
Director - John DeCaux
Writer - John DeCaux
Producer - John DeCaux
Executive Producers - Stuart Alson & Nicole Holland
Associate Producer - Jackson Johns
Cinematographer - John deCaux
Production Designer - Shannyn McKay
Film Editor James Gleeson
Costume Designer - Emilia Mcdonald
Music Composed by Bill Palmer
1st Assistant Director Lydia deCaux
2nd Assistant Director Jackson Johns
Cast
Ollie Connor Pullinger
Emily Jessica Burgess
Liam Adam Ovadia
Jessica Caymond
Bazza Kieren Thomas McNamara
Stevo Lucas Andrews
Koala King Yoz Mensch
Sarge Jack Hackenbruch
Gizmo Jason Malcolm Moore
Gunner Patty Glavieux
Doc Reece Avis-Alford
Wallace Sian Cooper
Mullet Mick Philippos Ziakas
Driver Dylan Warren
Dr Wells Marion West
Dr Reese Ian Hart
Maureen Esther Michelsen
Local Cop Vincent Donato
Government Official Rory Noke
Guard 1 Jake Walder
Guard 2 Matt Visciglio
Home Invader 1 Jackson Johns
Home Invader 2 Peter Grosser
Youtuber 1 Matt Daly
Youtuber 2 Nick Liebelt
Youtuber 3 Jesse Taylor
Donlad John deCaux
Camera Operator Jesse Taylor
First Assistant Camera Jessica Mesecke
Second Assistant Camera Ekkia Evans
Stills Photographer Karlye Frith
Script Supervisor Kelly McNamara
Unit Manager Austin Frape
Sound Recordist Ben Allan
Jay Hiller
Makeup Artist Tianna Faulkner
Assistant Make-Up Artist- Sabella-Brittani Strikwerda
Art Department Assistant Molly Beal
Prop Department Shannyn McKay
Remy Logan
Molly Beal
Set Decoration Shannyn McKay
Set Construction John deCaux
Behind the Scenes Camera Nick Liebelt
Armour services provided by Project H2
Armour Jack Hackenbruch
Soldier uniform and equipment Jason Malcolm Moore
Koala King Costume John deCaux
Bug Wrangler Jesse Taylor
Koala King & Stevo Body Double Austin Frape
Jessica hand double Nick Liebelt
Stunt Driver Jesse Taylor
Location Managers Nick Liebelt & Jesse Taylor
Lighting Gaffer Jesse Taylor
Production Assistants Molly Beal &Austin Frape
Assistant to John deCaux Dayna Mattchewson
Unit Assistant Christina Mattchewson
Visual Effects by Australis FX
On set VFX Supervisor Adam Maud
VFX Supervisor John deCaux
Visual Effects artist
Eamonn Stevens
Ethan Lees
Hugo Parisi
Jeremy Rock
Jackson Johns
John DeCaux
Post Production by Pulsar Post
Post-Production Supervisor Jackson Johns
Sound Mix Nick Liebelt
Colour Grade Jesse Taylor
Trailer Editor Lucas Gugeanu
Original Music
“Dropbear” by Rob Disner 2021
“Outback Escape Theme” by Nick Liebelt 2022
This project is proudly supported by a City of PAE grant