Sam Delich as Rich Petrakis in 'Territory'

‘Go Full Jack Nicholson’: ‘Territory’ Star Reveals the Advice that Inspired His Outback Villain

Nick Hall
By Nick Hall - News

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Readtime: 4 min

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Rich Petrakis, remember the name. Years from now, when we look back at the great performances in Australian television history, the “unhinged, unpredictable, scarred and cheeky” antagonist of Netflix’s hit Western series Territory will undoubtedly feature prominently. And for good reason. Across six captivating episodes, actor Sam Delich conducts a symphony of tension, carnage, and drama that is as inviting as it is terrifying. Make no mistake, the series is a fun ride from the opening minute, but the moment Petrakis bursts onto the screen, Territory comes alive.

Set in the harsh terrain of the Top End, Territory follows the plight of the beleaguered Lawson family, owners of the world’s largest cattle station. When an unexpected tragedy leaves the property with no clear successor, rival factions gather, generational clashes ensue and the future of the once-great dynasty teeters on a knife’s edge. Only the return of the prodigal son, Marshall Lawson, offers any hope of resolution; however, his arrival is flanked by the appearance of two incumbent strangers: the enigmatic Rich Petrakis and his rough-and-tumble girlfriend Sharnie Kennedy.

The two outsiders, played by Delich and newcomer Kylah Day, present a unique challenge for the Lawson family. A package deal, they act as the proverbial gatekeepers for the estranged Marshall, who could well be the defining factor in Marianne Station’s resurgence. With their motives unclear, the Lawsons are forced to put their faith in the two mysterious strangers or risk losing Marshall for good.

Sam Delich and Kylah Day in 'Territory'
Sam Delich and Kylah Day in ‘Territory’ | Image: Netflix

For Delich, an actor whose previous credits include the Chris Hemsworth-led thriller Spiderhead and local cult favourite Mr Inbetween, the role of Rich Petrakis offered a rare opportunity to explore a layered character head-on. Across the series, we see Rich move from charismatic leader to crippled cynic, tortured by paranoia and cruel in his convictions. As Delich explained, embodying the multi-faceted Rich was a unique challenge that he desperately wanted to get right.

“It was actually really hard, to tell you the truth. I kind of, felt like I knew this guy already, but the hardest thing was his sort of mental state throughout the show,” Delich tells Man of Many. “You know he starts out as like cheeky and fun and kind of the leader of our little band of musketeers, but as the show progresses, it kind of gets darker and darker and darker, and so it was definitely a challenge diving into that headspace. It’s a little rough around the edges.”

Sam Delich and Anna Torv in Netflix's 'Territory' (2024)
Sam Delich and Anna Torv in Netflix’s ‘Territory’ (2024) | Image: Netflix

Delich’s gamble paid off. The actor’s ability to turn on a dime, effortlessly slipping between the Aussie larrikin persona and the dark, sinister villain, is truly remarkable. It’s entirely reminiscent of John Jarrett’s transcendent performance in the cult classic Wolf Creek, something Delich acknowledged director Greg McLean helped him with during production.

“I spoke to Greg a lot about Wolf Creek, actually. I love Wolf Creek,” Delich tells Man of Many. “It was about the light and shade—when Rich needed to be dark, Greg was like, let’s, let’s really go there. Let’s go scary, and when we needed a bit more humour and lightness, we kind of bounced each other.”

As Delich explained, the inspiration behind his portrayal of Rich came straight from the Hollywood history books. In addition to taking cues from Wolf Creek, the Aussie actor revealed that director Greg McLean asked him to channel a different horror movie classic.

“Out of all the characters, I get to have the most fun in the show, and Greg McLean helped with that. I’m a big fan of just going all out, making fierce choices, and Greg would reel me in or be like, ‘Go, go, go’. I think the best bit of direction he gave me was in episode six when he said, ‘I want you to go full Jack Nicholson in The Shining and just let’s see what happens’.”

Sam Corlett, Sam Delich and Kylah Day in 'Territory'
Sam Corlett, Sam Delich and Kylah Day in ‘Territory’ | Image: Instagram

Without giving too much away, the character arc that we see with Rich is among Territory‘s most captivating moments. It’s also a major catalyst for the show’s breakout success. Since it premiered last week, the Australian production has generated a whopping 6.4 million views globally and is currently number one on the streamer’s Australian Top 10 rankings.

Territory premiered on Netflix on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The six-episode original series is available to stream globally, with Netflix confirming episodes will range in length from around 50 minutes to a dramatic 70-minute finale.

Nick Hall

Editor-in-Chief

Nick Hall

Nick Hall is an award-winning journalist and the current Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many. With an extensive background in the media industry, he specialises in feature writing, lifestyle and entertainment content. Nick is a former Mumbrella Publish Awards ‘Editor of ...