No way does this movie deserve anything under a 4, I can see why people thought that but I think they are wrong. I really enjoyed this movie. However there are some GLARING flaws in this movie that had me shouting at my TV.
The movie attempts to do the 'stereotypical group of teenagers try and escape monster in forest' and it works but it could've been so, so much better. It could've been on the same level of THE DESCENT with a few changes.
What I liked about the movie:
What I dislike about the movie:
Now if I was to give key points to the writers and directors (I know they were the same people) it would be that considering this is your first movie you did an AMAZING job, I've seen plenty of worse movies done by bigger companies, directors, actors and budget. The inconsistency was the biggest issue here. If the inconsistency's were fixed this could be the next Descent. There were so many times I was sat watching thinking "If only they did *this*". Next pointer would be to create rules that your Wendigo abides by and stick. to. them. If you want it only to be visible to cannibals that's fine but then make it visible to the cannibals for the entire film not just for part of it. Early on in the film it was so frustrating watching characters blatantly stare at the monster but there to be nothing there when it's hiding behind a single leaf. If you want it to stalk stealthily and hunt its prey, that's fine, if you want it to rely on its senses (mainly smell) that's fine but stick to what you decide. The monster felt sporadic and random and not in the good "it could kill them in many ways" but in the "why the hell is it doing that" kind of way. The reason this movie annoyed the ever living hell out of me was because it has so much potential, it was so close to being something outstanding but it cocks it up from the start. Now that being said I did enjoy the movie, only reason I wrote this review was to let Directors/Writers know they were so close to greatness. I believe we need more higher quality horror movies and it's obvious this wasn't some cheap tacky cash grab it was a well thought out (for the most part) planned movie based around the lore of the Wendigo. I think this movie could be saved if they re-shot the movie with the inconsistencies fixed. Obviously I know the chances of that happening are pretty much never, or at least take the advice and implement it into a sequel as I feel there is room for one or even two more movies. Maybe a sequel and a prequel, one explaining the events after the Young Cannibals as it's obvious it's still alive and one explaining what happened properly on that Mountain before the events of the movie.
The movie attempts to do the 'stereotypical group of teenagers try and escape monster in forest' and it works but it could've been so, so much better. It could've been on the same level of THE DESCENT with a few changes.
What I liked about the movie:
- Acting was good for the majority of it but some scenes had me confused, bored or just thinking: 'Don't think that's plausible but okay'
- The score for this movie was borderline perfect!!
- The premise of the movie outside of the teenagers try and escape monster (Wendigo mythology) was actually very well executed for the most part with some big exceptions.
- Unique and interesting monster
- Ending and post credits scene was well done and left me feeling like sequels were both plausible and wouldn't feel forced or unnatural.
- didn't rely on countless fake outs or jumpscares, there were a couple towards the end but they were predictable and not as cheap as other movies.
What I dislike about the movie:
- Lack of consistency, from the quality of the dialogue/acting and scenes to the monster and the rules it abides by. There was a blatant lack of consistency, one minute the monster is invisible, then it can be seen, one minute it's slowly stalking its prey and the next it's swiping people out from under each other like Swiper from Dora the explorer or growling and dive bombing through doors like Juggernaut. Most of the scenes were very good but some left me going "oh for fucks sake", or "really?", like when the Final Girl's brother wants to stay by the van but the group decided that's a bad idea, instead of picking a pointless fight he should've either tried to convince the group why that was the 'right' idea, go back to the van himself like is suggested by everyone else or continue to tag along with the group and shut up about it (or have the Wendigo rush and attack him forcing the group to move). Additionally, when the Final Girl's best friend refuses to cover herself in guts to survive, now it's not the fact she didn't dive head first into said guts like her friend (I mean if you don't want to survive that's on your head) it's that the scene takes too long to move on. I get that theres a dying friend there but she literally didn't say anything to her just stood there ummm-ing and ahhh-ing like she was trying to decide what she was ordering off of a menu. Also one thing that annoyed me was the inconsistency of the accent from the guy who fed them the human burgers, one minute he sounds English or Scottish and then he sounds American. Just pick an accent my friend, that being said though all the actors did an amazing job in their roles for the most of the film.
Now if I was to give key points to the writers and directors (I know they were the same people) it would be that considering this is your first movie you did an AMAZING job, I've seen plenty of worse movies done by bigger companies, directors, actors and budget. The inconsistency was the biggest issue here. If the inconsistency's were fixed this could be the next Descent. There were so many times I was sat watching thinking "If only they did *this*". Next pointer would be to create rules that your Wendigo abides by and stick. to. them. If you want it only to be visible to cannibals that's fine but then make it visible to the cannibals for the entire film not just for part of it. Early on in the film it was so frustrating watching characters blatantly stare at the monster but there to be nothing there when it's hiding behind a single leaf. If you want it to stalk stealthily and hunt its prey, that's fine, if you want it to rely on its senses (mainly smell) that's fine but stick to what you decide. The monster felt sporadic and random and not in the good "it could kill them in many ways" but in the "why the hell is it doing that" kind of way. The reason this movie annoyed the ever living hell out of me was because it has so much potential, it was so close to being something outstanding but it cocks it up from the start. Now that being said I did enjoy the movie, only reason I wrote this review was to let Directors/Writers know they were so close to greatness. I believe we need more higher quality horror movies and it's obvious this wasn't some cheap tacky cash grab it was a well thought out (for the most part) planned movie based around the lore of the Wendigo. I think this movie could be saved if they re-shot the movie with the inconsistencies fixed. Obviously I know the chances of that happening are pretty much never, or at least take the advice and implement it into a sequel as I feel there is room for one or even two more movies. Maybe a sequel and a prequel, one explaining the events after the Young Cannibals as it's obvious it's still alive and one explaining what happened properly on that Mountain before the events of the movie.