PLOT: After a younger man will get separated from his mates within the woods, he falls in to a ten foot deep pit of spikes, impaling him via his leg and leaving him trapped. He rapidly learns that his fall was not an accident.
REVIEW: Pitfall is about to make its competition debut at ScreamFest and I used to be fortunate sufficient to get an early screener. This featured some unfinished FX work, amongst just a few different incomplete issues, so I’ll attempt to not let that have an effect on how I view the movie total.
The story follows a bunch of mates heads out for a 3 day hike, just for certainly one of them to fall right into a deep gap crammed with spikes. What looks as if an accident, finally ends up being one thing far more harrowing as a hunter is after them and can cease at nothing to kill them. A reasonably fundamental premise however one that would present loads of enjoyable deaths and pressure. Sadly, it simply tries to do an excessive amount of as a substitute of specializing in what works. From unusual narrative selections, the place dramatic beats that we already know occurred are used to intensify the massive finale, to a random subplot that goes nowhere, it makes for a wierd expertise.
Ultimate Vacation spot: Bloodline‘s Richard Harmon is one of the only interesting characters, as the actor just brings a natural charisma to the role. Everyone else is just kind of there. They all feel dispensable and aren’t given a lot persona. Even Alexandra Essoe, who I completely love, has an especially irritating character to painting. Within the buddy group are two siblings, and there’s quite a lot of drama across the demise of their dad and mom, which occurred whereas they have been heading to an analogous hike. It has potential however it rapidly strikes to the purpose of absurdity. I get that it was a traumatic occasion however it
Randy Couture stars as The Hunter, and he’s virtually Jason Voorhees with how violent he’s. Although he sounds a bit like Freddy Krueger as soon as he truly begins speaking. He additionally makes fast work of anybody who would even be the slightest little bit of assist. It’s a reasonably easy function for Couture, and his stature works properly for it. Too unhealthy they really feel like they should clarify The Hunter’s origins, however solely doing so in a really minute approach. It’s like they weren’t positive in the event that they needed him to be a slasher villain or some hermit within the woods who likes to kill individuals. There are such a lot of blended messages.
I used to be additionally very confused by the secondary plot, which concerned a second group operating away from the hunter within the woods. It actually simply seems like an excuse to have some extra deaths, and it feels straight out of a slasher film. Not one of the characters are developed, they usually’re simply there to run and conceal from the Hunter. There are some fairly cool sensible deaths all through. I actually preferred how they pulled most of these off. However the rest simply feels hampered by a sloppy story.
Pitfall is everywhere narratively, switching between dream sequences and secondary plots to an absurd extent. Had it simply caught to being a narrative about this group of mates being hunted down by a loopy hunter then it might have gone so much additional. However as is, it feels prefer it’s merely making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. This may have been a way more satisfying expertise if it had simply caught to a extra fundamental expertise. As is, it’s simply forgettable.
Pitfall is taking part in at ScreamFest on October fifteenth.
