Totally overrated, 20 minute film stretched to 90 minutes

Rating: 2/10 (18 December 1999)

Totally Overrated! This would make a pretty good student film, but that's about it. It certainly shows what hype can do. The story is only good for about 20 minutes, then you're just waiting for the end...nothing new happens after the first act. The kids get lost and stay lost for the remaining 40 minutes. The acting is not bad, but the characters are hateful people that you're sick of being with after about 1/2 hour. The worst thing is that the film isn't scary! It's hyped as a horror film, but there's no fear! This is mostly due to the distracting camera work and the stupidity of the characters and their situation. Anyone with half a brain could get out of that forest. Because the characters are irritating, and stupid, you lose all sympathy with them, and then your suspension of disbelief goes away as well. I saw the film with an audience of suburban teenagers (the target audience), but they were obviously bored, too. One guy made the loud comment "Is that IT?" when the movie finally ended. Overhyped for sure!