Unsettling and creepy, without the use of faky special effects...

Rating: Null/10 (8 November 2002)

I can't believe all the negative comments directed towards this nicely done, offbeat little fright-flick. Today's movie viewers must be getting right spoiled or something. I mean, are they expecting blood and gore to be sprayed right in their faces with a bloody fire hose or something? Come on now, whatever happened to indulging your sense of horror and fright with lots of suspense, creepy atmosphere, weird and unsettling goings on - in other words, just plain using your imagination?
Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good blood-and-gore splatter-flick with the best of 'em, but I'm not one of those people who necessarily has to have his horror handed to him on a blood-spattered silver platter. Often times it's more effective to have a spooky story told to you using little more than basic story-telling techniques. And that's what I like about this film, it is virtually devoid of splashy effects - it makes you work for your dinner instead of just handing it to you for free.
The one scene where they woke up to find weird rock piles neatly stacked near their tent was truly unsettling, it reminded me of a scene from the TV miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man" (1976) where Falconetti broke into Rudy Jordache's house and moved some of his most personal belongings Â– just enough to let him know that, yes, he had been "visited".... No great special effects involved, nosiree, but nonetheless very creepy.
So, this movie, while maybe not truly a "horror" movie, is still nevertheless a very unsettling picture, and if you've ever been lost in the woods, or have even the slightest trepidation about wandering too far into the deep woods, especially at night, well, then this picture is for you. Otherwise, stick with Freddy Kruger movies, as this one clearly won't be your cup of tea.