A lot of people are missing the point...

Rating: 8/10 (16 August 1999)

I think that a lot of the dissatisfied viewers are missing the point here. It's really quite a simple, effective movie. Not simple as "for simpletons" or stupid people, but simple in that its whole set up relies on its minimalist structure.
It's easy for a lot of people to say, "why didn't they read the survival book, bring a cel phone, etc." The point is, they didn't think they needed these items. These were cocky filmmakers who weren't worried. It was just going to be a weekend trip. If any of you have been camping before, I'm sure you can relate. As for the cel phone, did anyone think that maybe they couldn't afford one?
As a guy who was a student filmmaker at one time, I can DEFINITELY relate to this. When you are in a film crew for a class you don't always have the luxury of knowing your crew-mates that well. You can't predict their responses to certain circumstances. I found the acting very realistic in this case. I thought back to my own film crew in jaded L.A. I honestly don't think that we would have fared much better. Maybe the smug types who think otherwise could watch a *realistic* movie like "The Haunting" if they have such a hard time with this...