MovieTime

Review

by Jason Di Rosso

Once again the Australian wilderness isn't just a beautiful backdrop; it's a foe to be feared in this thriller about five twenty-somethings who get lost while hiking in the Blue Mountains. They start arguing -- blood sugar levels plummet, sexual tensions boil over -- and before long there's blood on their designer hiking gear.

Writer-director Mark Forstmann is at his best when he keeps things simple: only after the set-up, when the crisis distils to its most elemental, does the drama really kick in. There are no monsters or special effects, just people pulling themselves through mud and across rocks. It's the same thrill as extreme sports (or some Werner Herzog films), and it creates some searing moments here.

Director: Mark Forstmann
Cast: Ryan Johnson, Ben Geurens, Ella Scott Lynch, Billie Rose Prichard, Socratis Otto
Producer: Tamara Popper
Script: Mark Forstmann, Stephen Davis
Cinematographer: Justine Kerrigan
Editor: Ken Sallows
Music: Amanda Brown
Running time: 90
Australian distributor: Totem
Language: English
Classification: M