**_The East Texas woods are lovely, dark and deep_**
This is a micro-budget indie that meshes “Wrong Turn” with “The Blair Witch” and an interesting bit from “House of the Witch.” After the prologue and first act, the bulk of the story involves four people stuck in the foreboding wilderness.
The filmmaking quality is along the lines of 2021’s “The Hunting,” which was shot in Mantua in northeast Ohio, but this isn’t as good. Another comparison would be 2018’s “Angel,” shot in Louisville, Kentucky, and areas southeast of there.
It’s marred by a little too much eye-rolling cussing in certain spots and the flick needed tightened up by about 12 minutes, not to mention there are a few spots of dubious acting (although, for the most part, the actors rise to the challenge).
Then there are some “Yeah, right” exaggerations that should’ve been reigned in, such as the claim that 70 people died each year in the “forbidden territory” of Jacksonville Forest. Seriously? If that were the case, what were Jason & Selena doing camping there so frivolously in the opening? I can’t see the milieu being conducive to worthwhile lovemaking. Wouldn’t the President declare a national emergency?
Speaking of Selena, Emree Franklin is a highlight, even though her part is small. Unique-looking Gianna Lutz is also notable as the protagonist, Piper. Too bad she’s strapped with unflattering camo shorts for most of the runtime.
Despite my criticisms, there’s enough good here for those who can roll with the constraints that often go with local filmmakers taking advantage of the resources of their region.
It runs 1h 39m and was shot a 45-55 minutes’ drive south of Tyler, Texas, in the Jacksonville/Rusk area, mostly the woods near Rusk State Hospital. Since the movie was released in early June 2025, I’m assuming it was filmed in the summer or early fall of 2024.
GRADE: C+
