Writer: Vikram Weet (Screenplay)
Starring: Holly Goss, Matt Stokoe, Luke Albright, Ryan Hawley, Gemma Atkinson, Nikolay Butenin
Plot: Five young filmmakers retrace the steps of a doomed group of hikers in pursuit of an unsolvable mystery.
Verdict: Gets better as it goes
Story: We start by being told lose facts about the case, before our heroes tell us why they are studying the mystery. We see the group using their cameras telling us we are going to be dealing with found footage idea. The group of five includes a film student, audio expert and two climbers. It doesn’t take long 7 minutes for the film to tell us the five go missing and that it becomes a big story around the world. Flashback to one month earlier we follow our heroes as they look to complete their investigation into the Dyatlov Pass incident. We see how strange things start to happen to the group as they get closer to the location of the incident.
When I went into this I really didn’t know what to expect, I started thinking we would just have the group running around the snow being haunted by something but as it unfolds it turns into accidently uncovering a conspiracy. Even though it used the idea of found footage the camera work isn’t too shaky only have one real scene that is shaky which works for the effect of the story. It really works this because just when we think we understand what is going on that theory gets blown out the water and with a final twist that will shock and leave you asking questions it comes off very enjoyable. (7/10)
Actor Review
Holly Goss: Holly our lead student who puts together the team to help in her studies. She ignores the first few warnings to continue on the way and along with Jensen keeps a secret that could put everyone in danger. Holly gives a good performance in the lead role who puts her group at risk to get the truth. (7/10)
Matt Stokoe: Jensen our film student who suggests filming everything, he gets caught up with Holly trapped before making an impossible choice. Jensen gives a ok performance but spends more time behind the camera. (6/10)
Luke Albright: John Patrick (JP) our expert climber who is always prepared. After getting shot he ends up being left behind and becomes the first victim of the true terror of what is after the group. Matt gives a solid performance but fails to make an impact. (6/10)
Ryan Hawley: Andy our adventurer who believes he is ready for the mission. He gets injured during the first main incident and helps the rest escape. Ryan gives a standard performance but never ends up having enough time to make an impact. (5/10)
Gemma Atkinson: Denise our audio expert who also adds an extra female member to the team. Gemma gives a standard performance but never really has anything to work with, but she is the voice of reason. (5/10)
Support Cast: Filled with the Russians that tell the story, try to stop them but mostly very rarely seen.
Director Review: Renny Harlin – Unlike most found footage films this gets a well know director putting his experience stamp on directing. (7/10)
Horror: It only really has one horror worthy scene that is filled with jumps, calm and jumps again. (7/10)
Mystery: With the mystery never being solved it is good to see how each door could open a new mystery. (10/10)
Thriller: Without the group creating anything to make you care about them and the fact the film tells you they are missing early on it loses it thriller side because you know what will happen. (3/10)
Settings: Good setting for horror creating isolation with is good for any horror film. (9/10)
Special Effects: We get good effects once the group enter the door with solid creature creations. (8/10)
Suggestion: Not having too many scares but good mystery side all works well but many horror fans might find thing a little bit of a let-down for scares. (Horror Fans Try)
Best Part: Creatures
Worst Part: Not enough scares.
What Could Have Been Better? – More scares and not giving away the outcome of the group early on.
Improve Ideas: Explain the footprints, make us care about this characters.
Lessons Learned: When weird unexplained stuff happens just get the hell out of there, don’t keep investigating.
Scariest Scene: The creature attack.
Believability: Even though the group are looking into a real event what happens is all part of one conspiracy idea. (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Closing Credits Rating: Filled with photos of the real group who had the unexplained happen to them. (7/10)
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Overall: Give it time and it might impress
Rating