Tag: hiking gone wrong

Spoiler-Free Review of “Quicksand” on Shudder: Solid Survival Suspense Film

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“We both need to be perfectly still…”

Quicksand released on Shudder on July 14th 2023. The survival thriller film stars Carolina Gaitan, Allan Hawco, and Sebastian Eslava. It runs for an hour and twenty-five minutes.

Sofia and Josh are thinking about getting a divorce when they go hiking together in a rainforest in Colombia, but they end up with bigger problems when they get trapped in quicksand with dangerous predators close by.

Here is the trailer:

Quicksand has plenty of intense and edge-of-your-seat moments with a familiar, but entertaining plot. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Enough threats to keep us invested.

As if getting stuck in quicksand wasn’t horrifying enough, Sofia and Josh had to deal with a lot of other predators that had me squirming in my seat. There were plenty of intense moments in this one. I personally really like survival thrillers and this film did a good job of representing the genre with a few welcomed surprises.

Images courtesy of Shudder

Decent pacing.

I was worried that we might have to suffer through fluff-filled flashbacks to keep things moving, but the pacing worked really nicely in this film. The characters had enough time to hash things out while trying to figure out a way out of their situation. I never felt bored and I thought the actors gave us honest performances.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Shudder

A movie I’ve seen before…

I did enjoy this one quite a bit, but it’s a very familiar plot. I’ve seen plenty of survival thriller/horror flicks where the main couple are having problems and then they end up in a life-threatening situation in different settings.

That’s pretty much the case with this film, but it’s still entertaining. Just don’t expect anything too out there…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Shudder

I’m in about 75 percent…

A survival thriller worth your time with plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments.

This film was predictable, but it still checked off all the boxes to make this an enjoyable watch from start to finish.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Quicksand in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Prey” on Netflix: Don’t Go Hiking with Your Buddies in the Woods…

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“This isn’t a hunting ground…”

Prey premiered on Netflix on September 10th 2021. The German survival thriller film stars David Kross, Hanno Koffler, Robert Finster, Livia Matthes and Maria Ehrich. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

Two brothers and their friends go hiking in the woods together and quickly discover that a mysterious shooter is trying to hunt them down one by one.

Here is the trailer:

Prey reminds us once again that it’s never a good idea to go wandering around the woods. Does this thriller film do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Creepy setting and premise.

Sometimes less is more and the woods are always a solid setting for any kind of thriller or horror movie. They can be serene and inviting, but they can also be extremely dangerous and this film reminds us that being lost in the middle of nowhere can be terrifying on its own. 

The mysterious shooter angle works as well. The characters don’t know why they are being hunted down, but the threat is real and unforgiving. 

Images courtesy of Netflix

Riveting tension between the characters.

Much like Netflix’s The Ritual, this movie is about more than surviving. This is a group of close friends and family members and a lot unravels once they realize that their lives are in danger. As past secrets and reveals come into the light, the shattering of relationships is even more compelling than the threat against their lives and I thought the performances were really believable overall.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Takes a while to get going…

The movie is only 90 minutes long but it felt like I was watching it for a really long time. The first half of the movie was slow-moving for me and the thrills just weren’t thrilling enough.

However, the second half of the movie was a lot stronger and I was genuinely invested up until the ending. I think there will be mixed reviews on the ending, but I thought that it was chilling and effective.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

The movie took a while to get going but the second half was a lot more interesting and thrilling. I thought that the performances and character dynamics were really exceptional and the simple eerie premise of this movie worked in its favor.

If you are a fan of films like The Ritual and Alone, you will enjoy this one, but just manage your expectations accordingly.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Prey in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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