Loop Track

This one was a good time but didn't get all the way there for me. They did a great job with tension building and suspense without it being boring and the characters and acting were there for sure. It was lacking a bit in story... I know not everything needs to be spoon fed but I think there was a little too much left up in the air with this one.

Also the reveal was a little silly looking although not awful. It just generally felt a little undercooked, but the things that were successful here I thought they did a really nice job with. This is a slow burn for sure but I think overall worth it. 5.5 rounding down to a 5, would recommend.

This is a good low budget horror film that demonstrates one of my theories on the genre, that the most difficult thing is often the ending.

It's a 90 minute film, and for 70 minutes it builds tension on a typical New Zealand four or five day bush tramp, or trek. Middle aged city dweller, Ian, the protagonist, starts as a solo hiker, determined to remain so, inexperienced, unfit and with some shady immediate past that he is uncomfortable about. He seems to have undertaken the challenge to reset his mental state.

The other characters are just as well acted, hikers who are on the same route as him; Nicky, with all the gear, says he is very experienced but seems to talk the talk but makes basic errors, drinking river water as an example. Also, Austin and Danielle, a Namibian and an Australian on their honeymoon.

For anyone who has experienced the huts and trails of New Zealand, or who would be keen to, this is highly watchable, filmed with a wonderful backdrop of the native bush and capturing the nightly hit scene very well.

Thomas Sainsbury plays the part of Ian, as well as writing and directing. He does everything well, though that last twenty minutes.. I can imagine he toyed with a few different endings. I won't spoil of course, suffice to say I couldn't have possibly guessed the turn it would take.

Throughout the hike, Ian thinks someone is following them. He sees vague outlines in the trees, but the others convince him it is his own paranoia.

I didn't like the ending, but admire Sainsbury for being bold enough to carry it through. It's got to end somehow.. but the first 70 minutes was tremendous.

An absolute amazing accomplishment done with very little money, lesser known actors, in New Zeeland!

Once I saw Carnifex 2022, I kinda knew that this was the standards for Australian horror movies. After Razorback, Rogue and Carnifex, the difference was made by budget alone.

Here comes Loop Track, with its own tone, characters, making you guess all around, great shifts, amazing surroundings, simply put, what a rush!

A rush that starts as evasive and slow as possible, only to build momentum and then let it all out.

I couldn't possibly recommend it more, because it's just such a fun experience, somehow feel good, satisfaying view.

I do not think you can go wrong with this one. It simply is a must.

I'm not going to say anything else because I fear I'm going to spoil it. And I really wanna stay away from giving away any information.

Take it. Grab some snacks. A cold beer because this movie will make you feel the heat from the bush. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Cheers!

This was fantastic all the way through. Acting was great, suspense was perfect - actually had me a little on edge and I watch horror films almost exclusively and none of them do what this film did. There were 2-3 scenes in particular that stopped me in my tracks. TENSE. Great job with this.

I don't know why others were let down. They must never watch horror films - this was far above par for horror films with much bigger budgets. I would have paid to watch this in theaters and not be upset. Slow burn, kept things moving, and kept you guessing. Really enjoyed this!

I was shocked to see the lead was also the writer and director. I hope to see more from him.

Loop Track (2023) I'm ashamed with myself that I did not catch a screening of this. It's a brand new New Zealand Horror movie and I somehow didn't get around to seeing it big. I had assumed it would be a horror comedy and not just because the writer / director / star Tom Sainsbury is a very funny kiwi comedian. I assumed that because we tend to do horror comedy very well here in New Zealand. Loop Track surprised me by being a very straight forward Survival horror (and a little bit of a different subgenre that I wont divulge because it's a spoiler) that more or less takes itself completely seriously. It's really tense, well shot, written, directed and well, you should really just see it for yourself.

4 pairs of hiking socks out of 5.