Backcountry

A couple go off the beaten track in the glorious Canadian outback, and fall into the path of a savage predator.

It's sadly based on a true story, so I'll keep my comments respectful. First of all, it's a very good film, it's packed with tension, it had me gripped, and on the edge of my seat.

It seems that every single time people face peril from an animal in a movie it's a shark, the Black bear is a very different creature altogether, I always thought they were shy, what do I know.

Missy Peregrym is the standout, I think she was excellent throughout. Strong special effects, very brutal.

I politely ask why on Earth people visit such areas, beautiful, but containing danger.

A gripping watch, 7/10.

Two's company, and all that. Alex and Jenn, embarking on a backpacking trek through the Canadian forests, are such good company that when Brad joins them, he spoils the balance, no matter how much he ingratiates himself. Jeff Roop and Missy Peregrym play the couple, and Eric Balfour is Brad, and the further he is on screen, the less likeable he seems. The Canadian Ranger, played by Nicholas Campbell, completes the modest main cast list. They're all so well played, it doesn't matter that we have to wait a long time for any of the expected attacks to come.

When they do, they don't disappoint. Director and writer Adam MacDonald, in his debut feature, ensures that tensions are ratcheted up a few notches as the film goes on, with many scenes full of perfectly judged jeopardy that also prove to be surprisingly gory. Only the finale seems a little anti-climactic. My score is 7 out of 10.

Been a long time since i have watched a movie and felt real fear in the pit of my stomach as a result, but there it is. Back Country kept my attention well enough to keep me watching, maybe because i wanted to see what happened to the couple, or maybe because i like the outdoors. Hmm? Dunno but in the end i am glad i watched Back Country. I am a horror fan, and a thriller fan, and , well a movie fan all around, but lately i have been trying to watch a movie that made me feel frightened, and scared deep in my stomach. Weird? maybe, but that is how i used to feel when i watched a truly scary movie unlike now when i find myself grossed out and feeling a little like a just watch something illegal more often than not. Maybe i am becoming jaded? who knows, who cares! This movie made me feel that old nervous and butterflies in my stomach kind of scared so i am grateful! Watch Back Country and enjoy yourself because i sure as heck did!

Nicely shot film,nature and all.Gifted actors,coll bear)Personally for me,there as too much relationship staff and way not enough of bear) Overall,very good one time watch.

Greetings again from the darkness. When the poster for a new movie compares itself to a genuine classic like JAWS, it immediately evokes skepticism and doubt. The first feature film from writer/director Adam MacDonald is based on a true story and somehow blends elements of horror and man vs. nature into a suspense-filled, gory, survivalist tale of a messy relationship.

Alex (Jeff Roop) has romantic visions as he and girlfriend Jenn (Missy Peregrym) head off into a Canadian Provincial Park for backpacking and camping. Alex can't wait to show his citified girl his favorite lake lookout … the place he used to hike in his youth. It doesn't take long for the cracks to start showing- both in the relationship and in Alex's outdoorsman skills. With the slow build of dread, we know the couple is headed for something unpleasant … thanks to the preview, and the fact that a movie about a relaxing camping trip would be pretty boring.

The Park Ranger (Nicholas Campbell) just shakes his head as Alex refuses his offer of a trail map … a not so subtle jab at men for never asking directions. That combined with Alex poking fun at Jenn's road flare, bear spray and cell phone usage provide the foreshadowing necessary for any viewers who appreciate being told where the story is headed. After a canoe ride, the couple hikes to the camp site where they encounter their first brush with nature: a rugged Irish guide (Eric Balfour) who offers his catch of the day served with a heavy dose of machismo. We are left to wonder if and when and how this creepy dude might again appear.

Of course, it's only a matter of time until the couple is lost and we (and they) realize that's the least of their concerns. See, their lack of communication has landed them right in the middle of black bear country … hungry black bears. A couple's worst nightmare (a weekend with an incompatible partner) turns into a camper's worst nightmare (being hunted by a bear). It's at this point that Ms. Peregrym takes over the movie and we finally have someone to pull for.

Director MacDonald does follow the Jaws template in teasing us with danger and not showing the bear until deep into the movie, but any other comparison would be quite a stretch. Still, there is plenty of tension and we even get that odd line between horror and humor – involving Jenn's diamond grab in the heat of the moment. Nothing is held back in the fight between man and bear, and we see more than enough in the aftermath.

The park makes for an incredibly beautiful setting and a stunning backdrop for hiking and canoeing and bear fighting. The film could have been titled "Dummies Go Camping", but really the commentary on modern relationships is probably more telling than the reminder of Nature's power. Finally, a tip of the cap to Mr. MacDonald for including the Dwight Twilley song "Looking for the Magic" in the initial car trip … great song and fitting to the theme.