A Hard Place

A Hard Place follows a group of criminals in the process of a heist that ultimately ends poorly. Due to this outcome, they desperately decide to take refuge in a desolate desert hide-out that is not as empty as they had hoped. Featuring many horror film heavyweights, including Felissa Rose from Sleepaway Camp (dir. Robert Hiltzik, 1983) fame, the group must fight to stay alive in an ancient battle between creatures of both day and night. Fantastic cinematography that creates the eerie atmosphere and great use of blocking with the actors and the lighting. Well done J Horton and the team behind it!

I tend to be little more kind to indie stuff. Really I'd probably put it at 6 or 7 tops. But I know movies like this always end up getting hit by a bunch of unfair one's by incels.

Anyway, an, A Hard Place was wild. It's got monsters, action, and just enough heart to keep you locked in. The story pulls you in quick-some bad guys get caught up in something way bigger than them, and it goes off the rails in the best way. The acting was solid, the creatures looked awesome, and it didn't feel like some cheap movie. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect, but I had a blast watching it. Definitely worth checking out.

After pulling off a successful heist, a group of thieves head out to a remote house in the countryside as a safe house until they can leave with their loot, but when they arrive find themselves stuck in a feud between monstrous creatures and must get away alive.

On the whole, this was a massively entertaining and likable monster movie. Among its many positives is a fantastic, action-packed story that not only provides the film with plenty of opportunities for action but also manages to generate a series of solid storylines. Getting the group out to the farmhouse in the middle of nowhere under the employ of a heist and the house as a safe house to rest while waiting for the means of successful extraction with their goods works quite well to start this one off. It uses this to drop the group into a long-standing feud between a local clan on the one side and a race of vicious tree-like creatures on the other, but the hints that something's not right with the way the captors keep them together at their compound are rather fun. This is a solid hint that a second-half twist involving the dark nature of their captors and the nature of the feud itself. There's a lot of fun to be had with how it turns into a far more intriguing monster-versus-monster setup when the captors are revealed to be a historical race of creatures looking to use the group of robbers as breeding stock to replenish their numbers after years of war. There's also a solid subplot involving the various antagonistic relationships within the family of creatures on the compound, which is skillfully explored and manipulated, shifting allegiances in the second half to keep the narrative engaging alongside the intense monster-versus-monster dynamic. As well, there's also quite a lot to like here, featuring the actual creature attacks, as this lets the film contain plenty of great action scenes. From the initial encounters with the tree creatures before being aware of the whole feud, the encounter in the woods taking out the members of the robbers, and the initial appearance by the plant creatures at the farmhouse all start the film off on a strong note that hints at what's to come. The second half involving the full-scale war between the creatures and the family creates plenty of great action throughout here with the big battle between both sides at the farm house, offering some standout gore in the multitude of brutal kills but also the practical suits on the plant creatures which look incredibly realistic, all of which make this rather effective overall. There isn't much to dislike here, but it does have a few small drawbacks. The main issue with this one is a small issue with the large cast on display, making it difficult to keep track of everyone and their allegiances at times. With the family having multiple generations of members present as well as spies and familiars trying to ensure they have enough forces coming to help aid them in their war against the plant creatures that it starts to get somewhat difficult to manage who's who when they're named only once and characters are similar in terms of features or appearance. The introduction of all these characters when the group arrives at the farm does make that section a bit sluggish in terms of pacing compared to the rest of the film, but these are the only real factors holding it back.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

Director Jason Horton delivers the goods and then some in this gritty, brutal, and wildly imaginative horror-thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. From the first frame to the last, A Hard Place is a relentless ride through a nightmare landscape of blood, beasts, and backwoods madness.

What could have easily been just another low-budget creature flick is instead elevated by Horton's sharp direction, a committed ensemble cast, and a screenplay (co-written with Michael Epstein) that leans hard into atmosphere, chaos, and unexpected depth.

The plot kicks off with a group of desperate criminals on the run after a job gone wrong but this isn't your typical "bad guys in the woods" tale. These unlucky fugitives stumble straight into an ancient war between two monstrous factions: one that rules the day, and one that hunts the night. The battleground? A cursed stretch of forest crawling with grotesque, tree like creatures that feel ripped from a fever dream.

Just when it seems the criminals have hit rock bottom, they're "rescued" by a group of rednecks... who may be even more terrifying than the monsters themselves. But don't expect clichés these characters are part of a deep, bloody feud, and they bring with them a twisted lore that makes Deliverance look tame.

And presiding over it all? Horror legend Felissa Rose as Henrietta absolutely electric in every scene, spinning chilling mythology with the kind of presence only a true genre icon can deliver.

Despite its indie roots, A Hard Place plays like a high-octane, big-budget creature feature. The cast is impressively large and used to full effect these aren't nameless victims waiting to die, but distinct personalities with moments to shine (or be torn to pieces). The kills are wild, inventive, and memorable and the creature effects are delightfully grotesque, giving fans of practical horror something to cheer for.

There's a brutal charm to the way Horton builds this world equal parts Southern gothic, dark fantasy, and Grindhouse gore. The script crackles with grim humor and surprising heart, balancing carnage with a compelling sense of myth and menace.

The performances are strong across the board. Lynn Lowry and Rachel Amanda Bryant provide emotional grounding, while Kevin Ashley, Sadie Katz, and Bai Ling add grit and style. Glen Plummer brings a veteran weight to the cast, and of course, Felissa Rose devours every frame she's in. Marvin Maddicks Jr. Is in the movie as a zombie . Maybe one of the best zombies, great job.

If The Evil Dead crashed into Southern Comfort and got possessed by From Dusk Till Dawn, the result would be A Hard Place. It's gritty, bloody, unhinged horror done right packed with monsters, mayhem, and a wild imagination.

An amazing movie I plan on sharing with many friends and family once released on DVD or a streaming platform.

Enjoyed the homestead feeling of the setting and the characters that called it home. The practical effects and special effects were an impressive combination. Loved each monsters costume and effects along with the transformations between the two.

Nice and gory, with a lot of fun humor thrown in. I feel like the only thing that would be holding it back is the acting in some scenes, but if you're someone who can look past that, you'll find it really fun and enjoyable. I hope to see more from this team in the future! Made an account just to rate this movie.

The independent film had a funny side to it. With a bit of personalized jokes many would find funny but only a handful would know the real meaning behind.

Ten out of ten would recommend!