Backcountry

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.

Yes this sort of film has been made tons of times before. It is based on a 'true story'. A couple go off into the wilds of a Canadian National Park. Alex is trying to impress girlfriend Jenn and so does not take a map and leaves mobile communication devices behind and they set off to see some stunning nature.

Once out in the wild it soon transpires that Alex is hardly Bear Grylls and you sort of know that something bad is gonna happen. That is about all I can say without doing a plot reveal – but the cover sort of does that anyway.

The acting is all really good as are the production values. The make up is top notch too and there is a genuine atmosphere of menace and fear – which really worked. The plot is where this gets let down as there is not that much of a story and at 88 minutes you sort of feel there should have been more – but as this is based on the truth you can forgive them a bit. Not a bad film but also not a keeper – this is a best go for the rental option type film.

I've actually seen documentaries relating instances of bear attack that are almost exactly as this movie plays out. I actually looked at the bonus features to find out if the movie was based on fact. It's a beautifully shot movie, nature is everywhere and, of the forest, one gets a real sense of the damp, the cold, the spookiness, and the awesome beauty. And I get the themes the creators aimed for, the survival instinct coming to the fore, finding inner strength. But the other more dominant dynamic is the relationship of the couple, and I get what the creators are trying to portray, and they do a great job. If you like movies with very honest intentions about ordinary contemporary people and their ups and downs and how they evolve with being out of their comfort zone or unforeseen circumstance, (alas such is life!), then I'm sure this confident exploration will not disappoint. For me, with a title like Backcountry, I wanted more. More disasters, disasters coming earlier in the picture, more tension, and, call me spoilt, but I think we needed more of the bear.

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.

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.