Timber Falls

Say what you will about comet strikes, alien invasions, or even nuclear war, for my money there's nothing more terrifying than the thought of being held captive by crazy people who pervert religion, and subjective morality to justify purpose (i.e., Fox and Friends).

Indeed, ever since classic films like Deliverance first explored the dark side of hillbilly, horror has never been the same. And while many films of late have tried (and failed) to capture this primal theme, a select few have managed to stand out.

Which brings me to Tony Giglio upcoming release "Timber Falls."  At first glance, the film, about a naive young couple who venture into the hills of West Virginia, seems nothing more than your typical "wrong place, wrong time" thriller. But, thanks to it's stunning scenery, unique story-line, and surprisingly good acting, this conception is short lived.

Establishing an atmosphere of impending doom right out of the gate, the story explores the dark side of religious belief and ceremony. Unaware of the potential danger that lay in the hills of Timber Falls, Mike (Josh Randall), and Sheryl (Briana Brown) forge deeper into it's wilderness. However, what should have been a romantic weekend in the woods, quickly becomes every city-dwellers worst nightmare.

Extremely well-filmed--the movie plays upon both our fascination, and fear of nature. The wilderness, which at first appears beautiful and inviting, quickly reveals the darkness it hides. The first hint of danger occurs after a run-in with local hunters who make it quite clear that the wilderness is no place for strangers. And while 99.999 percent of the population would turn back after being forced to drink moonshine at gunpoint, our couple presses forward. And who can blame them...or, more to the point, who can blame Mike; he's got a local sheriff (Nick Searcy) reassuring him of his safety, a gun, and a very, very attractive girlfriend (who likes to bathe in the nude).

Unfortunately for the couple when things go bad, they go unspeakably bad. And as the second half progresses, we find that nothing is as it seems. What follows is a disturbing, yet exhilarating tale of courage in a world of sadistic family ritual.

I give credit to the director and the location scouts for choosing a setting that's equally tranquil and unsettling at the same time. And while the film is not the first of it's kind, it's definitely better than most.